





|
The
Center's Staff Profiles
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| Dr. Michael Powers is
a pediatric psychologist and the Director of The Center for Children
with Special Needs in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He specializes
in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of individuals with
autism and related developmental disabilities. Dr. Powers holds
an appointment as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology
at the Yale Child Study Center, Yale University. He is the author
of the new book Asperger Syndrome and Your Child (HarperCollins,
2002) and editor of the award-winning book Children with autism:
A parents’ guide, (second edition) (Woodbine House, 2000).
Dr. Powers is the author of numerous articles and book chapters
on autism, and has presented extensively throughout the United
States and abroad. He is a member of the Professional Advisory
Board of the Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the United States and
former member of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of
America. |
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Dr. Loomis is a child and family psychologist.
He specializes in autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities,
and pediatric illness. He received his PhD in clinical psychology
from the University of Michigan. He completed a fellowship at the
Deveroux Foundation and postdoctoral training at the Kantor Family
Institute. Dr. Loomis provides psychological evaluations and school
based consultation as well as facilitating social skills training
groups. He is a licensed psychologist in the State of Connecticut.
His professional interests include the development of social skills,
adaptation to pediatric illness, and school based programs for
children and adolescents.
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| Dr. Morgan earned her Bachelor of Science in Education
at Cornell University. She worked as a special education teacher
with children with emotional and behavioral problems and children
with neurological impairments and developmental disabilities while
earning credits towards her Master’s degree in Special Education.
She earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the University
of Connecticut where she specialized in working with children with
developmental disabilities, particularly Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
She was a member of a multidisciplinary evaluation team at Connecticut
Children’s Medical Center and is currently a clinical psychologist
at the Center for Children with Special Needs. |
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Dr. John Molteni received his Ph.D. in Clinical
Child Psychology from St. John’s University. He is the Coordinator
of School Based Consultation Services and co-directs the Feeding
Clinic at The Center for Children with Special Needs in Glastonbury,
CT. Dr. Molteni is a licensed psychologist and Board Certified
Behavior Analyst who has developed instructional and behavioral
programs for children, adolescents and young adults with autism
and related disabilities. Dr. Molteni’s clinical and consulting
work has included involvement with public and nonpublic schools,
residential treatment facilities, inpatient psychiatric units,
government agencies and outpatient clinics. He is currently an
adjunct faculty member at Southern Connecticut State University
within their Special Education Department and at Eastern Connecticut
State University in the Psychology Department. Dr. Molteni has
previously held an appointment of Clinical Assistant Professor
at Northeastern University in their Masters in Applied Behavior
Analysis Program. He has presented workshops and his research at
regional and national conferences and has conducted training and
case consultation internationally.
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Lisa Mulé is a Speech/Language Pathologist
with over 20 years of experience, specializing in children presenting
autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities. Formerly
Supervising Speech Pathologist of the Child Development Center
at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, she received her
BA at the University of Vermont and her MS at Boston University.
She is a licensed Speech Pathologist in the State of Connecticut
and earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She has received the Distinguished
Service Award from the Connecticut Speech-Hearing –Language
Association for her work on behalf of children with developmental
disabilities. At the Center, Lisa provides diagnostic
evaluations of speech, language and pragmatic communication skills.
She also participates in multidisciplinary assessments of the most
complex children. She provides ongoing consultative services to
a number of school systems in Connecticut. Lisa is a frequent speaker
to groups of parents and professionals. |
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Kristen M. Powers, M.S., OTR/L, a graduate of
Tufts University and San Jose State University, has been practicing
as an occupational therapist for over fifteen years. She is certified
in sensory integration and administration of the Sensory Integration
and Praxis Tests. She has lectured on sensory-motor issues and
children with Autism Spectrum Disorders both in the United States
and abroad. Ms. Powers is the Coordinator of Rehabilitative Services
at the Center and conducts evaluations, school-based consultations
and therapeutic interventions. She is also co-director, with Dr.
Molteni, of the feeding clinic to address oral-motor deficits and
food selectivity in children with autism and other developmental
disabilities.
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| Michael Soderlund received his M.S. in Behavior
Analysis from The University of North Texas and has worked with children
and adults with developmental disabilities in their homes, schools,
residential treatment facilities, and inpatient psychiatric units
for over 10 years. He has developed individualized academic programs
and function based behavior programs for children, adolescents and
adults with autism and related disabilities. Mr. Soderlund has also
conducted applied research in the assessment and treatment of aggression,
self-injury and other behavior disorders in a variety of settings.
He has presented workshops and research at regional and national
conferences, conducted workshops and training for parents, educators
and service providers and co-taught courses in Applied Behavior Analysis
at the University of North Texas. |
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| Ashley Wheeler is currently working as a consultant
to develop and support public school autism programs in Connecticut.
She received her Masters in Educational Psychology and her Certificate
of Advanced Graduate Studies in School Psychology (C.A.G.S.) from
American International College. She has had experience working in
and consulting to home, private, and public school ABA programs.
Previously she worked for the May School for Children with Special
Needs as an Educational Coordinator. Ms. Wheeler is a Board Certified
Associate Behavior Analyst who has developed academic and behavior
programs for preschool, elementary, and middle school children with
autism and related disabilities. |
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| Dr. D’Eramo received her PhD in Clinical
Psychology from the University of Delaware and completed a postdoctoral
fellowship at Brown University. She offers psychological evaluations
with an emphasis on early identification and treatment of autism
spectrum disorders. Prior to assuming her position at The Center,
Dr. D’Eramo held an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor
of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown Medical School. Her clinical
work included assessing and treating children with developmental,
emotional, and behavioral disorders at Bradley Hospital in Rhode
Island. Dr. D’Eramo’s research and publications have
focused primarily on identifying family factors and processes that
promote adaptive behavior, as well as those associated with maladaptive
behavior, in order to maximize child and family outcomes in difficult
situations. |
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Dr. Palmieri received his Psy.D. in Clinical
Psychology and Board Certification in Behavior analysis from the
Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers
University. In addition to conducting diagnostic and psychological
evaluations, Dr. Palmieri co-directs the Behavioral Sleep Clinic,
provides school consultation services to establish educational
programs for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and is
a member of the Feeding Clinic team. Before joining the Center,
Dr. Palmieri completed his predoctoral rotations with the May Institute
where he provided school consultation services and behavioral treatments
for individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities
as well as for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. He has
facilitated school-wide positive behavior support teams in schools
across New Jersey as part of a state initiative sponsored through
the New Jersey Department of Education in collaboration with the
Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at UMDNJ-RWJMS |
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| Solandy Meza received her Masters Degree in Social
Work and obtained a Certificate for Specialization in Children and
Families from Fordham University. Solandy has experience working
with children and young adults with special needs in their home and
school settings. Previously she has worked at The Connecticut Center
for Child Development as an Associate Behavior Analyst developing
academic and behavior programs for children with autism and related
disorders. She also has experience providing in home behavior analytic
services to foster care children living in therapeutic homes with
a wide range of developmental disabilities, mental illness, autism,
and related disorders in foster care. Solandy is an active member
of the Connecticut Association for Behavior Analysis and the National
Association of Social Workers. She is a Board Certified Behavior
Analyst. |
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