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Board of Directors
Shelley Hendrix Reynolds, President, Co-Founder
Nancy Herndon Cale, Vice President, Co-Founder
Stephen Shore, Director, Founding Member
Stephanie Cessna, Secretary/Treasurer, Founding Member
Rick Rollens, Director
Kelly Longenberg, Director
Jane El Dahr, Director
Shelley Hendrix Reynolds, Baton Rouge, LA, President, Co-Founder
Shelley Hendrix Reynolds graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA in 1991 with a double major of political science and art history. She currently resides in Baton Rouge, LA with her two children, Liam and Mairin. Liam was diagnosed with autism age the age of two in 1998.
As soon as Liam was diagnosed, Shelley began to work to increase autism awareness. Over the years, she has been featured in numerous articles in publications throughout the country including USA Today, the Atlanta Journal, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, Spectrum Magazine, The Advocate, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times and New York Daily News. On October 3 1999, she and her family appeared in a segment entitled "A Question of Harm" CNN/Time Magazine's NewsStand as well as CNN's Talk Back Live regarding the MMR vaccine and her believe that it was connected to the development of autism in her son. The CNN piece aired in 37 countries worldwide and was the first nationally televised piece to feature a connection between vaccines and autism. In 2001, Shelley appeared as a panelist on the The Montel Williams Show in a segment focused on vaccines and autism as well.
On April 6, 2000, she testified before the United States Congress Government Reform Committee along with a panel of parents with regard to the impact that autism had on her family, as well as her believe that vaccines led to the development of autism in her son. Author David Kirby features portions of her testimony in his book, Evidence of Harm.
In February of 1999, she co-founded Unlocking Autism with Nancy Cale and Jeana Smith, primarily for the purpose of raising awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders and their belief that autism is treatable and preventable.
In 2005, Spectrum Publications her "Person of the Year" for her work within the autism community and in 2006 Spectrum named her as one of the "Top 10 Faces of Autism".
In addition to her work with Unlocking Autism, Shelley currently serves on an advisory panel with the United States Department of Defense Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Program through the Science Applications International Corporation for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The program seeks to fund and develop innovative research strategies in the area of autism research with a goal of helping people with autism impacted with the disorder today. She also recently accepted a position with Autism Speaks to serve as their Director of State Advocacy Relations coordinating their state based legislative initiatives. She also now serves on the Advisory Board for Spectrum Publications.
In addition to her service with the autism community, Shelley is regularly featured as a blogger for The Huffington Post. She is an active member of her church. She is a founding member of the Aquinas League, a non-profit organization that hosts several tennis tournaments throughout the year for the purpose of fundraising for several charities. Additionally, she was recently selected to serve as a member of the Future's Council, an innovative national initiative of the AARP focusing on healthcare reform. In keeping with her Louisiana Mardi Gras heritage, she is a member of the Krewe of Artemis.
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Nancy Herndon Cale, Sharpsburg, GA, Vice President, Co-Founder
Nancy Cale is the mother of three children and grandmother of four. She had a career as a Realtor in the Atlanta, Georgia area and was the co-owner of Silver Ladle Catering. She has always been active in her Community and Church, involved in many areas... from Community Services to Children's Ministries.
In 1998 her grandson, Wynn, was diagnosed at the age of 3-1/2 with autism. Although she had never used a computer, she was determined to find help for Wynn. She obtained a hand-me-down Mac and logged on AOL for the first time. Now, Nancy Cale is one of the most recognized members of the autism community on the Internet. Her dedication to helping parents open their minds to new ways of thinking about autism and its challenges has helped countless families. The support she has offered from her home office has reached every corner of the globe.
In February of 1999, Nancy joined with Shelley Reynolds and Jeana Smith to change the faces of autism through the Open Your Eyes Project.
