APEX SUMMER CAMP - Key Persons
LAUNCH Program Behavior Technician Ai Roach, CBT is a Behavior Analysis Intern at UW Autism Center Tacoma. She is working towards her BCBA credential and master's degree in Special Education in the ABA program at the University of Washington. She taught English to children in her home country, Japan for many years before moving to America. She received her BFA, major in fiber arts from the University of Washington in 2008. She has worked both in an ABA clinic as a behavior technician and in Special Education classrooms as a paraeducator at public schools. She is excited about meeting new clients and helping them thrive through the LAUNCH program at UW Autism Center. -back to top
LAUNCH Program Behavior Technician Zildjian Viers, CBT is getting his master's degree in the Social Work Program at the University of Washington Tacoma. He completed his bachelor's degree in Psychology at the UWT in 2015. He is completing his student practicum with the UW Autism Center, as well as working as a Certified Behavior Technician in the ABA LAUNCH program. -back to top
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant Lead
Alana graduated from Western Washington University with a B.S. in Geology. As an undergrad, Alana worked as a Laboratory Assistant in the WWU Department of Biology as well as the UW Department of Pharmacy. Her love of science brought her to work at the Bernier Lab. She currently builds databases and manages the data collected from all of our studies. Alana also pursues musical theatre professionally and performs at local theaters, including the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, and Village Theatre.
Alexandria is an advanced doctoral student in Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Her research interests focus on utilizing classroom behavior management interventions to prevent the use of exclusionary discipline practices in schools. In addition to her experience with APEX, Alexandria has worked in multiple school districts including Minneapolis Public Schools. Most recently, Alexandria completed clinical training with Minnesota's largest and most experienced provider of autism and early childhood mental health services. She has been with the APEX team since 2019.
Amany Eskandar was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, and moved to the United States in 1991.
She earned her bachelors degree in accounting.
She joined the UW Autism Center in April 2007 as a fiscal coordinator.
Her responsibilities include electronic claims, patient statements, and credentialing providers with payers.
Amany enjoys cooking world cuisines and traveling.
Amy is a licensed psychologist specializing in supporting youth with autism spectrum disorders and ADHD, as well as anxiety, depression, and related mood disorders. In her private practice, she focuses on addressing externalizing problems such as noncompliance, emotional dysregulation, and aggression. Amy received her PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Washington. She has been with the APEX team since its first year in 2013.
Caitlin is a school psychologist by training and an advanced doctoral student in Educational Psychology at the University of Washington. Her clinical and research interests focus on integrating evidence-based practices into real-world settings for school-age children. In particular, Caitlin's interests include social and behavioral intervention for children with challenging behavior, school-based social-emotional learning and mental health services, and special education inclusion. Caitlin has been with the APEX team since 2015, serving as a head counselor since 2019.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Principal Investigator
- Co - Principal Investigator of the Infant Brain Imaging Study Network
- Director of the University of Washington Autism Center
- Director, UW Autism Center
Annette Estes, PhD, is the director of the University of Washington Autism Center (UWAC), an organization committed to clinical services, research, and training to improve the lives of autistic individuals and their families across the lifespan. She holds the Susan and Richard Fade Endowed Chair, is a Research Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. She is also a licensed psychologist in the state of Washington. Her research is carried out at the UW Autism Center and Center on Human Development and Disability.
Over the last decade, Dr. Estes has served as principal investigator on a series of intervention studies for very young children with early signs of autism. These collaborative, multisite, studies have investigated innovations in naturalistic, developmental, behavioral intervention and ask the question, "how can we improve outcomes for very young autistic children." In collaborations with scientists and clinicians at University of California, Davis, University of Michigan, Vanderbilt University, Harvard, and University of California, Los Angeles, she has worked to expand the evidence regarding efficacious interventions and how to best support parents of very young autistic children.
