Thelma Atha, M.Ed, CAS; Director of Counseling Department & Learning Support Specialist at Lincoln International Academy in Managua, Nicaragua; Private practice in Managua, Nicaragua focused on Sensory Integration Therapy, TEACCH, and Behavior Modification Therapy.

Country: Managua, Nicaragua

School/ Organizations/Center: Lincoln International Academy, Managua, Nicaragua

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?

I began learning about ASD 9 years ago when I suspected my youngest son may be autistic.  Six months later, in Californian, he was diagnosed with autism and I was told he might not ever become verbal.  A year and a half after Raphael’s diagnosis, my husband´s work in the U.S. Navy took us to El Salvador. While in El Salvador I began formal studies on autism, SP, and ABA in order to better help my son.  Shortly after, I began to get invited to schools to talk about ASD and families began contacting me.    Suddenly, I found myself becoming an advocate for children with ASD. After much hard work, I am happy to report that, today, my son is verbal and high functioning. We face challenges every single day, but I am blessed to have had the opportunity to become a Certified Autism Specialist and to learn different ways to help my son and other children with ASD and their families.  In 2013, we moved to Managua, Nicaragua and in 2015 I earned my designation as a CAS. It has been truly meaningful to me as I can now better help children with ASD. Living in a third world country, where people are just beginning to learn about ASD, means a lack of sufficient resources.  There are very few service providers for children with ASD, so my experience and the training I received while becoming a CAS is very important as we work to fill the gaps in services and assistance for people with ASD in this region of the world.

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?

The CAS credential has very positively impacted my professional growth! Having these credentials enhances the credibility of all my efforts to advocate for people with ASD and improves the services I provide for students, clients and parents. Also, being a parent of a child with ASD, gives me additional sensitivity and awareness on a professional and personal level which helps build better cooperation with those I work with.   This certification has made me grow in many other ways. My work as Director of Counseling and Learning Support Specialist for Lincoln International Academy and the work I do to support students from other schools, provide private therapies, and help support people and families with ASD has benefited greatly from all I learned while earning my CAS designation.

In 2015, I had the opportunity to give a TEDx talk on Autism, highlighting my personal experiences as a mother and my professional experiences as an advocate for people with ASD. One of the things I mentioned in my TEDx was my CAS designation. My TEDx talk has spread beyond borders. Since then, families and organizations from many countries have contacted me. I truly believe that CAS has given me much more credibility as a professional which in turn makes my work as an advocate for people with ASD much more effective. (TEDx link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IZs3wN4x_0)

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your employer?

It has been a huge benefit for my employer. We have started a well-structured inclusion program to place students with ASD in the regular classroom to the maximum extent possible and continue to work to increase our capabilities to serve the members of our community with ASD.  Parents of children with ASD now seek admissions at Lincoln International Academy because they are confident they will be in a place where there is someone that truly understands their children’s needs.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?

I know first hand how difficult it can be to get support, access to therapies, and better educational opportunities for children with ASD, so assisting parents and their children is all the reward I need.  Hearing: “I know you understand,” “thank you for giving our child a chance”, etc., is acknowledgement enough.

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?

I find the biggest challenge is to work with people who do not understand ASD.  That was the main motivation I had in giving my TEDx talk, educating as many people as possible about the challenges faced by individuals with ASD and their families.

6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?

The fact that I am not only a professional on the field but also a mother of a child with ASD who now has the amazing opportunity to work with other children with ASD is what makes me a valuable contributor.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy many aspects about my job. Most of al,l I enjoy working with parents and their children, providing the emotional support that they need to be able to stay strong and positive every day while facing the challenges associated with ASD.

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In July, I was an attendee of the Autism Society National Conference held in the beautiful city of New Orleans, Louisiana. I am a social worker who specializes in working with the intellectually disabled and autism community. When the opportunity arose for me to not only go to New Orleans, a city I have admired for many years, but also attend a conference I professionally attached too, I became Super Man, “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound”!

Here, I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, being exposed to this community of people, who like myself, associate themselves either professionally or personally to world of autism. I was able to network with those individuals who work in behavioral health, such as IBCCES, who established the industry standards for the Certified Autism Specialist and Autism Certificate. These credentials ensure that professionals remain current and up-to-date in the field of autism.

