Dr. Caleb Stanley is currently an assistant professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Utah Valley University. Dr. Stanley graduated with a master’s and PhD degree in Behavior Analysis & Therapy from Southern Illinois University. Dr. Stanley is a doctorate level Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has nearly a decade of experience working as a behavior analyst in both research and clinical capacities. Dr. Stanley’s primary area of expertise is concerned with understanding variables related to the development of complex language and cognition using contemporary behavior analytic approaches. Dr. Stanley has published over 40 publications inclusive of articles in peer-reviewed behavior analytic journals, textbooks, and several book chapters related to his area of expertise. Much of his clinical experience has been devoted to the application of contemporary behavior analytic procedures and principles, such as those rooted in relational frame theory, to individuals with autism to teach complex language. Recently, he has sought to understand how such procedures can be applied to neurotypical individuals as well. Dr. Stanley intends to continue this line of research and clinical work, but also expand it to determine how relation frame theory influences other complex behaviors.

Dr. Crystal Emery has worked as a transition professional for young children and adolescents for over 25 years. She has a master’s in special education with an emphasis in secondary transition and a doctorate in disability studies through Utah State University. She is certified as an early intervention specialist, a coach for early childhood professionals, an employment specialist, and a customized employment professional. She currently works for the Utah State Board of Education’s postsecondary transition team as the state systemic improvement plan specialist and facilitates the Statewide Collaborative on Postsecondary Transition, which aims to improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. She enjoys presenting to professionals and families alike.

Esteban Benites-Moreno (he/him/El) is a community health educator at Planned Parenthood. He provides sexuality education in Salt Lake County and focuses primarily on providing LGBTQ+ inclusive sex ed. He also facilitates the peer group Teen Council. His experience as an undocuqueer immigrant with DACA living in the United States introduced him to social justice movements and his passion for promoting and advocating for equity for oppressed and marginalized persons. He is a graduate of the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor's degree in health education and promotion.

Dr. Carlson is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Doctoral) with more than 35 years of experience working with children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Carlson began her career as a special education teacher and received her PhD in clinical psychology from SUNY Stony Brook, under the mentorship of Dr. Edward Carr. Dr. Carlson has held leadership roles at a number of programs serving individuals with ASD, including the Groden Center in RI, and the May Institute in MA. She served as an expert panelist on the National Standards Project, a review of evidence-based practices in the treatment of autism. She has also served as education director of the Autism Center at Virginia Commonwealth University and as assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She has directed the Autism Inclusion Project at the Developmental Disabilities Institute in Smithtown, NY, providing technical assistance and training to public schools to build capacity to serve students with ASD. Dr. Carlson has mentored graduate students and served as adjunct faculty at Fitchburg State College, Northeastern University, Salve Regina University, and the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Dr. Carlson is currently assistant professor in the School of Education at UVU, where she directs the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism, coordinates the MEd in Applied Behavior Analysis, and teaches in the Autism Studies program. Dr. Carlson has presented her work at national and international conferences and her publications have been translated for international audiences.

Dr. Jessica Cauchi, BCBA-D, CPBA-AP, is a behavior analyst who has worked with people on the autism spectrum for over 20 years. She resides in Ontario, Canada, and is the clinical director of Atlas Behaviour Consultation. Dr. Cauchi received her PhD in applied behavior analysis from Endicott College. She is interested in meaningful programming, rapport and assent, progressive ABA, and research and clinical practice in curriculum development and effective teaching practices in sexuality skills for persons on the autism spectrum.

Julie Swanson is a special education advocate and the parent of an autistic adult. She is passionate about improving outcomes in adulthood for autistic students. This passion grew into her social media platform, The Life Skills Lady (@lifeskillslady), where she promotes the ten domains of life skills and how they can improve quality of life for an autistic individual. Julie is also the author of Your Special Education Rights: What Your School District Isn’t Telling You and the companion website yourspecialeducationrights.com, a video-based website that helps parents understand their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Laurie Bowen has worked with and learned from individuals and families living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for more than 20 years. She serves as associate director for the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism at UVU, where she focuses on community outreach. She has served as chair of the Autism Conference Planning Committee for the past several years. She has worked to support programs designed for transition-aged individuals with ASD, such as Passages and Educational Coaching. She also teaches in the Autism Studies program at UVU. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and is completing her PhD from the University of Northern Colorado in special education. She was awarded the Autism Hero Award from Autism Resources of Utah County Council in 2020.

Marette Monson, LCSW, is a nationally certified expert in treating compassion fatigue. She was mentored by Dr. Eric Gentry and trained as a compassion fatigue educator by the Figley Institute. Marette has twenty years of experience working as a mental health therapist for individuals on the spectrum and their families in Utah. She currently owns a practice in Salt Lake City called The Center for Counseling Excellence.

