Jed Baker | Swapna Bollera | Janice M. Bryk | Mark Corallo | Harold Creary | Patricia Flanagan | Andrea Footerman | Susan Goldman | Jan Grayson | Heather Hafer | Lauren Handleman | Kate Lowenfels | Chris Mesopotanese | Erica Minde
In Memorium Kenwin Nancoo

Jed Baker, Ph.D.
Director of the Social Skills Training Project, NJ Lic# 3314
www.jedbaker.com
Jed Baker, Ph.D. is the director of the Social Skills Training Project, a private organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems. He also directs social skills training for Millburn Public Schools in New Jersey. He is on the professional advisory board of Autism Today, ASPEN, ANSWER, YAI, the Kelberman Center and several other autism organizations. In addition, he writes, lectures, and provides training internationally on the topic of social skills training and managing challenging behaviors. He is an award winning author of five books, including Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome and Social Communication Problems; Preparing for Life: The Complete Handbook for the Transition to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome; The Social Skills Picture Book; The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond; and No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-of-Control Behavior. His work has also been featured on ABC World News, Nightline, the CBS Early Show, and the Discovery Health Channel.

Swapna Bollera, MA. OTR/L
Swapna Bollera is a Nationally Board Certified Occupational Therapist with eleven years of pediatric experience. She is a highly accomplished therapist with extensive clinical experience working with children in different settings. She has worked in the New York City public schools as a Senior Occupational Therapist, and in 2003 she founded Cribs to Crayons a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Private Practice.

Swapna Bollera, received her master’s in Occupational Therapy from New York University. She also has a master of arts in English Literature from Mysore University. She is an accomplished dancer and singer and has used her talents to work with the children very effectively. Research has shown that using an auditory and vestibular component to traditional Occupational Therapy treatment has tremendous outcomes, such as increasing attention span and enhancing organizational skills in children. Swapna, has extensive training in Sensory Integration, Handwriting Tools, Listening Programs, Vestibular Training Program, Interactive Metronome, and Yoga. Her rich cultural background, varied work experience, Extensive Training, Continuing Education, International Exposure, and her New York University education helps her to cross cultural barriers with ease and grace. She is currently working on her dream project of creating a sensory-based school curriculum for children on the autism spectrum.

Janice M. Bryk, LCSW
http://www.janicembryklcsw.com
Janice Bryk is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in Westfield, NJ. She has been working with children and families since 1989. Janice and her associates specialize in running social skills training groups and providing individual and family therapy to children with high functioning autism and other social communication disorders. She also provides school observations, classroom recommendations, functional behavioral assessments, consultations and parent support at IEP meetings.

Mark Corallo, MA CCC/SLP/PC
Mark Corallo has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for the past 11 years. His experience lies in treating children on the autistic spectrum including: Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS and Autism. He also has extensive experience helping children with Apraxia of speech and oral motor delays and dysfunction. He is certified in Prompt therapy, and many oral motor techniques.

As Mark was previously an actor, he has found that theater arts are also an excellent way of building communication, social skill speech and language, and self-esteem. He has run theater programs for hearing-impaired children, and runs social skill and theater programs for children on the spectrum and their siblings: www.creativecommunicators.net. In his spare time he writes for children’s theater and television.

Harold Creary
Harold Creary is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Since 1992 he has provided therapy for children, families, teenagers, college students, and adults in a variety of settings. He has worked in several school settings from elementary through college, community agencies, and private practice. Since 1994 Harold has been working primarily with children, teens, and adults with autism spectrum disorders. His practice involves providing social skills training in both individual and group formats, individual counseling for behavioral and/or emotional challenges, and family counseling. He provides consultation and training for parents and families that are impacted by an autism spectrum disorder. He is involved with the school districts of his clients for individual consultations, evaluations, and IEP input. He has provided district wide social skills training for elementary, middle school, and high school students as well as professional development training for teachers and staff. Harold continues to work with a wide range of clients in terms of age and background while providing treatment that is sensitive to the holistic growth and development of each unique person.

Patricia Flanagan, LCSW
Patricia Flanagan, is a licensed clinical social worker, and New Jersey certified school social worker. She has worked with children and families for over twenty-five years. She brings extensive experience working in Early Intervention Programs, Community Mental Health, and Private Practice providing assessment, school consultation, as well as individual, family and group therapy. Mrs. Flanagan also has extensive experience facilitating parent support groups and parent training workshops. She currently works with children with developmental disorders, learning disabilities, and social communication disabilities in her role as a Social Worker on the Millburn Child Study Team. Her commitment to families and children with developmental disorders and learning disabilities continues in her volunteer work facilitating parent training and support groups in her local community.

Andrea Footerman, Psy.D
Andrea Footerman, a licensed psychologist and New Jersey certified school psychologist, has provided assessment, consultation, individual and group therapy services over the past ten years in the public schools and private practice. Dr. Footerman currently specializes in working with children with high functioning pervasive developmental disorders , ADHD, and other social communication disabilities. She offers individual and group therapy, and consultation services including functional assessment, child study team, teacher and paraprofessional training, comprehensive psychological evaluations, education and advocacy at school meetings, and recommendations for IEP development. Dr. Footerman works with preschool through high school aged children and their families, and has also developed her own curriculum specific to the needs of preschool and kindergarten children.