Nancy serves as the Vice President and co-founder of Unlocking Autism, manages the Unlocking Autism National Hotline and the Autism Research Institute Resource Call Center fielding hundreds of calls from families around the world each month. She also supervises the UA Parent to Parent Network and State Representative projects. Her ability to connect families in need with resources is unparalleled. She has honed her skills from previous experience in the medical related field and the real estate industry to her best advantage in relating with parents and their needs with empathy and support. Regardless of your need for information, give Nancy a couple of days and she will find your answer for you. She is also the Defeat Autism Now! Outreach Coordinator.
Her dedication to the autism community stems from her desire that one day, we will find the answers we need to unlock all children with autism spectrum disorders to help them achieve and have the most fulfilling lives possible.
She manages a team of representatives for Unlocking Autism from each of the fifty states within the United States, as well as other countries such as Armenia, Australia, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Indonesia and Sweden.
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Stephen Shore, Ed.D, Boston, MA, Director, Founding Member
Originally diagnosed with "Atypical Development with strong autistic tendencies" Stephen Shore was viewed as "too sick" to be treated on an outpatient basis and recommended for institutionalization. Nonverbal until age four, and with much help from his parents, teachers, and others, Stephen Shore is now completing his doctoral degree in special education at Boston University with a focus on assisting people on the autism spectrum develop their life's capacities to the fullest extent possible.
In addition to working with children and educating the public about life on the autism spectrum, Stephen presents and consults internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure as discussed in his book Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum Ask and Tell: Self-advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum, and his most recent publication, Understanding Autism for Dummies.
As well as his service as a board member of the Autism Society of America, Professor at Adelphi University (New York), president emeritus of the Asperger's Association of New England the Autism Services Association of Massachusetts, MAAP, and the College Internship Program, Stephen serves as a founding member of the Board of Directors for Unlocking Autism.
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Stephanie Cessna, Apex, NC, Secretary/Treasurer, Founding Member
Stephanie Cessna graduated from The University of Puget Sound with a degree in Psychology. She, and her husband, Kit have two children and recently moved to North Carolina. Her son, Hunter was officially diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2 1/2 launching Stephanie's passionate journey to find a cure for their sick son. Stephanie has volunteered for Unlocking Autism from the inception. Stephanie has served as treasurer/bookkeeper for several years. More notably, Stephanie served countless volunteer hours under extreme duress as a case worker for the Katrina/Rita families trying to find help for shelter and basic necessities during and after those hurricanes ravaged South Louisiana. She personally helped over 60 families get on their feet and on their road to recovery with extensive counseling after one of the most traumatic natural disasters to ever hit the United States. She assisted in developing and implementing a triage and follow up system and was instrumental in coordinating the rescue efforts of several people with autism from flood ravaged New Orleans. She has actively volunteered and served in many autism organizations in Louisiana. Most importantly, Stephanie has worked diligently with Hunter through his Defeat Autism Now! doctor as well as his many therapists using bio-medical treatments and behavioral interventions.
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Rick Rollens, Granite Bay, CA, Director
Rick Rollens is the former Secretary of the California State Senate, a position he held for many of his 24 years of distinguished service to the California State Senate. Prior to his career with the California Senate, Rick served on the staff of Congressman Jerome Waldie in Washington, D.C. Currently Rick is President of Rollens Consulting, a government relations company in Sacramento. Rick serves as the Legislative Advisor to ARCA, the Association of Regional Center Agencies which provides services and support to the over 220,000 Californian's with developmental disabilities, including autism.
Fifteen years ago when his son Russell was diagnosed with autism, Rick began what has become an unprecedented father's battle to find a cure for his son's disability. Shortly after Russell was diagnosed, Rick became a cofounder of the Sacramento family support group FEAT, Families for Early Autism Treatment. Rick's contribution included establishing an annual "Autism Treatment Awareness Week" that was proclaimed by the Governor and Legislature each year. Rick is also responsible for raising more money and support for FEAT than any other individual in the history of the organization. FEAT honored Rick by establishing the "Rick Rollens Research Award" which is presented each year to an outstanding person in the field of autism and autism research. FEAT currently has dozens of chapters worldwide, promoting, advocating, and providing support for early intervention services for children with autism, a support network for parents and families with children with autism.
