Argentina
Daniel Valdez
B.S. in Psychology by the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Doctor in Psychology by the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. He is professor for Primary Education and for the Postgraduate in Post Rationalist Cognitive Therapy with the supervision of Vittorio Guidano (Univ. de Roma). He is also professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Buenos Aires, and professor of Masters in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Buenos Aires and at FLACSO (Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences). He has performed as an invited professor of the Doctorate Program ‘Psychological Development, Learning and Education: Contemporary Perspectives’ at the Autonomous University of Madrid. He is Director of the Postgraduate ‘Special Educational Needs in Developmental Disorders’ of FLACSO). He is also Director of the Degree in Autism and Asperger Syndrome at the University of Belgrano, Argentina. He also performs as therapist, counselor of psychoeducational intervention teams, and consultant of educational institutions. He has imparted courses and conferences in Argentina and Brasil, among other countries. He published in Madrid the book “To Evaluate and Intervene in Autism”, and in Buenos Aires he published the books “Special Educational Needs in Developmental Disorders” and “Autism: Current Approaches for Parents and Professionals of Health and Education”. And he just published the book “Support to Learn, Developmental Disorders and Inclusive Practices”. He is also author of several articles published in specialized books and magazines.
CUBA
María Teresa García
B.S. in Psychology in 1973 and Doctor in Psychological Sciences in 1993, both in the Faculty of Psychology in the University of La Habana, Cuba. Nowadays she is the Head Professor in the Faculty of Psychology in the University of La Habana and the Head Professor in the Faculty of Human Sciences of the Autonomous University of Baja California. She is President of the Department of Studies about Disabilities at the University La Habana. She leads a programme for Attention to Disabled People and their Families in the Center of Orientation and Attention to the population of the Faculty of Psychology at the University of La Habana since its foundation in 1995, assisting specially people with Down Syndrome and Autism. Besides, she used to be the Subdirector of this Center from 1999 to 2003. She chairs the section of Special Psychology of the Society of Psychologists of Cuba since its creation. She also is member of different associations such as the Work Group about Bilingualism in the Education of the Deaf in Cuba; the National Council of Attention to People with Disabilities of Cuba; National Commission of Attention to Deaf-Blind People; Latin American Net of Educational Integration; Committee of the Master in Educational Psychology in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of La Habana, and of the Master in Special Education in the Faculty of Human Sciences at the Autonomous University of Baja California. She is also international arbitrator of the COMIE (Mexican Council of Educational Research). She has done researches mainly linked to disabilities both sensory and intellectual with a psychopedagogic, sociopsychological, experimental and educational approach, some of which have achieved awards. She has been doing researches dedicated to the study of autism the last 15 years. -Up
SPAIN
Agustín Illera
BA in Philosophy and Education at the University of the Basque Country, Spain, 1987. Teachers Training in Vitoria in 1984. Master of Organizational Development at the University of Valladolid, Spain. He coursed Speech Therapy at the Institute of Sciences of Men in Madrid, Spain, 1990-1991. In 1988 he worked as Director of the Leisure and Culture Department of the Basque Government. Since 1987 he has performed in different positions in the Gautena Association (Association of Parents and Relatives of Persons with Autism): from 1987 to 1991 he performed as classroom teacher for the Special Education Center; from 1991 to 1993 he was in charge of this Special Education Center; from 1993 to present he has been responsible for the Centers of Adult Day Services; and from 2005 to present he performs as the Head of Quality of the association. He is member of several organizations, such as: the Consulting Network FEAPS (Spanish Confederation of Organizations in Favor of Persons with Mental Retardation); the Assessment Teams EUSKALIT (Basque Foundation for Excellence); AETAPI (Spanish Association of Professional Autism). He also participates actively in projects, such as the Leonardo Da Vinci Project of Development Programs of New Technologies in the Disability Field (‘Asilesp’ software); the development of manuals ‘Educautisme’, among others. His main interests are application of quality models, organizational development, adult life autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities. -Up
Ana Carratalá
