Welcome

Valerie Paradiz, PhD, develops educational programs for children and adults with autism spectrum differences, including the pioneering ASPIE School. She is the developer of Integrated Self Advocacy (ISA)®, a curriculum and training series for educators and therapists who wish to support individuals with ASDs and related conditions in achieving greater ability in self-advocacy. Valerie's memoir, Elijah's Cup, is the compelling story of the author's experiences raising her autistic son, their involvement together in the advocacy community, and her own ultimate diagnosis with Asperger syndrome. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Redbook Magazine, and The Guardian. She speaks internationally on parenting strategies, improving and creating programs for individuals with ASDs, strengthening advocacy skills, and supporting deep and focused interests in individuals on the autism spectrum.

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Latest Writings

Make Way for the Next Generation of Advocates!

LEAAD isn’t a peer-mentoring program; it’s much more than that. Erika Pumilia explains, “I think schools that have peer mentoring programs mostly do it to cover themselves. So that they can claim they provide social interaction” for kids on the autism spectrum. “But it’s almost like the kids are forced to do it, like they have no choice.” Continue..

• Written 251 days ago in Autism & Asperger's Syndrome

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United Nations Briefing

Elijah and I were honored to join the Autism Society of America and other friends from the community at the United Nations last week to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. It was a truly inspiring session, meant to inform NGOs of some of the most pressing issues facing families, professionals, educators and individuals on the spectrum today and to share our vision for a global autism community. Continue..

• Written 454 days ago in Autism & Asperger's Syndrome

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Autism Through the Life Span at the Omega Institute

Omega Institute for Holistic Studies Hosts "Autism Through the Life Span"

Please join me and colleagues in the autism community for this three day conference and retreat for parents, professionals and others who support individuals with ASDs on the beautiful campus of the Omega Institute, located in upstate New York. Continue..

• Written 758 days ago in Autism & Asperger's Syndrome

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Clever Maids

The secret history of the Grimm Fairy Tales. Read more..

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Testimonial

I was moved to tears at times and challenged to see autism through the prism of an autistic person or a family member.

—Michoel Friend, Psychologist

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