Dr. Estes is also the co-principal investigator of the Infant Brain Imaging Study Network (IBIS) with Dr. Stephen Dager the University of Washington. She directs the behavioral assessment core of the multi-site IBIS Network with clinical sites at University of North Carolina, Washington University, Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, and UW. The aim of the IBIS is to improve early recognition of infants at high likelihood of autism and identify brain mechanisms that may lead to new trategies to help children reach their full potential and live their best lives.
Dr. Estes is especially interested in the role of the family in supporting positive outcomes for children with disabilities and improving the lives of autistic people.
Job Titles:
- Founding Director
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Director, APEX Program
Ben Aaronson, Ph.D. directs the Advanced Peer Experience (APEX) Program at the UW Autism Center. His primary focus is the development and execution of programs that provide advanced social skills opportunities for individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders.
He received training at the NYU Child Study Center, the Yale Child Study Center, and has been at the UW Autism Center since 2007.
Dr. Aaronson has been involved in research focusing on intervention, mirror neurons, and genetics, and served as a clinician across a variety of projects. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Washington and is an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine.
He has served as director of the APEX program since 2013. For more information about Apex Summer Camp, visit apexsummercamp.org.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Intake Coordinator
Cathy has held several positions at the University of Washington Center on Human Development and Disabilities including the UW Autism Center since 2003.
She is honored to support this team of researchers and clinical experts to improve the lives of people affected by autism.
Cathy enjoys time with family, gardening, vegetarian cooking and hiking.
Charu Gupta, M.Ed., BCBA is a behavior and education consultant at the UW Autism Center.
Charu received her M.Ed in Special Education from the University of Washington in 2006 where she specialized in Early Childhood Education. As a student teacher, she taught preschool at the Experimental Education Unit, and during her graduate program she obtained additional practicum experience working with students with autism. Charu began working with individuals with autism in New Delhi, India, in 1999 and has since held several volunteer, student and work positions.
In addition to her role in the clinic, Charu served as the team lead for the structured intervention group of the UW Autism Center of Excellence (ACE-II) NIH grant-funded study: TADPOLE (Toddlers with Autism: Developing Opportunities for Learning)
Charu is passionate about providing high quality services to individuals with autism and their families. Charu's areas of interest include early intervention for young children with autism and parent coaching.
Chelsea Deaconson, M.Ed., BCBA is a Lead BCBA in the ABA LAUNCH program and a member of the Training and Consultation Services team. Chelsea began as a behavior technician in 2009. In 2015, she became a BCaBA. In 2017, she received her M. Ed. from Washington State University and earned her BCBA credential in 2018.
Chelsea has worked with autistic children, teens, and adults in center, home, and community settings. She also has experience in staff training, parent training and center management. Chelsea is passionate about partnering with autistic individuals and their families to find practical strategies to teach important skills. She loves to train others and disseminate compassionate, evidence-based solutions.
Outside of the office, Chelsea loves baking, hiking, snowshoeing, and exploring the PNW.
Job Titles:
- Research Study Coordinator
Conor graduated from the University of Washington in 2021 with a B.S. in Psychology. As an undergraduate, Conor interned at the RABLab for three years and aided in research at UW's Disability Resources for Students. His research interests primarily lie in autism educational accessibility and mental health, and he hopes to pursue a PhD in cognitive, clinical, or industrial-organizational psychology within the next few years. Outside of lab, Conor enjoys making short films, drawing, and feeding birds!
Curtis graduated from the University of Washington in June 2017 with a premed degree. He is interested in neurobiology and its effect on behavior of both neurotypicals and neuroatypicals. As an undergraduate, Curtis was one of the original members of UW's HuskyMOSSAIC program. After graduation, he became an Advisory Board Member for UW's HuskyMOSSAIC and continues to attend their monthly social gatherings, offering advice/feedback on strategic planning. In his free time, Curtis enjoys listening to/reading the Bible, listening to music, and singing karaoke and performing with choirs. Fun Fact: Curtis memorized 355 digits of the number Pi in 10 minutes during a 7 th grade Pi Day contest!