Medicine Degree at the University of Alicante, Spain, 1985. Master in Consultancy and Organizational Development Processes Management and Expert in Organizational Processes Management by the University of Valladolid, Spain, 2005. Since 1985 she performs as Director of the San Rafael de Alicante Center, and the Foundation San Francisco de Borja for Intellectually Disabled People. From 2002 to date she trains professionals, relatives and entity volunteers for intellectually disabled people. She is also a trainer and consultant in Person-Centered-Planning processes. In 2009 she participated as teacher in the IX Promotion of the Disabled People Integration Master in the University of Salamanca. Since 2008 she is also a virtual teacher at the Catholic University of Valencia, for the master Comprehensive Care for Disabled People. She is member of the Consulting Network FEAPS (Spanish Confederation of Organizations in Favor of Persons with Mental Retardation), where she also performs as president of the State Committee of Ethics since its establishment in 2006. In FEAPS she also collaborates in several projects, such as the elaboration and implementation of the Good Practice Manuals, teamwork for the FEAPS external evaluation quality system, among others. -Up
Fausto García Rey
BS Psychology. Since 1985 he has been working with autistic and intellectually disabled people. He also performs as teacher in topics related to disabilities and autism since 1996, and his specialties are autism, organizational development, personal centered planning, intellectual disabilities, team work, strategy planning, quality and life quality. He is an organizational development consultant. Since 2000 he coordinates adult services for autistic people in BATA (Baion Autistic treatment Association). He is also in charge of the Quality Management System of the BATA. He is member of the consultancy net FEAPS (Spanish Confederation of Disabled People Associations). He also performs as teacher of the personal centered planning of the formation group of FEAPS. He is a member of AETAPI (Spanish Autism Professionals Association). Since 2009 he has been developing indicators and processes for quality evaluation of people with Generalized Development Disorders (GDD). -Up
Isabel Osorio
BS Psychology by the Autonomous University of Madrid, 1980. She has qualifications in several specializations, such as Psychomotrist in the Ministry of Sanity and Social Security, in 1982; Specialist in Speech and Hearing Disturbances-Logopedy, by the Autonomous University of Madrid, in 1987; Therapeutic Pedagogy in Ministry of Education and Science, in 1985. Since 1982 she works in the Special Education Center ‘Leo Kanner’, where she currently performs as Director. She has taken different courses, such as Training in Autism Treatment, in Zaragoza, 1999; Autism: Orientation for Classroom Intervention, in Zaragoza, 2000; and Educative Answer to Students with Generalized Development Disorders (GDD), in Madrid, 2003. She is author of two publications. -Up
José Luis Cuesta
Doctor in Educational Sciences by the University of Burgos, Spain. Specialty in Therapeutical Pedagogy by the Pontificia University of Salamanca. Director of the Services for Adults of the Autism Association of Burgos. He is an associated professor of the Faculty of Humanities and Education in the University of Burgos, Spain. He is President of the AETAPI (National Association of Professionals in Autism). He has received several awards, such as: the First National Award of Investigation “Angel Rivière” in 2008 and the Special Award of Doctorate in 2008. He has near a dozen of publications regarding autism .-Up
Juan Martos
B.S. in Psychology by the Autonomous University of Madrid in 1977. He studied Therapeutical Pedagogy in the Universitary School of Teaching Faculty “Pablo Monestino” of Madrid in 1985. He took Doctorate courses at the UNED in 1991. Nowadays he is making his Doctoral Thesis. Since 2001 he is the Director of DELETREA. Since 2006 he is the Technical Assessor of the “Juan Martos” Center (Specific Center of Autism Co-ordinated with the community of Madrid). He is the Honorary Director of the Carballo Foundation in Santiago, Chile. He is member of GETEA (Group of Experts in Autism Spectrum Disorders) since 2003. So far he has collaborated in several researches, such as: Evaluation and Alteration of the Psychological Functions in Child Autism (CIDE); Situations and Needs of People with Spectrum Disorders in Madrid (Autonomous University of Madrid); People with the Asperger Syndrome – Diagnosis Detection, Psychological Functioning and Support Needs (Autonomous University of Madrid). He has published about 35 books. -Up
María Antonia Casanova Rodríguez
