Autism Learning Community

Our Journey

Our autism journey began in 2005, when our younger child was diagnosed at age 3. That year, I started reading books on Communication Partners, DIR/Floortime, and Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). Our son also started receiving ABA therapy at home and I became involved with setting goals that were meaningful to us as a family, designing programs to suit his learning style, problem solving obstacles and finding ways to motivate him. I worked with our providers to modify the ABA therapy to fit in with our family values - respect and trust. 

Everyday was full of discovery as I learned about his unique thinking patterns - how he takes in information, how he processes and expresses it. Despite our son's limited speech, we found many different ways to communicate - through choices, pictures, writing, songs and art. We shared a love of art, reading and nature - and spent many joyful times enjoying illustrated books and long walks and creating nature journals about trees, leaf patterns, and root systems. Some of the pictures we took on these walks are shared in the footer of this website. We encountered many challenges along the way but the key to addressing them was in finding ways to understand, rely on, empathize with, and honor each other. 

As I discovered new ways to help my son and connect with him, I was eager to share my learning with other families. At first, I shared my experiences by contributing articles to local magazines such as India Currents and to Autism Asperger's Digest. From 2007 through 2010, I volunteered with various autism support organizations including Jeena (which supports South Asian families with special needs) and our local school (Warm Springs Elementary). My volunteering brought me into contact with many local professionals as I organized talks and trainings for families. I also got to know many wonderful families and their children; I began to learn how each child was an individual with their own personality and preferences and strengths. I felt a deep sense of connection - every single family I met was working extremely hard to help their child be the best they can be. I heard many different parent stories and realized there was a need for a forum - to share what's working, to share strategies and solutions, tools and resources. 

I decided to put my contacts with professionals and my writing interests together into a combined resource. In 2011, I founded the mostly volunteer-run non-profit print magazine Autism Bay Area, to provide free and accessible information to autism families on various therapies and interventions. Many professionals contributed to the magazine, making the strategies and techniques that go into therapies more accessible to families.  I ran this magazine until 2015, at which point I began homeschooling my son. He was now entering adolescence which came with a new set of challenges. It became increasingly difficult to dedicate time and energy to the magazine, so I had to end this resource.  

Around this time, I started a meetup group (Autism Bay Area Parents and Professionals) intending to provide support groups for families and social skills groups to children. Although I started the group, I gradually took a back seat as the demands of homeschooling increased. I was so grateful when a dear friend stepped in to help. This group was primarily led by Pamela LePage (retired Associate Professor of Special Education, SFSU) who put in her energy, knowledge and experience to develop it into an excellent resource for local autism families. Dr. LePage led this group for many years, creating and developing social skills groups for teens, playgroups for children, and support groups for parents; In 2021, deciding to pursue her Master's Degree in Counseling, she transitioned the meetup group to We Get It Foundation, another non-profit organization that supports autism families. Around the same time, I began working on a Master's Program in Special Education with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). 

In 2023, I graduated from my Master's Program in Special Education. This program gave me access to new research and tools in teaching individuals with autism. I hope to continue to learn how to help my son maximize his potential, as he transitions into young adulthood. The focus has been to teach him independence and engagement skills to the greatest extent possible.

I'm excited to share my recent learning with the autism community once again! My current focus is to share what I learned in my Master's program and make it accessible and practical for families. Through this website, I will continue to share various technologies and paradigms to address reading, writing, communication, emotional regulation and well being, independence and self-care, sensory needs, organization, engagement, and community participation.

I'm passionate about learning, teaching, and sharing what I've learned with the autism community. I believe strongly that information is power and that empowered families and teachers can help their children grow and thrive. I hope that you benefit from the information on this website. I wish you all the best on your journey. Your child is beautiful. Celebrate him or her everyday. Stay strong!

About Autism Bay Area Magazine

Autism Bay Area Magazine (ABAM) ran from 2011 through 2015. You can find selected copies of the magazine on the Magazine page. ABAM was a non-profit magazine supported almost purely by volunteers. I am grateful to the following people who gave their time and talents to make it a high-quality publication. 

David Moreno, BFA

Photographer

David Moreno was with the organization from 2010 t 2015. The magazine truly came alive with David's beautiful, honest photographs of families who generously shared their stories. David graduated from San Jose State University in 2014 with his Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Concentration in Photography. During his time with Autism Bay Area Magazine, he felt grateful for the opportunity to photograph children, young adults and families while honing his skills as a graphic designer. He currently resides in Bellingham, WA as the lead graphic designer at a marketing company. When he is not designing or photographing, he spends his time outdoors with his three dogs and wife. 

Pamela LePage, Ph.D. 

Dr. Pamela LePage is a retired Associate Professor of Special Education at San Francisco State University. She has worked as the Mild to Moderate Coordinator in SPED, as the Director of the Combined Credential Program, and served as the Academic Advisor to Autism Social Connection. Before coming to SFSU, she was the Director for the Committee on Teacher Education at Stanford University. She has worked with experts across the country to understand what teachers need to know to be effective. She is the author of several books including Preparing Teachers for a Changing World: What teachers should learn and be able to do. During her time with Autism Bay Area, she contributed articles, organized and directed support groups for parents, social skills groups for teens, and playgroups for kids, through our meetup site. She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Counseling.

Content Contributors:

Dr. James McDonald, Professor, Speech and Language Pathology and Developmental Disabilities, Ohio State University

Patti Hamaguchi, Founder and Executive Director, Hamaguchi and Associates Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologists

Mitra Ahani, Founder and Program Director, Thrive Therapy and Social Center

Leah Kuypers, & Elizabett Sautter, Co-directors, Communication Works

Dr. Guy McCormack and the Occupational Therapy research team at Samuel Merritt University

Felicia McCarthy Lopez, Founder and Director, Si Se Puede Behavioral Intervention

Susan Foley, Special Education Attorney

Vanessa Kahlon, Director, Yoga Education for Autism Spectrum

Maisie Soetantyo and Peter Dunlavey, RDI Consultants

Dr. Henny Kupferstein, Psychologist, Autism Researcher, Composer, Music Consultant

Susan Rancer, Registered Music Therapist

Chrrissy D'Agostino, Education Specialist

Ken Prodger, Special Needs Financial Consultant

Autism Society, San Francisco Bay Area

I'm also grateful to the many families who shared their stories and the children and teens who contributed their talents and voices.