Job Titles:
- Technician for the UWAC Seattle LAUNCH
Dayna Grove is a behavior technician for the UWAC Seattle LAUNCH program. She has her CBT and RBT certifications, and has enjoyed working in the ABA field since 2020. Dayna graduated from Gonzaga University in 2020 with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Sociology.
Dayna grew up in Portland, OR and moved to Seattle after undergrad. She loves to travel and immerse herself in new cultures and experiences. In her free time, Dayna enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and watching the Seattle Sounders and Kraken with her friends and family!
Job Titles:
- Technical Services Manager
- Research Engineer / Scientist
Dr. Frederick "Fritz" Reitz is a Research Engineer/Scientist serving as Technical Services Manager for the UW Autism Center (UWAC).
With a background in electrical engineering, protein biochemistry, and research instrumentation development and prototyping, Fritz provides systems, software, and instrumentation as needed in support of UWAC research as well as seeing to the day-to-day technical needs of the center.
Fritz is glad to contribute to UWAC's noble mission of providing and furthering autism care.
In his spare time, he tests his wife's patience by filling the house with half-finished projects, including trebuchets, unusual bicycles, and unnecessarily complicated electronics.
Job Titles:
- John Is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Research Scientist at the University of Washington Autism Center
Dr. Tanya St. John is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Research Scientist at the University of Washington Autism Center.
She completed her doctoral work at Seattle Pacific University, predoctoral internship at City of Hope National Medical Center, and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Washington Autism Center.
Dr. St. John has devoted her career to understanding autism across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on toddlers and young children.
Dr. St. John has served as project manager and diagnostic clinician on various NIH-funded studies including the Infant Brain Imaging Study and is an independent ADOS trainer.
Job Titles:
- John Is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Research Scientist at the University of Washington Autism Center
- Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Tanya St. John is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Research Scientist at the University of Washington Autism Center.
She completed her doctoral work at Seattle Pacific University, predoctoral internship at City of Hope National Medical Center, and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Washington Autism Center.
Dr. St. John has devoted her career to understanding autism across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on toddlers and young children.
Dr. St. John has served as project manager and diagnostic clinician on various NIH-funded studies including the Infant Brain Imaging Study and is an independent ADOS trainer.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist at the UW Autism Center
- Licensed Psychologist
Ella Vanderbilt-Adriance, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist at the UW Autism Center and the Director of Student Training.
Dr. Vanderbilt-Adriance received her Ph.D. in clinical and developmental psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Seattle Children's Hospital Autism Center.
At the UW Autism Center, she provides diagnostic evaluations across the lifespan and individual therapy to parents of autistic children to address issues related to stress management and improving quality of life. In addition, Dr. Vanderbilt-Adriance provides individual therapy to autistic adults focusing on anxiety and depression.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director, Clinical Psychology
Dr. Kurtz-Nelson received her Ph.D. in school psychology and MS in special education from the University of Oregon. She completed her clinical training at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE. Her research and clinical work center on the prevention of severe challenging behavior and the promotion of positive caregiver-child relationships for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Outside of work, Dr. Kurtz-Nelson enjoys reading, traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog.
Flo has worked at the clinic since December 2021 after transitioning from scheduling for UW Medicine's primary and specialty care clinics. Born in Zimbabwe and raised between there and sunny California; Flo, her partner, young child, and pup relocated to Washington two years ago. She studied Public Policy & Social Development at the University of Cape Town and has worked in a variety of fields (from aerospace to healthcare, with stints at King Canyon & Bryce Canyon National Parks in between).
Flo found her way to UWAC when her own child was diagnosed as autistic last fall and is passionate about connecting families to resources, socio-economic justice, and improving healthcare iniquities. In her free time, Flo enjoys baking, camping, photography, and road trips.
Dr. Rea received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Georgia and completed her clinical training at UC Davis MIND Institute and CAARE Center. Her research and clinical work focus on improving service delivery for individuals with developmental disabilities. In her free time, she enjoys training for triathlons, skiing, and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Director of Technical Services
- Research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Munson studies variability in the development of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His research contributes to the identification of the genetic basis of ASDs and to the development of more accurate prognoses and interventions. Currently, he is developing methods to analyze social skills and language comprehension in children with limited abilities to communicate. In these studies, he uses eye-tracking and other technologies to measure the responses of children to real-time 3-D graphics. Munson also uses various statistical methods to analyze patterns of development in children with ASDs.