B.S. in Pedagogy. She performs as Education Inspector since 1980 with practice in Barcelona and Murcia, Spain. In 1984 and 1985 she lead the Department of Plans and Programs of General Basic Education of the Ministry of Education and Science. In 1986 she was the Head of the Evaluation Service of the General Direction of Basic Education of the Ministry of Education and Science. From 1987 to 1996 she performed as Central Inspector of the Ministry of Education and Science, and Coordinator of the Team of Actualization and Perfection of Inspectors. From 1996 to 1999 she was the General Subdirector of Special Education and Attention to Diversity, in the General Direction of Education Centers of the Ministry of Education and Culture. From 1999 to 2007 she performed as General Director of Educational Promotion of the Education Council in Madrid. In 2007 she reincorporated into the Central Inspection of the Ministry of Education. Today, since 2000, she performs as Professor of the Camilo José Cela University in Madrid. She has published 8 books. -Up
María Isabel Bayonas
Founder member and President of APNA (Association of Parents of Persons with Autism, first association of parents of autistic persons founded in Spain in 1976). She also performs as General Director of Services in APNA. Founder member and President of the FESPAU (Spanish Federation of Associations of Parents of Autistic Persons). Founder member and First Vice President of the FELAC (Latin American Federation of Autism) in Mexico. Member of the Advisory Board of the AIAE (International Association Autism Europe) in Belgium. Founder member of the Executive Committee of the CERMI (State Council of Representatives of Disabled People) in Spain. Founder member and President of the WAO (World Autism Organization) in Belgium (2006-2010). -Up
Mercedes Belinchón
PhD Psychology. She performs as Professor of Psychology of Language in the Department of Basic Psychology at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, and as Coordinator of the Area of Neurocognitive Disorders and Developmental Disabilities at the Center of Applied Psychology at this University. Since 1981, she teaches and researches on Autistic Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disorders, which has been reflected in the publication of six books and dozens of scientific articles, book chapters and presentations in national and international conferences. Since 1989 she also performs as coordinator of the Doctoral Program ‘Cognition and Disorders’, in collaboration with the professors José Manuel Igoa González and María Sotillo Méndez, at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. -Up
Miguel Ángel Verdugo
Currently he performs as Professor at the Faculty of Psychology in the University of Salamanca, Spain. He also is Director of INICO (Institute of Community Integration) at the University of Salamanca, and Director of the SID (Disability Information Service) at the Ministry of Sanity and Social Politics of Spain, and at the University Of Salamanca, Spain. He is Director of the Master in Integration of Disabled People (Presential modality and Latin American Distance Programme). Since 1993 he is Coordinator of the Doctorate Program “Advances and Perspectives in Research about Disabilities. He is member of several organizations, such as: the la American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD); American Association of Psychology (APA); International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID), among others. In recent years he has directed and participated actively in about 50 investigations. He is author of more than 60 books and 300 articles in books and Spanish and international scientific magazines. Currently he also performs as Director of the magazine “Siglo Cero” (‘Century Zero’) by FEAPS.-Up
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Andrew Wakefield
Academic Gastroenterologist. He received his medical degree from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School (part of the University of London) in 1981. He pursued a career in Gastrointestinal Surgery with a particular interest in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He qualified as Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1985 and in 1996 was awarded a Welcome Trust Traveling Fellowship to study Small-Intestinal Transplantation in Toronto, Canada. He was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2001. His research’s focus has been the investigation of the immunologic, metabolic, and pathologic changes occurring in inflammatory bowel diseases such as autistic enterocolitis, links between intestinal disease and neurologic injury in children, and the potential relationship of these conditions to environmental causes, such as childhood vaccines. He has published over 130 original scientific articles, book chapters, and invited scientific commentaries. -Up
Benson Schaeffer
B.A., Honors in Psychology in 1962 by the University of California, Los Angeles. M.A., in 1964 by the University of California, Los Angeles. Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist in 1967 by University of California, Los Angeles. Private practice since 1982. Clinical, research and teaching interests: Child and adolescent neuropsychological assessment and therapy; education and development of neurologically impaired and developmentally disabled children and adolescents; child, adolescent and family therapy; assessment and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders; models of residential treatment for children and adolescents. He has written 6 books and almost 30 other publications.-Up