So how does one survive their first conference?

1. Volunteer– Many conferences are expensive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t attend. If you can volunteer for the conference which peaks your interest both professionally and personally, DO IT. It allows one to see the in’s and out’s of how a conference operates, plus volunteering looks good on any resume. However, like attendees, volunteers are responsible for their own accommodations.Organizations such as www.autismsociety.org fill up fast with people who want to volunteer, so sign up as soon as possible.
2. Check surrounding areas for affordable hotels-  Most conferences have a designated hotel. Usually, the hotel offers discounts to those who are attending the conference. Depending on what your pockets are looking like, one may have to venture into other hotels closer to the conference if funding is an issue. This is another item that needs to be researched prior to going to volunteer, especially if  the conference is out-of-state. Use sites such as www.kayak.com or www.hotels.com for exclusive deals.
3. Network, Network, Network- I cannot stress this enough, especially if this a conference where one relates to professionally, or one wants to move up or network toward their next career move. It is important to position one-self with those in the industry. You never know who you will meet, so bring your business cards. Sites like www.vistaprint.com and www.moo.com help quickly create business cards and other advertisements, or check for your local printer in your city or town.
4. Find things to do in the visiting city–  Usually a conference is a few days and between the hours of 9-5. So,what does one do after they have in break out sessions all day? Find something to do. Even better, find activities that you can incorporate networking! I was in New Orleans, so places like Bourbon Street offered many options. It is helpful if one researches things to do before the conference, and discount activity sites can make playing tourist affordable: www.groupon.com and www.livingsocial.com. 
5. After, it’s all said and done, recap the experience, take it all in and sign-up to do another conference.  

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Karen Jaggers, NCC, LPC, CAS

State/Country: Texas/, USA

School/ Organizations: University of Houston, MS/Mental Health Counselling – Capella University, CalSouthern University (PsyD Clinical Psychology candidate)

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?
I have been working with individuals on the autism spectrum for over fifteen years.  I have long advocated for a certification in autism that is well rounded and encompasses more than behavior.  Its great that now parents and professionals can search for an autism specialist who has met a strong vetting process.

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?
I believe adding the CAS credential to my other credentials is important because a large part of the individuals I work with as a psychotherapist are on the spectrum or families of these individuals.  By achieving the CAS designation, new clients can be assured that they are receiving information and advice from a professional with proven experience in autism.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?
My partner Dr. Debra Stokan (child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist) and myself take pride in our many years of experience helping families with autism spectrum disorder.  This designation further assures them that we are striving at all times to remain at the top of our fields in serving the autism community.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?
The reward that I get is seeing my clients become more successful as they work toward improving their social skills, behavior and personal independence skills.

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?
My greatest challenge or roadblock is that there are so many families with autism, and that the numbers continue to explode.  My own son was diagnosed seventeen years ago and it was almost unheard of diagnosis.  Now its one of the more common diagnosis’ in young children today.

6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?
Seeing the progress that students have made is my greatest reward.  Its wonderful to be able to help families better understand their children and create plans to allow the individual to meet their greatest potential.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?
I absolutely love my job.  What I enjoy most is knowing that even in the most difficult of cases I should be able to help this family and individual gain improvements that will affect their quality of life.

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Iuliia Sterpinska, Special Needs Teacher

State/Country: Ukraine, Europe

School/ Organizations: Pechersk School International

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?
Earning the Certified Autism Specialist opened the door to “another reality” for me whereI feel competent, meaningful and able to deal with any challenges .

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?
Thanks to the CAS credential I was able to find a job at Chadwick International School in South Korea and changed my position from Teacher Assistant to Special Education Needs Teacher.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?
CAS credential helped me learn how to moderate the programs for the students with autism so they were able to participate effectively in mainstream classroom activities and take part in school social life. To be honest, there are no autism trainings in Ukraine at all. Lots of Ukrainian people don’t know what autism is at all, so I’m the first IBCCES-CAS certified   specialist in my country.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?
To get positive feedback from parents, other teachers and administration.

