Natalie Daines is a junior psychology major at Brigham Young University. She is a dedicated student with wide-ranging interests who plans a research career related to developmental factors that predict success for autistic adults. She values friendship and is author and editor of the short story anthology "Flying Squirrels Against Loneliness," a compilation of personal experiences intended to help anyone who is feeling lonely to embrace everything that makes being a little different such a great thing, and take on loneliness together. Natalie presents frequently on the value of autistic perspectives in everyday society. Natalie is also a "maker" who loves to create functional objects out of non-traditional materials, such as a phone case from a Pop-Tart. She loves to jump and to hang with her best-in-the-world dogs.

My name is Michael Davies. I am the Program Director for Passages Transition Services at the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism at UVU. I have been an ally to and professionally supported Autistic folks in a variety of teaching roles and schools from preschools to college and beyond. I am always one who values the life stories of hardships and successes from those on the Autism Spectrum and know that their voice is what will propel the movement of acceptance and inclusivity forward. I aim to facilitate safe spaces where Autistic folks can have experiences that make them feel a sense of belonging. My own sense of belonging stems from my wonderful, two dogs, and all of our fun adventures.

Crystal Emery is a secondary transition professional with over 25 years of experience working with young children and adolescents. She is certified as an early intervention specialist, a Coach for Early Childhood Professionals, an Employment Specialist, and a Customized Employment professional. She has a Master of Science in Special Education with an emphasis in secondary transition and a Doctorate in Disability Studies both from Utah State University. Her primary line of research focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration to improve postschool outcomes for students with disabilities. Crystal worked in Early Intervention with children ages 0-3 and their families for 15 years and then spent 12 years working with transition-age youth as a transition services program manager. She currently works for the Utah State Board of Education as the State Systemic Improvement Plan Specialist as part of the postsecondary transition team. She is active in the professional learning community in Utah as a trainer and coach in the fields of early childhood and secondary transition services and enjoys presenting to professionals and families alike.

Barbara graduated with a degree in Business Management, spent over 25 years within the business world with extensive years of service with her community. Her involvement included multiple community councils, parent training, parent advocacy and school level involvement focusing her energies to support parents. As a mother of four wonderful daughters, she has come to realize the great influence a community can have on parents to increase their perspective and skill level.

She received a Masters of Public Administration in 2008. For the last 20 years, she has worked within the United Way of Utah County overseeing several programs including home visitation, the Help Me Grow (HMG) system statewide in Utah, the statewide implementation of Strengthening Families Framework: Five Protective Factors and working within the early childhood area to build regional and state systems that support parents. She has worked with a targeted community to implement a partnership that focuses on outcomes of young children and their families.

She has also trained nationally with the Strengthening Families Framework Training Team through the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds. She has supported the National Help Me Grow team in advising states that are in the process of implementing a statewide HMG. Because of her love for parents, she developed a parent engagement tool disseminated across the Help Me Grow national affiliates called “Books, Blocks and Balls.” She has been involved with parents in writing a curriculum specifically for parents on embracing the protective factors in their everyday lives. She has worked extensively within her own community to help lead and facilitate early childhood work and is now involved in the process of combining the parent leaders and systems building together.

Dr. Jared Morris is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education at Brigham Young University. Jared completed his PhD in special education with a minor in educational psychology at The Pennsylvania State University. He also completed a graduate certificate in applied behavior analysis at The Pennsylvania State University. He received a master’s degree in special education from The University of Utah, a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University and an associate degree from Utah Valley State College. Jared taught students with disabilities in various settings for five years.

Dr. Thomas S. Higbee is a professor of special education and rehabilitation at Utah State University and founder and director of the Autism Support Services: Education, Research, and Training (ASSERT) program, an early intensive behavioral intervention program for children with autism. He is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and a licensed behavior analyst in the state of Utah. His research focuses on the development of effective educational and behavioral interventions for children with ASD and related disabilities, which includes developing effective strategies to teach parents and professionals how to implement such interventions.