Carol Whitmore
B.S. in Education by the University of Houston. Assistant Director in the Community and Citizen Programs at The Brookwood Community in Brookshire, Texas. 34 years in Special Education specializing in people with autism and mental retardation, includes: 25 years at The Briarwood School teaching and supervising a Special Education Curriculum for students (ages 5-22) developing sports, recreational and camping programs for disabled children and adults. 7 years at The Brookwood Community coordinating entrepreneurial work opportunities for adults (ages 19-74) with special needs. Trained extensively under the TEACCH Program from the University of North Carolina, in addition to spending time at the Carolina Living and Learning Center in Chapel Hill, NC, with emphasis on Adult Programming for People with Autism. Currently involved with providing a visually structured environment as a means to promote learning and understanding of the citizens with functional disabilities at The Brookwood Community outside of Houston, Texas, and determining ways to measure the level of happiness and satisfaction in the lives of adults with functional disabilities. senter and exhibitor at local, state, national and international conferences. -Up
Elina Manghi
BA in Psychology at the Universidad Argentina John F. Kennedy, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1975. PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 1988. Among her special skills are treatment, evaluation and testing individuals in either Spanish or English. Currently she performs as a professor in of the Adler School of Professional Psychology, and as a assistant professor at the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC). She also performs as co-director of the TAP Autism Training Center at UIC. She participates actively as principal investigator on several research projects, such as: Families and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders; Evaluating the use of Technology Computer Software Specialist; Barriers to Diagnosis and Treatment Service faced by Latino Parents of Children with Autism-Understanding the Needs of Latino Families, among others. She has presented numerous workshops on autism, attention deficit disorders, acculturation and immigration issues, disability issues, school and behavioral problems, and marital and family therapy techniques. Elina Manghi is founder of the Bilingual ADHD program and the co-founder of Grupo SALTO, a support group for Latino parents of children with ASD. She has made 12 publications. -Up
Marisela Huerta
B.S., Psychology with Distinction by the University of Illinois, 2001. M.A., Psychology by the University of Michigan, 2003. Ph.D., Clinical Psychology by the University of Michigan, 2007. At the moment she is a Research Fellow at the Autism and Communication Disorders Center at the University of Michigan. Other professional experience: Site Supervisor (Clinical Research), Simons Simplex Collection Studies, Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois; and Visiting Staff Psychologist, Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois. Specialized Research Training: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule -Independent Trainer; Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised -Independent Trainer; Proc-Mixed using SAS, Center for Statistical Consultation and Research; and Structural Equations Modeling using EQS, University of Michigan. She has 3 publications and has had 10 professional presentations. -Up
Manuel F. Casanova
B.S. in Chemistry by the University of Rio Piedras of Puerto Rico, in 1973. Master in Medicine by the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, in 1979. Since 2003 he performs as professor of Psychiatry at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Since 2005 he is an associate researcher in the Department of Psychiatry, at the University of Louisville, Kentucky since 2005. He is currently active as main researcher in two researches: ‘Building a Selective Inhibitory Control Tone in Autism: An rTMS Study’ and ‘Ross Morphological Correlates to the Minicolumnopathy of Autism’, and has completed other 5 researches in the last years. He is member of the Advisory Board for FEAT (Families for Effective Treatment of Autism)in Kentucky. He has been editor of several e-journals and magazines in the autism field, such as ‘Autism Research’, ‘Autism Insights’, and ‘Autism Research and Treatments’. He is author of 175 publications, 47 chapters and several books. -Up
Rick de Munbrun