Jenna Berger, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, is a behavior and education consultant at the UW Autism Center.
She received her M.Ed in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Washington and her BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Western Washington University.
Jenna's areas of interest include functional communication and early intervention for young children. She is grateful to be a part of a team that values interdisciplinary collaboration and neurodiversity.
Behavior Analysis Intern Cunxin (Tracy) Cheng is a graduate student in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at University of Washington. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and Elementary Education at Arizona State University. She is completing her practicum at the University of Washington Autism Center. Tracy is deeply passionate in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. -back to top
Job Titles:
- Director of Clinical Services
- Member of the Leadership Team
Prior to her role in the clinic, Dr. Greenson served as the associate director of a series of NIH funded clinical trails of ABA treatment for toddlers with ASD at UWAC. Dr. Greenson is certified in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) of therapy and works with parents of toddlers as an ESDM coach in the clinic. Dr. Greenson supervises the clinical issues that arise for families, children, and staff in the clinic and research. She is passionate about providing empirically validated treatments to the families being seen at the UWAC and the interface between the research and clinical programs.
When not working, Dr. Greenson can be found watching her teenagers playing sports, walking her dog, or enjoying good food and movie nights.
John Ketchum, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst for the UW Autism Center ABA LAUNCH program in Seattle.
John originally joined the UW Autism Center in 2014 as a research assistant and behavior technician. In 2020, he earned a master's in special education with a focus on applied behavior analysis.
John highly values addressing individual client needs with a flexible approach. He also strives to incorporate principles of neurodiversity into his practice.
Patient Navigator Email: uwacpsy@uw.edu Kate has worked in a number of fields including healthcare, IT, leadership development, and education. As a child, at 9, she spent a year in the Dominican Republic with her family working to provide healthcare for people living in extreme poverty. Today, she's an avid traveler who values curiosity, joy, adventure, complexity, intersectionality, and socioeconomic justice. She graduated from Seattle University in 2014 with two degrees in biology and interdisciplinary studies, and spent two summers as an outdoor educator in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys skiing, writing, painting, bright colors, and petting any and all dogs. -back to top
LAUNCH Program Navigator Email: hegemz@uw.edu Zach has worked at the clinic since September of 2021. He has a Bachelor's degree in Law, Societies, and Justice from the University of Washington and served on the department's student advisory board amongst other organizations at UW. Additionally, he received a Master's of Science in Urban Adolescent Education and Leadership from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York while completing a Teach For America commitment. Currently, he is attending Seattle University for his Master's in Public Administration. Previously working as a self-contained and resource room special education teacher in both New York and Seattle, Zach loves the opportunity to support children and families in a variety of settings here in his home state. Outside of work, he loves spending time in the outdoors with friends, playing tourist in new cities, and reading. -back to top
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Member of the Leadership Team
- UW Autism Center As the Director of Operations
Kathryn Larson joined the UW Autism Center as the Director of Operations in the Fall of 2016.
A Seattle native, Kathryn lived and raised her children in Michigan for 18 years before returning to the Northwest where she is surrounded by much of her family.
She enjoys the outdoors, reading, puzzles and spending time with family and friends.
Kathryn is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a team who loves what they do and are dedicated to caring for autistic children and their families.
Speech Language Pathologist Kelleen Dunley M.S. CCC-SLP, is a licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologist at the University of Washington Autism Center. She received her M.S. in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Washington in 2015. Kelleen has focused her career on supporting autistic individuals from toddlers through adulthood. Prior to joining UWAC, Kelleen completed her internship at Seattle Children's Autism Center before serving as the Speech Language Pathologist at an Autism Center in Snohomish, WA. Kelleen is passionate about supporting communication through collaborative services with individuals, families, and other professionals. Kelleen is Hanen certified and enjoys conducting play-based and individually focused therapy from toddlers to adulthood. -back to top
Kelly A. Johnson, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist at the UW Autism Center.
