Providing college-level support and training
for students, parents, & professionals
involved with the autism spectrum community

OUR TEAM

Co-director:
Higher Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Inc.
Jane Thierfeld Brown is Director of Student Services at the University of Connecticut School of Law. She has worked in disability services for 33 years. Dr. Brown received her B.A. from the University of Rhode Island in Speech Pathology. While coordinator of disability services at URI she received her M.S. in Counseling and M.A. in Education. She holds an Ed.D from Columbia University, Teachers College. At Barnard College she directed a federal grant program on women with disabilities in higher education. Dr. Brown's main research interests are students with Asperger's Syndrome in higher education and students with disabilities in high-stakes graduate programs. She consults at many higher education institutions and is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences on Asperger's Syndrome. She has co-authored two books on the subject: "Students With Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for College Personnel" and "The Parent's Guide To College For Students On The Autism Spectrum." Dr. Brown has three children, the youngest of whom is a 20-year-old son on the spectrum.


Co-director:
Higher Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Inc.
Lisa King obtained her Master's Degree in Education from the College of William and Mary and has worked with students with disabilities in K12 and postsecondary education environments for 20 years. As a Disability Specialist in higher education she has worked extensively with students with Aspergers and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Under the guidance of national experts, Jane Thierfeld Brown, Ed.D. (UCONN) and Lorraine Wolf, Ph.D. (Boston U), Ms. King led a two year pilot program at the University of Minnesota implementing a new model of service: Strategic Education for Asperger Students (SEAD). She is a frequent presenter and trainer, locally and nationally on topics related to best practices for working with students on the spectrum in higher education settings. She is also a wife to Chris and mother of Ian and Bryn.


Consultant:
Higher Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Inc.
Lorraine Wolf received her undergraduate degree from Hampshire College, with concentrations in genetics and bioethics. She received a master's degree in general psychology from New York University and a doctorate in neuropsychology from City University of New York. Dr. Wolf was a postdoctoral fellow in clinical neuropsychology at the Cornell University Medical College. P rior to coming to Boston, she held faculty appointments in psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Columbia University School of Medicine. Dr. Wolf has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has published and presented extensively on attention and cognitive functioning in children and young adults.

Dr. Wolf holds faculty appointments as assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine and as adjunct associate professor of rehabilitation sciences at the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University. Her research interests include the neuropsychology of attention disorders and service delivery for students with Asperger's Syndrome and other neuropsychiatric disabilities.

She has co-edited the texts Adult Attention Deficit Disorder: Brain Mechanisms and Life Outcomes (2001) published by the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences and is senior co-editor of Adult Learning Disorders: Current Controversies (2008), the Psychology Press of Taylor and Francis. She is co-author of "Students With Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for College Personnel" and the parent of twin boys, one of whom is on the autism spectrum.


Consultant:
Higher Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Inc.
Laura DiGalbo received her B.A. in psychology from Randolph-Macon Woman's College and her M.Ed. from the University of Hartford in counseling. She is a nationally certified Rehabilitation Counselor and licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut.

Ms. DiGalbo has worked in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation and Public Policy for 35 years as a practitioner, supervisor, administrator and consultant. It was during this time that she developed an interest in transition law and its implications for students with disabilities as they exit public education..Ms DiGalbo was responsible for developing and implementing policy and practice around transition to post secondary education and employment for all youth including those with disabilities for the State of Connecticut.

She is currently in private practice providing consultation to students, their families, secondary private and public schools as well as post secondary institutions throughout the country around transition to post secondary education, employment and adulthood. Ms DiGalbo presents at conferences nationally and internationally on this topic as well.

Laura is currently adjunct faculty in the Graduate Schools of Central Connecticut State University, Springfield College and Assumption College.


Consultant:
Higher Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Inc.
Nicholas Faranda received his undergraduate degree from Binghamton University, with concentrations in history and anthropology. He received a Master's degree in Teaching from Teachers College-Columbia University, a Master's of Education in Counseling from Boston University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Prior to coming to Boston, he taught 7th grade Social Studies at Scarsdale Middle School in Scarsdale, NY. Before accepting the position of Student Services Coordinator in 2008, Nicholas spent two years as the Graduate Intern in the Office of Disability Services while completing his Master's degree. After graduation, he continued his work as a Graduate Fellow, and also as a Student Intervention Specialist (Executive Functioning) at Clarke Middle School in Lexington, MA.

As the Coordinator of Student Services, Nicholas is responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities have the appropriate access, accommodations and supports while at BU. He also assists with eligibility-related documentation review, provides academic coaching for students with learning and/or psychological/psychiatric disabilities, and participates in the incoming student orientation program to inform all new students about the Office's role in student life.


Consultant:
Higher Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders, Inc.
Carrie Kelley received her B.A. in psychology from the College of St. Benedict and her M.A. from the University of Minnesota in Speech-Language Pathology.

Ms. Kelley has worked with high school and college students with Asperger syndrome since 2006. Her experience began as a graduate intern at the University of Minnesota in the Disability Services Office under the direction of Lisa King.

Ms. Kelley works full-time as a Speech-Language Pathologist in a skilled nursing facility with adults with cognitive, language, speech, voice, and swallowing disorders. In addition, she works in a regional hospital treating inpatients as well as patients on the acute rehabilitation and transitional care units.