B.S., Psychology at the University of Texas, Austin; Exec. M.B.A, at the Southern Methodist University. At the moment he is the Director of the Community and Citizen Programs at The Brookwood Community in Brookshire, Texas. He has 32 years of experience in Special Education. He participates actively is several organizations: Co-Founder and Director of the Foster Grandparent Program; Co-Founder and Director of the Texas Association of Adult Caregivers; and Co-Founder of The Phoenix Project (Life-style programs for 10 individuals with visual and auditory impairments and intellectual disabilities). He is member of several associations such as the National Association on Dual Diagnosis; the Autism Society of America, and the American Association on Intellectual and Development Disabilities. He has International Certification in Special Olympics, and is presenter and exhibitor at local, state, national and international conferences. -Up
Steven Gutstein
Ph.D., Dr. Gutstein is an internationally renowned pioneer in the field of developmental disabilities. As the Developer and Director of RDIconnect, he has brought over twenty years of experience in treatment planning, program development, clinical expertise and education to his innovative approaches for treating at-risk children, adolescents and adults. Over the course of his career he has trained thousands of dedicated professionals, supporting them as they work with families around the world, while serving as the Director of the Relationship Research Institute and the Gilbert Hall School in Los Angeles. It is Dr. Gutstein’s belief that every individual with developmental disabilities merits a second chance to realize success in a world where their choices and decisions are entirely their own. RDIconnect, through its innovative Relationship Development Intervention Program (RDI), has gained a worldwide reputation for designing family-based programs. Currently, RDIconnect provides programs for an entire range of developmental difficulties. -Up
ENGLAND
Jessica Hobson
Clinical Psychologist and Senior Research Fellow jointly based in the Tavistock Clinic and the Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit at the Institute of Child Health, University College, London. Her interests include early typical social development and autism with a focus on joint attention, symbolic play and caregiver-child relations. She is actively involved in therapeutic intervention with children with autism, both as a clinician and researcher.
Paul Shattock
Paul Shattock is the father of a man with autism, born in1970. His qualifications include B. Pharmacy (Hons); Lecturer in Pharmacy and related subjects at the University of Sunderland, from 1966 until taking early retirement in 1996 to concentrate on research into autism. He performs as director of the Autism Research Unit since its foundation in 1980. Formally member of Council and Executive Committee of National Autistic Society (UK). Honorary Secretary of Tyne and Wear Autistic Society 1975-88 and heavily involved in foundation of Thornhill Park (residential) School. Founding Chairman of European Services for People with Autism (1987 to date) which provides residential and day services for 200 adolescents and adults with ASDs (Autistic Spectrum Disorders) in North East England. Honororay Secretary Autism-Europe 1990-2000. Formally Vice President and since 2002 Honorary Secretary World AutismmOrganisation. Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen in 1999. He has done much research into the biological mechanisms that underlie ASDs and how these translate into the symptoms; studies of the interactions between genetic fragilities and environmental triggers with particular interest in the role of organophosphate pesticides; the use of dietary and other biomedical interventions to ameliorate the symptoms of ASDs and methods to enhance the rights of and respect for people with ASDs throughout the world. -Up
Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst, and PhD in Experimental Child Psychology from the University of Cambridge. Professor of Developmental Psychopathology in the University of London, based at the Tavistock Clinic and the Institute of Child Health, University College. His principal areas of research are early childhood autism and mother-infant interaction. The unifying theme in his work is the centrality of early interpersonal relations for children’s understanding of the mind, and for the development of their imaginative capacities and language. He has written two books, Autism and the Development of Mind (Erlbaum, 1993), and The Cradle of Thought (Macmillan, 2002/ Oxford University Press, 2004). -Up
IRELAND
Pat Matthews
Key pioneer in the struggle against autism, Pat Matthews is a parent of a young man with Autism. He currently performs as Executive Director of the Irish Society for Autism, which provides residential and day services to people with Autism in Ireland. He is co-author of the European Charter of Rights for persons with Autism, which was approved by the E.C. in May 1996. Pat and his wife Nuala were awarded a ‘People of the Year Award’ in Ireland in 1996 in recognition of their achievement in the field of Autism. He is founder member and was the 1st President of the World Autism Organisation, and was founder member and former 1st Vice-President of Autism Europe. Pat Matthews and his wife Nuala are invited to many European and International seminars to speak on rights issues for people with Autism.