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?
Because of the absence of trainings in my country it was difficult for me to find good information about working with autistic and other disabled students. The second challenge was that English was my second language so in order to succeed with online training I had to learn lots of new specific terminology. But thank to IBCESS-CAS I succeed with all theses challenges.

6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?
My students reached great levels of success regardless of their academic, social and behavior life. The success was so noticeable that lots of teachers from our school came and told me about it. Verbal recognition from peers that acknowledges student growth is very rewarding too.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?
SEN is my job, my passion and my lifestyle. Every day you come to school and see how successful your students are, how their lives are changing in a good way, knowing you can help even if they are struggling… This is the most enjoyable and satisfying part of my job.

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Shaneé Howell, MSW, CAS, ITFS

State/Country: North Carolina, USA

School/ Organizations: Applied Family Services – NC

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?
Earning the CAS credential has been extremely meaningful because of what it allows me to do for my clients. Because of the continuing education coursework that I have completed I have been able to guide families in the process of having their child evaluated, as well as being able to provide families with new tools learned in my continued studies.

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?
The CAS credential has given validity to my passion of working with individuals with Autism, and has allowed for me to grow, and even to have new positions created where I can best use my skill set.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?
This credential has allowed for me to provide training to both parents and professionals who may not have been able to receive services otherwise.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?
I feel most proud of my work when a family that I’ve been working with gets excited about progress and can see their own growth through all of the work we’ve done as a team. Their heartfelt “Thank-you” makes all of the hard work worth it!

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?
My greatest challenge is in pulling professionals together to work as a team. I’ve found that if the professionals can check in with one another and ensure that each of the goals they are working on coincide with the others the child and family is much more successful!
6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?
I feel most like a valuable contributor when my advice is sought out, from both parents and professionals. Knowing that they find my knowledge helpful to them makes me feel valued.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love that I get to have a positive impact not only in a child’s life but in their family dynamic as well. Giving children and parents the skill set to grow to a place where they not only function, but enjoy being around one another, is what motivates me to continue this work!

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Ezra Lockhart, M.Hlth.Sc.(D.D.), MCSE, CDC I, CAS, Behavior Therapist

State/Country: Anchorage, Alaska, USA

School/ Organizations: Catholic Social Services – Alaska

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?

I am proud to be the first practitioner in Alaska to earn the Certified Autism Specialist credential.  Earning this internationally recognized credential provides those that I serve reassurances regarding my expertise in the field of autism support. I consider myself a global citizen and have studied in both the United States of America and Australia. Locating and obtaining board certification at the international level was important to me. Towards that aim, I found IBCCES and their autism credentialing track. For these reasons I find my CAS credential meaningful and satisfying.

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?

I initially earned the Autism Certificate credential while working towards completing a master’s degree at the University of Sydney in Australia. After completing and publishing a dissertation on the topic of computer-based social and emotional skills training for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), I upgraded to the Certified Autism Specialist credential. Since earning my Certified Autism Specialist I have been accepted into a doctoral program to continue my research focusing on the ASD population.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?

Catholic Social Services, Family Disability Services is able with confidence to connect me with their client population to address specific acute and chronic issues. Mentioning that the agency has a CAS onboard helps to encourage parents and guardians that those in their care will be supported to the upmost professional standard by a highly qualified practitioner.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?

Receiving accolades of any kind is something I personally and professional appreciate. For my contribution to the autism community I received the Man of Excellence Award in 2013 from AHAINA Multicultural Center and the Seawolf Student Leader Award from the University of Alaska Anchorage, Student Life & Leadership. In 2015 I was presented an original painting from the Michael Tolleson Savant Art Center in Kent, Washington. The painting “Epiphany” was created by Michael Tolleson, an autistic savant. Creating a positive lasting impact to no matter the size to this community is my passion and career goal.

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?

The greatest challenge I have seen in my 12 years delivering direct support is the ever constant changes in federal and state regulations governing Medicaid. I have witnessed how this drastically impacts from year-to-year access to and continuation of services for individuals who desperately need support. Working for a Medicaid provider agency I have seen across the board client support hour reductions that frankly break my heart as I understand how this will impact the quality of life and skill development for the clients I serve.

6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?

