This is the second in a three-part series about how one school team is reconstructing autism services in the public school system.

Related Events:
Part 1: A conversation with a trauma-informed mom & a neurodiversity-affirming therapy provider about their mission to reconstruct autism services on a PBIS campus – July 8, 2022.

Part 3: A conversation with a neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy team about their mission to reconstruct autism services on a PBIS campus and how they have radically flipped the social skills training narrative for autistic students on its ableist head. – July 19, 2022.

Bio: Teri Barbetta is celebrating her 20th year in education. Teri’s career began at 30 after being a stay-at-home mom with her two children. While Teri’s passion has always been middle school, she has taught ELA, Reading, Dyslexia intervention, and ESL for grades 5-12. Currently, Teri works as a Special Education Coordinator for a public charter school, and she says “It is the most fulfilling position I have ever had. In this role, I am able to directly affect the lives of our students with the most need”.

Bio: Dana Hoff is a member of a public-school special education team who is passionate about teaching disabled children. Dana finds pure joy in watching her students grow socially, emotionally, and educationally. She is a mom with three wonderful children ages 21, 15, and 13. In 2009 Dana graduated from the University of West Florida and holds degrees in General Education, Special Education, and ESL. Dana has worked in public education for the past 22 years, doing everything from front office receptionist to 1:1 pre-K teacher’s aide, to teaching special education students with IEPs for Life Skills, Resource, or other support services. In her current position, Dana teaches students who are autistic, ADHD, learning disabled, developmentally disabled, emotionally disabled, mentally disabled, intellectually disabled or multiply disabled. Some of her students experience significant sensory processing difficulties, some may stim or otherwise need to move their bodies during class, and some struggle with communication. Dana strives to provide inclusive and supportive emotionally and physically safe classrooms, and takes pride in her ability to build bonds of trust with both students and their families.

Bio: Julie Roberts, M.S., CCC-SLP is a late-diagnosed Autistic speech-language pathologist practicing in the public schools. On January 11, 2018, Julie founded Therapist Neurodiversity Collective to support her vision to serve Autistic and other Neurodivergent people and their families by advocating for an industry-wide sea change in therapy provider services centering on Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices, Neurodivergent, and Autistic Social Justice and Human Rights.