Jennifer McDonough has dedicated her entire career to the employment of individuals with disabilities. She has 25 years of experience working for Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. Ms. McDonough began her career as a job coach/employment specialist and as responsibilities were added, her title and role in the center have changed. Ms. McDonough has been a leader at the center for more than 10 years and currently serves as the Principal Investigator for a NIDILRR-funded research study as well as the Project Director for the NIDILRR Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Successful Employer Practices for Individuals with Disabilities. She also serves as the Virginia Project SEARCH Statewide Coordinator. Ms. McDonough has served as the Project Director for three other NIDILRR-funded Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects over the past 14 years. Throughout her career at the VCU-RRTC, Ms. McDonough has served as a national expert in the field of employment for people with disabilities and is a sought-after national speaker. She has worked with numerous businesses to support and expand their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. She has shared the knowledge of her work with more than 200 audiences across the country at state, national and international conferences. She has co-authored numerous journal articles and book chapters on employment topics such as effective employer practices for hiring individuals with disabilities, supporting youth with autism, building business relationships, customized and supported employment, and the use of work incentives for SSI/SSDI recipients and beneficiaries. Ms. McDonough has served as a leader for the VCU-RRTC in building business relationships and has served as a liaison with numerous large businesses in assisting them in hiring initiatives to improve their diversity and inclusion of individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Jared Morris is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education at Brigham Young University. Jared completed his PhD in special education with a minor in educational psychology at The Pennsylvania State University. He also completed a graduate certificate in applied behavior analysis at Pennsylvania State University. He received a master’s degree in special education from The University of Utah, a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University and an associate degree from Utah Valley State College. Jared taught students with disabilities in various settings for five years.

Janae Moss is the co-owner of RBM Building Services and sister companies, the largest family-owned building maintenance company in the Intermountain West. She is also a co-founder of Parents Driving Change, an NGO encouraging people to recognize and use their innate ability to lead.

Janae invests in communities and helps develop the strengths of people and families. Janae is currently working on her PsyD in Sport and Performance Psychology and applying this work with a specific focus to support parents

Josh is the cooking instructor at ScenicView Academy, where he works alongside a multitude of students helping them develop the skills to cook and design individualized meal plans, helping them find the joy in creating something delicious along the way. Tapping into the power of an autistic special interest, Josh mastered the skills for cooking and enjoys creating fine-dining dishes inspired by the local ingredients of his native New Mexico. Josh considered using AI to write this bio, as a robot writing about a robot seemed deliciously appropriate, but, unfortunately, he couldn't get past the CAPTCHA code.

Mikle South received a BA in psychology from Yale University in 1994 followed by a PhD in child clinical psychology at the University of Utah in 2005, then returned to the Yale Child Study Center for postdoctoral training in developmental neuroimaging. The early part of his career was spent as professor in the Department of Psychology at Brigham Young University in Utah. He moved in 2021 to the Emory University School of Medicine as a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Director of Emory Autism Center which provides services and education focused on inclusion and belonging for autistic people of all ages. Dr. South’s research seeks better understanding regarding interactions of anxiety and autism in brain and behavior, which elevate the impact of other mental health concerns including risks for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Dr. South has worked clinically with children and adults of all ages and specializes in diagnostic evaluation of teens and adults, including previously undiagnosed women, with an emphasis on listening and respecting client perspectives. He enjoys hiking and biking with his wife or getting out on his electric scooter, and eating New Haven style pizza.

Jared Stewart, M.Ed., BCBA, was named the 2011 Educator of the Year by the National Association of Private Special Education Centers, the 2018 Presenter of the Year by the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, and the 2020 Hero for Autism by the Autism Resources of Utah County. As a Program Director for Provo Utah’s ScenicView Academy— a transitional school for neurodiverse adults targeting functional independence— he teaches his students to recognize and embrace the strengths of their diagnoses while they strive to maximize their potential for success. He is an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University, where he helps run their annual Conference on Autism and assists with the Melisa Nellesen Center’s Passages Program as a life-skills instructor and curriculum developer. He has been Chair of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council and currently serves on several local and national advisory boards for autism and related conditions. Jared has spent over two decades working with neurodivergent adolescents and adults as a teacher, life coach, and licensed behavior analyst, and has shared his views on the techniques and mindsets that lead to improved outcomes for these individuals with audiences around the world. His passion for the subject arises from personal experience: he has numerous family members on the Spectrum, and he was diagnosed with autism himself as an adult. In his rare free moments, Jared enjoys reading, hiking, writing, and spending time with his wife and three children. Throughout his career he has always adhered to the belief that there is untapped greatness in everyone, regardless of their so-called “disabilities”.

D. Nicholas Top Jr is a psychologist and researcher currently providing therapy/assessment services and conducting psychotherapy process research at UVU Student Health Services. He has 10 years of experience conducting autism research and 8+ years providing therapy/ services assessments for folks on the autism spectrum. He completed his PhD in clinical psychology from Brigham Young University in 2020.