Tokio Uchiyama
MD, Medicine in 1983 and PhD, Medicine in 2006, both coursed at the School of Medicine at the Juntendo University, in Tokio. He performed as professor in the Faculty of Human Relations at the Otsuma Women’s University from 1998 to 2009. Since 1998 he performs as Director of the Yokohama Psycho-Developmental Clinic since 1998. He also is professor at the Graduate School of Faculty of Human Development of the Fukushima University, Japan since 2009.
KUWAIT
Samira Al-Saad
MD in Special Needs in the United States. PhD by the Leicester University in the United Kingdom. Samira Al-Saad isa mother of a daughter with autism. Founder & Director of Jeddah Center for Autism (1993) and Kuwait Center for Autism (1994), & also the Founder & Head of Gulf Autism Union (since 2002). In addition of establishing a Specialized Training Center for children with autism which functions throughout the year serving different ranges of children with autism through different programs. She is also an active research worker in the field of special needs with many of her research works published in scientific journals and presented/released in conferences. She is an accomplished writer and translator of books on autism to Arabic literature as well as the Founder & Editor of the first specialized periodical newsletter in Autism & special needs “Silent Scream”, distributed in the whole Middle East since 2002. In 2007 she received the Kuwait’s first Corporate Social Responsibility award for her whole-hearted, enduring & persistent efforts for the Kuwait Autism Society. Her sincere commitment to autism field has earned her professional memberships in several organizations, such as the International Autism Society, Rehabilitation International, the Executive Committee of World Autism Organization, the Kuwait Handicapped Society, the Islamic Council for Disability & Rehabilitation in Riyadh, and the Committee of the Higher Council for Handicapped in Kuwait. Founder & Head of the Kuwait Autism Society (2006). In 2003 she won the prize of U.A.M. Women Society (U.A.E.), the prize of the Ideal Mother (Kuwait) in 2006, the Jaber Prize for Quality Management for the category of the Best Establishment Ran by a Lady (Kuwait) in 2008, & the Jan Amos Comenius Medal in 2008 from UNESCO for her work as an educator who have made a significant contribution to the development of education in autism field.
MEXICO
Javier Hernández Covarrubias
Medicine Surgery, Anahuac University in 1982. Specialty in Otolaryngology, Otology, Allergology and Environmental Medicine at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases in 1984. Graduate Program in Otolaryngology at the University of Bordeaux II, France Pellegrin Hospital in 1990. Title in Otolaryngology at the UNAM in 1998. Doctor Dan! (Autism Research Institute). He has won several awards, including National Award for Best Smoo en1986 clinical work, National Award for Best Resident Working Fesormex 1987 National Award for Best Work in 1997. He is a member of various associations such as International College of Chirugiens, Pan American Allergy Society, Mexican Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, the Mexican Board of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Scientific Committee of the League of Nutritional Intervention against Autism, American Academy of Environmental medicine, Mexican Society of Otology. -Up
Juan Carlos Tolentino Flores
BS Law and Social Sciences at the Faculty of Law and Criminology School by the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL). Master Degree in Fiscal Law at the Postgraduate Studies Division at the Law and Criminology School by the UANL. Candidate for the Doctorate in Law imparted by the UANL. He has taken several courses such as Academic Journeys in Compared Law: “Means for Constitutionality Control” U.S., Argentina and México; and Regional Course in Human Rights (both at the Law and Criminology School by the UANL, 2001). His vast and diverse working experience includes: General Administrator of Agua y Drenaje (‘Water and Drainage’) in Santiago, Nuevo Leon (1981-1986); Third Councillor in the H. City Hall of Santiago, Nuevo Leon by the PRI party (1986-1988); Advisor of the Particular Secretary of the Nuevo Leon State Governor (1994-1995); Administrative Coordinator of the Presential and Distance Education System at the Law and Criminology School of the UANL (1998-2000), among others. Since 2001 he performs as lecturer of the Law and Criminology School at the UANL. In May 2010 he was designated Treasurer for the South American Down Syndrome Federation. Since 2006, he is the Technical Secretary of the Council for Disabled People from Nuevo Leon.