Molly Dellinger-Wray (she/her) is a member of the Partnership for People with Disabilities, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She earned her master’s degree in special education from the State University of New York at Buffalo and began her career as a special educator for children with significant support needs and autism. Molly was endorsed as a facilitator of the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Project in 2007 and co-leads Home and Community PBS, a network of the International Association of PBS. For the past 15 years, she has assisted children and adults with intellectual and development disabilities navigate issues surrounding violence, abuse, sexual assault, and neglect through efforts like Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention (LEAP). Molly regularly contributes to published academic journals and Parenting Special Needs Magazine and is a certified trainer for Person-Centered Thinking and Stewards of Children. Her goal is to help everyone enjoy healthy relationships.

Morgan Jacobs (she/her) is a certified social worker and the program director of Wolverines Elevated at Utah Valley University, a college program for students with intellectual disability. She teaches courses on self-determination and the transition to adulthood, including comprehensive sex education. Both as an educator and a queer woman herself, Morgan wants to see all spaces become safer, more affirming, and places where queer and trans students can thrive. She is originally from Richmond, Virginia, and moved to Utah from Massachusetts after completing a dual master’s in social work and special education from Boston University.

Priscilla Villaseñor-Navarro is a first-generation Mexican-Dominican and first-generation student. She is majoring in integrated studies and will graduate in the spring of 2023. Priscilla started her time at UVU working in the Student Leadership and Involvement Office, where she learned about the different opportunities and resources she has as a student. While learning how to get involved and building connections throughout campus, Priscilla became a student fellow at the Center for Social Impact, a campus department that provides curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular student experiences in six diverse pathways of social impact. During her time at the Center, she lead initiatives related to community organization and activism and discovered a passion for equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) work. As the presidential intern for the Office of Inclusion, Priscilla strives to create awareness of EID work that is currently being done on campus and support initiatives by students. She is a firm believer that social change only happens at the speed of relationships and that relationships happen at the speed of trust.

Spicer W. Carr (he/him) is a New York City-based composer-lyricist specializing in musical theater, opera, and theatre for young audiences. As a queer, autistic writer, Spicer seeks out similarly underrepresented voices and uses his unique perspective to help explore their stories. Current projects include The Four Lost Santas, a comic Christmas opera about performers making it work during the holidays (commissioned by Opera Orlando); The Rocking Boy, a semi-autobiographical children’s musical about growing up with autism and learning to connect and accept others for “all of you”; and Here, a non-linear song cycle that explores grief and the relationships between religious parents and their queer children (commissioned by Cincinnati Song Initiative and The National Association of Teachers of Singing). Other additions in Spicer’s vocal catalogue include song cycles (Dreams, U Up?), musicals (Chance the Snapper, You Were There), and operas (Sabbath, Disillusioned, Touché ). His Instrumental work includes pieces for piano (Of no Concern, Nocturnes for an Insomniac), big band (Lunch Rush), and a violin concerto (Daydreams). Spicer has also written several children’s plays (Who Turned out the Lights?!, Pieces of Eight). Spicer’s work has been developed and performed by Opera Orlando, Quintessence Theatre Group, the TYE Center, Utah Valley University Chamber Symphony, Utah Valley University Jazz Orchestra, Secondary Players, MusiCoLab, Temple University Theater, the Purple Crayon Players, Really Spicy Opera, and Opera Praktikos. Spicer is a graduate of Temple University, where he participated in the inaugural MFA cohort for musical theatre collaboration. Spicer is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild.

https://www.spicercarrcomposer.com/

Tina Persels is, first and foremost, mom to Adam, who is 22 years old and lives with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, autism, epilepsy, non-verbal speech impairment, and medical complexity. Tina has served as a family advocate and parent consultant for Utah Family Voices for 16 years, where she has worked directly with children and youth with special health care needs. She also works as a parent educator for the Utah Regional Lend Program and as a program coordinator and artist for Kindred Spirits Art. She is a member of several Utah advisory committees, including the Utah Office of Childcare Advisory Committee, the Community Health Improvement Planning Committee, the Utah Department of Health Medical Care Advisory Committee, and the Intermountain Financial Services Advisory Council. She is also an author, editor, and reviewer for the University of Utah’s Medical Home Portal website.

Worner Leland (they/them), BCBA, LBA, currently serves as an educator for Sex Ed Continuing Ed and collaborative writer and presenter with the Assent Lab and the Louisiana Contextual Science Research Group. They have served as the president of the Sexual Behavior Research and Practice special interest group for the Association for Behavior Analysis International and as a researcher and educator with Upswing Advocates. Their work focuses on sex education, assent and consent education, and harm and coercion reduction education in behavior analysis. To learn more about their research, you can contact them at worner@sexedcontinuinged.com.