When working with clients one-on-one the constant feedback I get from their actions, achievements, and accomplishments makes me acutely aware of how valuable my contribution is to their overall success. Even when clients are struggling to achieve their goals the fact that they continue to try signifies for me the value of my practice.

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy seeing change in the clients I serve regardless of how incremental that change may be. My reward is in their success. It is rewarding to know that I have the opportunity to impact clients in such a way that will have for them lifelong positive effects.

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Marcia Nash, Speech and Language Pathologist, MS, CAS

City/State:  Fairbanks, Alaska

School/ Organizations:  Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, Alaska Speech and Hearing Association

1. How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?

I have spent much time attending conferences, taking classes and visiting clinics focused on autism therapy.  This credential validates all of my training and gives me the confidence to share my knowledge with others.

2. How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?

This designation has given me confidence to share my opinion when working with a team of professionals as well as give constructive criticism when needed.

3.  How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?

One of the interesting benefits my CAS credential has been the discussions I have had with teachers and administrators about the CAS credential.  This in turn sparks a discussion about autism and how to help the students in our district.

4. How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?

It is always nice to be acknowledged for a job well done but the most rewarding experience is seeing students using the skills I have taught them in their natural environment.

5. What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?

My greatest challenge is finding time to plan for student needs with colleagues.  Our therapy could be so much more effective if we were able to discuss successes and failures and create a plan together.

6. What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?

I appreciate acknowledgement when my input has made a positive change for my students.  Seeing my students use their newly acquired skills successfully is the ultimate reward.

7. What do you enjoy most about your job?

Working with students has always been the most rewarding part of my job.  There is nothing better than the “ah ha” moment when a student is finally able to use a concept independently.

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Nadhuva Husein, MSc Applied Behavior Analysis, CAS

Country:        Maldives

School/ Organizations: Maldives Autism Association

How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?

Earning the CAS License gives me the confidence and encouragement to grow in this particular field. It is especially significant for me in the Maldives as I believe there is a great need for advocacy here. The Certificate is an assurance of my ability to provide my services, which is an advantage to me, as an advocator and consultant (in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Behaviour Analysis) and the children I represent. In that sense, this is profound in its potential.

How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?

It has boosted my ability to provide constructional criticism when working with a team, and to more effectively guide my clients/parents towards the necessary outcomes. It also helps me keep my finger on the pulse – by keeping up with the latest research in the field, I am up-to-date every day – and able to be current and therefore more effectual.

How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?

I am the first Maldivian with a CAS license so far – in that sense, the benefits of the credential will act as the catalyst for others to get accredited. It will also be a tremendous help now, for me to practice and guide other professionals as well as those clients in need.

How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?

My biggest acknowledgement and reward, ever since I started working, has been the progress in the status of my clients. Their improvement is its own reward.

What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?

One major challenge I faced is that lack of professional expertise in the Maldives, both in this field and other multi disciplinary teams to help children/people with special needs, which makes it extremely challenging to take certain decisions, when providing services for the growing number of children with autism.

What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?

What makes me feel like a valuable contributor on an individual level is seeing the difference made by early intervention, as well as when I have been able to identify methods to help people on a larger scale.

I have been working in this field for the past ten years, and I have had my own personal levels of success in providing early intervention to children with autism as well as behavioral intervention to those in need, which has allowed me to successfully mainstream development in a number of kids I’ve worked with. In addition to this, along with an app developer team we have developed an iPad application in the local Dhivehi language that assists children/people with speech/communication difficulties. At the moment, the app is being studied and researched in order publish an evidence based method of augmentative and alternative communicative application.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Although it sounds like a cliché, it is extremely warming to see the happy, bright faces of the clients I work with every day. It is a wonderful feeling when I am able to be the reinforcing person in the room of a child with autism, and especially when a child willingly initiates and invites me to join in their play.

What support, tools/resources, skills or empowerment do you need to be more effective?

Support from other professionals and experts would be the best resource I could ask for right now.

What strengths or talents do you possess that aren’t being used?

I do wish to share my expertise on a broader level. In that sense, I will be looking for more opportunities to interact with those who need, or are passionate about working with children with autism, on a wider scope, in addition to those who I interact with directly.