Myriam Arabian
Computer Systems Engineer, 1977-1982. Certified in Participative Leadership, 2000-2001. Certified in Citizen Participation, 2001-2002. In the private sector, she performed as Coordinator of international exports and imports relations of the company Boccard International, in Houston, TX, 1984-1988; and as General Director of the company Markarian Etiquetas, SA de CV, 1990-2000. In the legislative sector she performed as Federal Deputy in the State of Puebla for the PAN - Partido Accion Nacional party (National Action Party), 2003-2006; in this sector she also participated as member of the Commission for Social Development, for Education and for Land Agreement. She also promoted the Project for Citizen Attention by legislators in each of the assigned districts. In public service she performed as Unity Chief for Coordination of Delegations at the Ministry of Social Development for the Federal Government, 2006-2009. In the civil society she collaborated in several organizations, such as Amnesty International, Houston TX, 1988; Coparmex - Confederacion Patronal de la Republica Mexicana (Employers' Confederation of the Mexican Republic), Puebla, 1999-2001; Institute for Social Studies of the Business Coordinating Council, Puebla, 1999-2001; UDLA - Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, 2005 - 2008; Grupo Editorial Reforma, 2006-2007, among others.-Up
Nathaly Marcus Roffe de Askenazi
MD in Nutrition and Food Science at the Universidad Iberoamericana, 1996. She has taken several courses such as the Certificate in Eating Disorders at the Cognitive Behavioral Center in the Spanish Hospital; Pediatric Course on Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the Colombia University in New York; Course of Neurology at the Institute for Functional Medicine in San Diego, California; Specialty in Functional Medicine at the Institute of Functional Medicine, in Los Angeles, California; Course of Hydroelectrolitic Imbalances and New Hydration Diagrams at the Federico Gomez Childrens Hospital, Mexico; Course of Pediatric Nutrition at the General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González and at the Medical and Surgical Society; Course of Pregnancy Nutrition at the National Institute of Perinatology; The Detox Conference Body Bio in Phoenix, Arizona. She has imparted several conferences in psycoprophylactic course on various topics, such as nutrition and pregnancy, nutrition and lactation, weaning, and nutrition in preschool.-Up
Tania Karasik Munitz
BA Systems. Master in Education. Former collaborator in the association Kadima A.C., where she trained regular teachers in inclusive education and worked on the implementation of family support programs, job training and independent living for adults with intellectual disabilities. She also performed as professor of Early Childhood Education Degree in the field of Educational Integration at the Hebraic University. She imparts workshop courses for regular education and special education teachers. She performed as Director of the association ‘Míranos, Aquí Estamos’ (Look At Us, Here We Are), in favor of people with autism and their families. Since February 2010 she is Director of the program Autismo Teleton. -Up
VENEZUELA
Hugo Ricardo Losada
Surgeon Doctor by the Central University of Venezuela, in 1972. Master in Scientiarum Pediatrics by the Central University of Venezuela, in 1977. Child Neurology Specialization by the J. M. de los Ríos Hospital, in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1998. At present he performs as Professor of the Postgraduate Course of Neurology at the J. M. de los Ríos Child’s Hospital. He also is Professor of the Postgraduate Course of Otorhinolaryngology at the J.M. de los Ríos Hospital, at the Carlos Arvelo Hospital and at the San Juan De Dios Hospital, in Caracas, Venezuela. He is a member of several organizations, such as the Venezuelan Society of Pediatry and Childcare, the Venezuelan Society of Neurology, the World Federation of Neurology and the Latin American Academy of Child Neurology.