Dr. Johnson received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology with child clinical subspecialty from Loyola University Chicago, and received further postdoctoral training at the University of Washington's Center on Human Development & Disability.
At the UW Autism Center, Dr. Johnson provides diagnostic evaluations and consultation. She brings a broad range of experience working with individuals with disabilities and their families, including very young children through adults.
Job Titles:
- Program Support Supervisor / Training Coordinator
Lena is the Training Coordinator and Program Support Supervisor at the UW Autism Center.
She joined the Center in 2009 and has worked on various projects at the Center, including coordinating research studies and human subjects applications, assisting with developing Center-wide policies and procedures and clinic operations, and coordinating staff and community trainings and events.
Job Titles:
- Psychologist at the UW Autism Center
- Psychology
Dr. Harrington received his Psy.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, and trained as a postdoctoral fellow at UW's LEND program as well as the UW Autism Center.
Dr. Harrington is autistic himself and brings the personal and community perspective to his work. He provides neurodiversity-oriented meetings and presentations for autistic people, families, UWAC staff, and the community, as well as conducting diagnostic evaluations and parent coaching.
Madelyn Bascom is thrilled to be returning to the University of Washington Autism Center as a BCBA.
She originally joined UWAC in 2015 as an RBT in the clinic and on the TADPOLE study.
After attending graduate school at the University of Washington, she moved abroad to Vietnam where she worked as a BCBA at an ABA agency, providing behavior analytic services and training to families and professionals in Ho Chi Minh City.
Madelyn is excited to be a part of the UWAC team again as a Behavior and Education Consultant on the clinic and training teams!
Job Titles:
- Research Study Coordinator
Maggie graduated from the University of Washington in 2022 with a B.S. in Psychology. As an undergraduate, Maggie interned at an ADHD Behavioral Therapy lab at Seattle Children's Hospital. She also interned with Apex, which is a summer treatment program for kids with autism spectrum disorder. Maggie's love of research is what brought her to this lab. She hopes to one day earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, focusing on either ADHD or Autism and trauma. Outside of lab, Maggie loves to explore the many amazing state/national parks in Washington.
Behavior Analysis Intern I am currently working as a Behavior Analyst intern at the UWAC and a current Master's in Applied Behavior Analyst student at the University of Washington. I was born and raised in Indonesia, but I have lived in Seattle for 7 years. I received my bachelor's degree in psychology back in 2018 (also from the UW!). During my time at UW, I worked as an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Washington's READi Lab (Research for Early Autism Detection and Intervention. My main responsibility was to assist in the ImPACT study, a parent-implemented intervention that provided in-home teaching sessions over the course of 12 weeks for infants and toddlers who had older siblings diagnosed with ASD. After graduating from the UW, I worked as an early childhood educator, teaching a class of 14 toddlers, until deciding to enter the UW's Master in Applied Behavior Analysis program. During my free time, I enjoy going on long walks, a good book, a heartwarming TV-series or movie, or trying out new restaurants with friends and family! -back to top
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Director, Tacoma Clinic / Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Patricia Matestic, Ph.D., serves as a licensed clinical psychologist and clinic director at the UW Autism Center in Tacoma. Dr. Matestic received her Ph.D. in Clinical and Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and completed her internship at Seattle Children's Hospital. She received additional postdoctoral training at the Child Study and Treatment Center in Lakewood through the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and completed a two year APA accredited pediatric psychology fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma.
Currently at the UW Autism Center Tacoma, Dr. Matestic provides diagnostic evaluations, family and school consultations, and training and community engagement through autism specific presentations and involvement in local support networks such as the South Sound Autism Partnership. Dr. Matestic has a broad range of clinical expertise working with both children and adults including individuals with comorbid medical diagnoses, developmental disabilities and genetic disorders, chronic sleep difficulties, toileting problems, and mood and behavior problems.