Susan Goldman, Psy.D.
Susan Goldman is a NYS licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Hastings-On-Hudson, in Westchester, N.Y. She has over twenty five years of experience as a psychotherapist with children, adolescents and adults and treats a full range of psychological, behavioral, learning and social-emotional issues. Dr. Goldman’s practice encompasses social skills training groups for children and adolescents with particular emphasis on work with clients with ADHD, learning disabilities, Asperger’s syndrome and social anxiety. She has presented numerous lectures on the topics of social skills and ADHD for teacher and parent associations as well as providing consultations and behavioral observations at schools. She received a Masters degree in Social Work at New York University and a doctorate in clinical psychology at Yeshiva University. She has held several faculty appointments in local area universities and currently is an adjunct faculty member at Long Island University.

Jan Grayson, Psy.D.
Jan Grayson, a New Jersey certified school psychologist, has been providing social skills training to school-aged children since 1997. She specializes in working with children and adolescents with developmental disorders, learning disabilities and behavioral difficulties. In the public schools and in private practice, she provides a variety of services, including consultation, psychoeducational assessments, functional behavioral assessments, social skills training, individual and group therapy, and parent and staff training. 

Heather Hafer, LSW
Heather Hafer is a Licensed Social Worker and has been working with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families since 2006. During her graduate training, Heather was a Social Work Intern on the Elementary Child Study Team for Millburn Public Schools working directly with Dr. Baker implementing social skills training for students. Since then she has provided group, individual and family training along with consulting for many public schools in New Jersey to help create successful positive behavioral support plans and social skill action plans.

Lauren Handleman, BCaBA
Lauren Handleman is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst and has been working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families since 2005. Lauren has extensive experience with providing one-on-one and group instruction to learners with autism and related disorders through Applied Behavior Analysis, Discrete-Trial Instruction and Natural Environment Training. Lauren is skilled at working with children in the home, school and community environments. She provides services such as social skills training, consultation, staff training, parent training and sibling support groups. She is currently the Clinical Coordinator of the Social Skills Training Project, organizing all new intakes as well as providing direct clinical services to clients. Lauren’s commitment to families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders continues in her volunteer work fundraising for charitable organizations.

Kate Lowenfels, LSW
Kate Lowenfels is a Licensed Social Worker and has been working with children on the autism spectrum and their families since 2005. Kate has extensive experience with providing one-on-one behavioral intervention and instruction to learners with autism and related disorders through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and discrete-trial teaching. Kate is skilled at working with children in the home, school and community environments. In addition to being a direct service provider, Kate is also an experienced coordinator of home/center-based ABA programs. While completing the Master of Social Work program, Kate served as the Graduate Social Work Intern on the Elementary Child Study Team for Millburn Public Schools. During this time, Kate worked directly with Dr. Baker implementing social skills training for students.

Chris Mesopotanese, Psy.D., BCBA
Chris Mesopotanese is a New Jersey certified school psychologist and board certified behavior analyst. He has been working with individuals with pervasive developmental disorders and their families since 1996. He has served as a behavioral consultant, home program coordinator, home-school consultant, school psychologist and support group facilitator for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. Prior to joining the practice, Dr. Mesopotanese held the position of Executive Director of Quest Autism Programs, Inc., an innovative community based adult day program based on the principles of applied behavior analysis. In addition to offering individual, group counseling and parent training, Dr. Mesopotanese also provides consultation and training to various school districts throughout the state on the development and implementation of classroom, school and district-wide social skills programming and behavioral intervention.

Erica Minde, Psy.D., BCBA
Erica Minde, a New Jersey certified school psychologist and board certified behavior analyst, has been working with children with pervasive developmental disorders and their families since 1996. She provides services such as social skills training, individual and group counseling, parent training, psychoeducational assessments, functional behavioral assessments, and sibling support groups. She also consults to various school districts in New Jersey around issues of inclusion with children with autism spectrum disorders.

In memory of our esteemed colleague, Kenwin Nancoo, LPC
Kenwin Nancoo was an outstanding clinician, athlete, coach and humanitarian. He cared deeply for his clients, friends, family and all the athletes he coached. He will be deeply missed. He was a Professional Counselor who maintained a diverse practice that served individuals and families with autistic spectrum disorders, professional athletes, individuals with life and psychiatric challenges. He was a consultant/trainer to several school districts and lectured throughout the Northeast on the development of motivation, relationships and social/interpersonal enrichment from a multimodal perspective. He developed the technique “Deepening” and “MCAB” that facilitates a more cohesive INTER AND INTRAPERSONAL self in individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. He was a former national hockey player, founding member of Fatima Hockey Club and The Edge Field Hockey Club in New Jersey. He passed away February 28th, 2011 at the JFK Memorial Hospital in Edison, New Jersey. In the words of his brother, Kelvin, “This is a great loss to the sporting world, to academia and the society at large. Kenwin was unselfish and looked for the good in everyone and his success in life was attributed to his caring, loving selflessness and kind attitude.”