Rick is a former Honorary Board member of CAN, Cure Autism Now, a former national board member of the Autism Society of America, a board member of the M.I.N.D. Institute, a board member Autism Education Network, a member of the Board of Advisors of the New York based Autism Coalition for Research and Education (Autism Coalition), and serves on the Board of Directors for Unlocking Autism.
In March 2006, Rick was recently appointed by the California Speaker of the State Assembly to serve on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. He was also recently appointed by California's Superintendent of Public Instruction to the State Department of Education's Autism Advisory Committee. He is featured in the New York Times bestseller "Evidence of Harm",and was featured in a recent article in Southwest Airlines Sprit magazine. Rick has received dozens of awards and recognition for his tireless efforts on behalf of autism.
With his numerous government and private contacts both on the state and federal level, Rick was successful in securing legislation in California which produced the "California Report," the first ever state or federal report documenting the alarming increase in autism as well as securing the concept and funding for the recently released Byrd study examining factors that have been linked to California's autism epidemic. Rick has testified before Congress regarding autism and has testified on numerous pieces of legislation both in California and in Washington involving various aspects of autism.
Rick is a regular speaker at autism conferences and meetings throughout the world. Rick has been heavily involved with the NIH, serving on numerous committees, and advising NIH on its autism research agenda. He has been the subject of hundreds of radio, newspaper, television, and magazine interviews and profile stories both here in the United States and throughout the world. Of his many accomplishments in raising awareness of autism, his family was featured, and his son Russell graced the cover, of the July 31, 2000 issue of Newsweek. This issue went on to become the all time best selling issue of Newsweek ever. Others major media stories on 60 Minutes, Reader's Digest, Washington Post, New York Times, BBC radio and television. Rick and his son Russell were featured in the 60 Minutes style program Newsnight on BBC TV.
Rick's most recent efforts have involved the establishment and major funding of the U.C. Davis M.I.N.D. Institute. In 1998, Rick was successful in securing the passage of legislation creating the M.I.N.D. Institute. Rick has been directly responsible for raising millions of dollars for autism and the M.I.N.D. Institute, including substantial ongoing funding, from state and private sources for M.I.N.D. In six years, the M.I.N.D. Institute has become the largest private or public organization dedicated to research, clinic services, and education for autism anywhere in the world.
Rick resides with his wife of 30 years, Janna, and their two sons Matthew, 21, and Russell, 16, in Granite Bay, California, a suburb 30 miles east of Sacramento, California.
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Kelly Longenberg, Director
Kelly Londenberg was not officially diagnosed with ASD until her teenage years. Since then she has become an integral member of the autism community. She serves on the Inland Empire Autism Society of America Board of Directors and has served in a variety of capacities with Unlocking Autism since the age of 17. While pursuing a college degree with a major in psychology, Kelly holds a job as an instructional assistant in a middle school classroom for students with autism. She has also worked as a respite and social recreation coach provider. She frequently speaks at conferences educating people on life with autism, attends IEP meetings, helps with behavioral ideas for parents and has lobbied both her state and federal legislators. Kelly has developed and personalized many in-home programs for children with autism. Additionally, she has a documentary called "The Autistic ABA Therapist."
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Jane El Dahr, M.D., Director and Member of Scientific Advisory Board, New Orleans, LA
Jane Maroney El-Dahr, MD. is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Clinical Professor of Medicine, and Chief, Section of Pediatric Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics at Tulane University Medical School. Dr. El-Dahr earned a BA from Harvard University and a medical degree from Thomas-Jefferson University. She completed an internship in Pediatrics at Yale New Haven Hospital and residency in Pediatrics at the University of Virginia Health Science Center, where she also completed a Fellowship in Allergy and Immunology. Her current research interests include post-Katrina pediatric Asthma, as well as the immunologic aspects of Autism in children.
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