Rikhia is a Nursing and Psychology undergraduate student at the University of Washington. Her research interests revolve around developing positive peer relationships in school-age children. Rikhia received the 2020 Mary Gates Undergraduate Research Scholarship with Dr. Aaronson's mentorship. Rikhia hopes to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, focusing on family-centered care. She has been with working with the APEX Program since 2018.
Robin Finlayson, M.Ed., BCBA, is a behavior and education consultant at the UW Autism Center.
Robin received her M.Ed. in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Washington. She has provided services for individuals with autism and related conditions since 2009.
Prior to joining the UW team, Robin was selected through the Australian Aid Development Program to travel to Vanuatu and develop an early intervention program for the Vanuatu Society for People with Disability and serve as a consultant to the Vanuatu Ministry of Education. She has also provided services to children with autism in her hometown of Sydney, Australia, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle.
Alongside her work with families and schools through the UW Autism Center, Robin is pursuing her Ph.D. in Special Education at the University of Washington. Robin's research and clinical interests include parent and teacher coaching, the use of telehealth to support remote and underserved populations, and helping families find effective ways to improve their children's sleep.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
Robin Talley, M.Ed, BCBA, is the Director of Training and Consultation Services and the Director of ABA LAUNCH Program at the UW Autism Center. She has provided services to autistic children since 1999. She received her M.Ed. and teaching license from the University of Washington in 2004 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2005. Robin is certified in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), which are naturalistic strategies based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis.
Robin provides clinical oversight of the ABA LAUNCH Program and engages in professional outreach with the community. She is passionate about providing care to young children and disseminating information on evidenced-based trainings and consultation to the greater community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
- Professor
Samuel Zinner, MD, provides developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) consultation to address a range of medical issues for children, youth, and their families at the UW Autism Center. The DBP subspecialty focuses on psychosocial and neurologic influences on behavior and development.
Dr. Zinner is a professor of pediatrics and a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician, and serves as the fellowship program director of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital. He completed medical school at the University of California San Diego, residency training in general pediatrics at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles in 1997, and fellowship subspecialty training in general academic pediatrics and in developmental-behavioral pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital in 1999. He joined the faculty at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 1999 followed by the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2003.
Dr. Zinner's clinical, research, and advocacy interests focus on tic disorders and their associated conditions including autism spectrum disorders, as well as on medical training in his subspecialty of DBP. His clinical activities include outpatient consultation at the UW Autism Center and the Seattle Children's Hospital Neurodevelopmental Clinic.
Dr. Zinner is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.
Job Titles:
- Operations
- Speech Language Pathologist
Sara Gratz, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a licensed and ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist at the University of Washington Autism Center. She received her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Washington in 2016.
Prior to joining the UWAC, Sara provided speech and language services in outpatient clinics in the Seattle area, during which she developed a particular interest in serving autistic children. She has completed additional training in the SOS Approach to Feeding as well as PROMPT. Sara especially enjoys conducting play-based therapy with toddler, preschool, and school-age children. She is passionate about working with children, families, and other therapists to provide functional and collaborative evaluation and treatment services.
Job Titles:
- Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Webb's research focuses on the use of electroencephalography (EEG), event-related potentials (ERPs), eye tracking, and behavioral measures to study how infants, children, and adults learn about their social environment, and how that learning is impacted by developmental disruptions.
Her current work covers several areas including (1) attention, perceptual, cognitive, and social abilities in individuals with developmental disabilities including autism, Fragile X, and developmental delay; (2) early risk markers and protective factors for ASD; and (3) development of biomarkers for use in clinical trials. These projects represent an effort to understand the neural circuits that contribute to and underlie atypical development. Currently, she is the principal investigator of several projects sponsored by the NIH and has had funding from Autism Speaks, Autism Science Foundation, SFARi, Korean Foundation, and Seattle Children's Research institute.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Sara Woods, Ph.D. (née O'Neil) is a clinical psychologist at the UW Autism Center in Tacoma. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the APA-accredited University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She also completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington Center for Human Development and Disability Child Development Clinic in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program.