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Marybeth Blanchette, MA, CAGS, BCBA, LBA, CAS

School Psychologist, In-Home Behavior Therapist

City/State: Providence, RI

School/Organizations:  Providence Public School Department District Autism Team (School Psychologist), Northeast Behavioral Associates, South Eastern MA Region (In-Home Behavior Therapist)

1) How has earning the Certified Autism Specialist been meaningful and satisfying?

Earning the credential of a Certified Autism Specialist brings acknowledgement of my skills, training, and knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Since becoming credentialed, I feel a greater sense of confidence consulting with teachers, support staff, and administrators; and in advocating for specific interventions, accommodations, modifications, and services for my students within my school district. I also find that collaboration with other service providers and schools for my clients has been positively impacted as the credential indicates I have a deeper understanding of autism spectrum disorders, the impact it has on individuals and families, as well as effective interventions to provide meaningful change in the lives of those who are diagnosed with ASD and their families.

2) How has the CAS credential affected your professional growth?

The CAS certification has facilitated motivation to continue to seek opportunities to further develop my expertise in the area of Autism utilizing the Ten Areas of Autism Competency for the CAS program identified by the IBCCES as a guide to increase the breadth of my knowledge, training, and skills.

3) How has your CAS credential been a benefit to your district/ organization/ or employer?

The Providence Public School Department District Autism Team has benefited from my certification by helping parents and school staff members have enhanced confidence in our team’s ability to meet the needs of students with autism. The CAS credential signifies that I am a highly qualified service provider for students identified with Autism.

The majority of my clients as an In-Home Behavior Therapist for Northeast Behavioral Associates in Massachusetts are on the Autism Spectrum. The CAS credential provides families, collaborating agencies, and insurance companies recognition of my specialization and competence in providing appropriate services to individuals with Autism.

4) How do you like to be recognized, acknowledged and rewarded for a job well done?

My greatest reward for a job well done is witnessing the positive outcomes my students and clients achieve, as well as the feedback from caregivers celebrating these successes. The trust and confidence parents express in my abilities as they see their children progress provides motivation to continue to improve my skills, knowledge and understanding of Autism.

5) What is your greatest challenge or roadblock?

My greatest challenge is providing comprehensive and meaningful supports to students with Autism within a public school setting. My role as School Psychologist/BCBA requires provision of many services and supports including: ABA services, administration of standardized school based psychological assessments, counseling, social skills/social thinking training, and consultation to teachers for students from preschool through high school/transition throughout the school district.

6) What makes you feel like a valuable contributor?

I feel valued when others including clients, students, parents, teachers, administrators, and professionals from other agencies provide feedback that my input has been helpful and recommended interventions were effective. Sometimes this acknowledgement is demonstrated in actions rather than words. I think the biggest statement of my being a valuable contributor occurred this past summer during our Extended School Year Social Group Program when one of my students who had just completed 8^th grade, rode his bike to our program site one morning because he missed the bus!

7) What do you enjoy most about your job?

The most enjoyable part of my job is working with clients and students as they improve their skills and overcome personal obstacles.  Seeing a smile on the face of someone who has struggled to grasp a concept or skill, or to independently regulate their emotions/behavior when they achieve that personal goal is priceless.

8) What support, tools/resources, skills or empowerment do you need to be more effective?

I would embrace the inclusion of grade level social cognition standards and subsequent implementation of related curriculum in schools that are valued and supported by legislators and (Federal and State) Departments of Education. Social cognition is a key “readiness” component to learning (affecting reading comprehension, higher order thinking skills required for understanding of abstract concepts in academic content areas, and social emotional success at home, in school, the community, and eventually in the work setting) that often seems to be overlooked, perhaps because it is “an intuitive process” learned without direct instruction for most typically developing individuals.

9) What strengths or talents do you possess that aren’t being used?

My position as District Autism Team school psychologist allows me to utilize my knowledge and understanding of ASD and evidenced based practices to advocate for my school district to require and provide appropriate training of teachers and support staff who work with students on the Autism Spectrum, provide consultation to teachers across the continuum of educational settings, as well as provide direct ABA, counseling, and social skills services to students. I have the support of my colleagues and administrators to use my problem solving skills and creativity to integrate evidenced based interventions into the academic programming of students with Autism.

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