Suzy Ahlman has experience teaching in all grade levels, as a school director, and in the legal field. Her passion to work with those who have disabilities came from her three younger brothers who are on the autism spectrum. She is an alumni from both Utah Valley University with a bachelors in Special Education and a minor in Autism Studies, and the University of San Diego School of Law with a Masters in Legal Studies and emphasis in Disability and Education Law. Suzy strives to teach, educate, protect, and represent those who are in need of learning about diversity, equality, and advocacy. She currently teaches at UVU and is the Program Manager for Wolverines Elevated and serves as the Junior Co-Chair for the Autism Resources of Utah County Council.
Roxy Ahlman is a senior at the University of San Diego and will be graduating in the spring with her bachelors in Sociology with a concentration in Law, Crime, and Justice. Roxy will continue to Law School to pursue a career in criminal law. She intends to be an advocate for underrepresented and marginalized victims and criminal defendants, as well as contributing to the prison reform movement. Roxy believes that everyone deserves to be heard and seen. As an advocate, she wants to work to remove racist, classist, sexist, and ableist legal practices from our justice system, recognizing the reproduction of unfair and unjust outcomes for systemically disadvantaged groups of people.
My name is Kate Browne and I’m a freshman at UVU. I’m majoring in Social Work and I’m working towards getting my Autism Studies Certificate. I was diagnosed with autism when I was 18 which was challenging and I’m still moving towards accepting myself fully due to those challenges, which is why I want to be an advocate for neurodivergent people. Additionally, I want to bring awareness to what mental illness and mental disabilities are outside of the stigma that surrounds them and educate society on how best to accept and understand people with different brains and different ways of processing and experiencing the world.
Doc Clegg (They/Them) is an advocate, technologist, and storyteller dedicated to fostering inclusion and empowering neurodiverse individuals. They hold an Associate in Applied Science in Information Systems/Technology from Utah Valley University and serve as the Front Desk and Office Assistant at the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism. As a member of the presidency of UVU’s Autism Club, Autism Incorporated, Doc plays a vital role in creating initiatives that reflect the values and voices of the Autistic community.
Doc is passionate about ensuring that all events, programs, and initiatives for Autistic individuals are designed with their input, not just for them. Their lived experience with ADHD and Autism informs their advocacy, highlighting the importance of resilience, individuality, and the celebration of diverse perspectives in everything they do.
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.
Jacob Dominguez is an assistant for the Passages Program at the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism. While working there, he teaches different classes, and provides assistance for the students of the program. He was diagnosed with autism when he was a boy, and there is nothing he loves more than being a teacher and an advocate for those who are also on the autism spectrum. He is currently attending school at Utah Valley University, and he is grateful for the love and support from his entire family.
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.
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.
Kim Seely is an autistic adult and a graduate of Scenic View Academy where she works as a Librarian at the school. She lives independently in Provo with her new husband. She grew up in Ephraim, Utah and graduated from Manti High School. She likes family history, reading, and music, mostly playing the piano or singing.
Mikle South, PhD is Director of Emory Autism Center in the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Dr. South’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Yale University, a PhD in child clinical psychology from the University of Utah with Dr. Sally Ozonoff, and post-doctoral training at the Yale Child Study Center with Dr. Bob Schultz. His research focuses on factors that contribute to co-occurring mental health conditions with autism including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. His research group is also interested in exploring how autistic people experience identity. Clinically, Dr. South has extensive experience in late diagnosis of autism. He enjoys hiking with his wife, British police procedurals on tv, and eating proper 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”.
Eric Stoker lives with his family in West Jordan, Utah and is employed by the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council as the Information Specialist. He has served on the Utah Parent Center Board of Directors, People First of Utah Board of Directors and the Consumer Advisory Council at Utah State University representing the voice of self-advocates. Eric has spoken nationwide about issues that affect people with disabilities, autism and his life experiences as a self-advocate. He received the Champion of Equal Opportunity Award from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities in 2014. In his free time he attends Utah Utes Basketball and football games with his family and he is also the manager of West Jordan High School’s basketball team. He is also an avid train buff and has amazing knowledge about the past and current railroad systems in Utah and throughout the United States. He is also a huge basketball fan and was awarded the 2023 Utah High School Activities Association’s SuperFan of the Year!
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.
At Home Practices for Anxiety and Depression for autistic teens and adults PDF