At the UW Autism Center, Sara provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations to people of all ages, as well as providing individual therapy, consultation, and education. Sara has published articles on autism, parenting, reading, and emotion regulation, and has presented at national and international conferences. Her research interests include ways in which parents teach their children about emotions, the meaning of autism from multiple perspectives, effective communication of diagnoses, and social development.
Sara brings a strong lifespan approach having worked with infants through elderly in a variety of settings, including schools, outpatient clinics, inpatient hospitals, emergency departments, and university clinics. In addition to autism spectrum disorders, Sara has experience with a range of other presenting issues including trauma-related problems, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, and learning disorders. She is passionate about helping children, adults, and families to improve their lives by equipping them with knowledge and skills while helping them to discover the strengths that they already have.
Job Titles:
- Counselor
- Head
- School Psychologist
Taylor is a school psychologist in the Lake Washington School District where she serves children ages five to 10 with a wide range of behavioral and academic challenges. In her work, Taylor draws on training experiences co-leading Incredible Years groups and working as a Registered Behavior Technician to support social/emotional skill development in students. She received her Specialist in Education (EdS) in School Psychology from the University of Washington in 2020 and has been with the APEX program since 2018.
Job Titles:
- Research Study Assistant, Seattle Children 's Autism Center
Theo obtained a Master's in Public Health from the University of Edinburgh in 2012. He has experience working with all age groups of the ASD population, in a variety of capacities, spanning the entire continuum of ASD. He is interested in health care service delivery to marginalized patient populations, specifically health care scenarios involving peripheral-careers (informal and professional) centered around young adult patients on the spectrum. In his spare time, Theo enjoys growing spare thyme and never making bad puns.
Tyler is a faculty member and psychologist in the PEARL Clinic at Seattle Children's Hospital. His work focuses on young children with ADHD and related disorders and their families. Tyler received intensive training in the Summer Treatment Program model as an undergraduate intern in the flagship program at the University of Buffalo. He went on to receive his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Pennsylvania State University and is an Acting Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences in the UW School of Medicine. He has been with the APEX program since 2016.
Wayne received his M.Ed in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Washington.
After entering the field in 2011, he gained an interest in evidence-based practices for effective treatment design, with a focus on communication and community access. His experience ranges across school, community, and clinic-based settings, serving a diverse population.
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- APEX Program Manager
- Program Manager of the APEX Summer Camp Program
- Technical Services
Will McCloud, Ed.S received his Ed.S in School Psychology from the University of Florida in 2014. Prior to joining the UW Autism Center, Will received training in the public schools, early childhood centers, and developmental research schools providing psychoeducational evaluation, counseling, and social skills instruction to children.
Will has served in various roles with UWAC research since 2016, including the TADPOLE, TAM, and IBIS studies.
Will currently serves as the Program Manager of the APEX Summer Camp Program, and supports the program's clinical, training, and research initiatives. Will's areas of interest include social skill development in school-aged children, parent training, and preparing future clinicians for work in the field.
LAUNCH Program Navigator Email: hegemz@uw.edu Zach has worked at the clinic since September of 2021. He has a Bachelor's degree in Law, Societies, and Justice from the University of Washington and served on the department's student advisory board amongst other organizations at UW. Additionally, he received a Master's of Science in Urban Adolescent Education and Leadership from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York while completing a Teach For America commitment. Currently, he is attending Seattle University for his Master's in Public Administration. Previously working as a self-contained and resource room special education teacher in both New York and Seattle, Zach loves the opportunity to support children and families in a variety of settings here in his home state. Outside of work, he loves spending time in the outdoors with friends, playing tourist in new cities, and reading. -back to top
LAUNCH Program Behavior Technician Zildjian Viers, CBT is getting his master's degree in the Social Work Program at the University of Washington Tacoma. He completed his bachelor's degree in Psychology at the UWT in 2015. He is completing his student practicum with the UW Autism Center, as well as working as a Certified Behavior Technician in the ABA LAUNCH program. -back to top