About the Speakers

Gregory Wallace

Gregory L. Wallace, PhD, is an Associate Professor at The George Washington University in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and in the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute. His research focuses on brain, cognition and behavior in autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan. He has published widely, including over 130 peer-reviewed papers, on these and other related topics.

Dr. Wenn

Dr. Wenn, (Phd) AFBPsS MAPS AASW, autistic & ADHD plus, is a family man with autistic offspring and autistic grandchildren. Wenn is a lecturer, psychologist, researcher, advocate, writer and poet, who has shared his experiences, writings and resources for over 3 decades. Wenn has published and contributed to more than 25 books and many papers. Wenn is an Associate Researcher with Curtin University (WA: AU), & Macquarie University (NSW: AU) & Tutor Practitioner with the University of Birmingham’s (UK) Masters Autism course, a member of the autism Co-operative Research Centre (ACRC), and the Australian Autism Research Council, Ambassador for ‘I CAN’, Australia, on the Editorial Board for ‘Autism in Adulthood’ and the US Autism association advisory Board. Wenn runs his own business, has a YouTube channel and home page. In 2008 he won 4^th. place as Victorian Australian of The Year & in 2017 he presented to the United Nations on matters of Autism and ageing. In 2021 Wenn was awarded the Lesley Hall award for Lifetime Achievement in Disability Leadership. For more about, and from Dr. Wenn see: www.wennlawson.com

Denise D. Resnik

Denise is the founder and president/CEO of First Place^® AZ (established in 2012), co-founder of the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC, established in 1997), and founder and CEO of  DRA Collective, a marketing/communications firm (established in 1986) that serves clients in a variety of fields, including real estate, economic development, healthcare, education and hospitality. Her adult son Matt, who has autism, and others with different abilities inspire her work.

A native Phoenician and international leader in autism, Denise has raised community awareness and more than $85 million for autism, primarily from Arizona sources. The supportive community—facilitated by SARRC, First Place and dozens of partnering organizations—inspired PBS NewsHour to produce a two-part, nationally broadcast series citing Phoenix as “the most autism-friendly city in the world.”

Backed by more than 20 years of research, support from the Urban Land Institute and more than 100 collaborators from the public, private, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, First Place AZ is positioned for transformational impact on how society approaches housing and community development for individuals with autism and other neurodiversities. 

Denise’s leadership has also driven the development of two major studies:

• A Place in the World: Fueling Housing and Community Options for Adults with Autism and Other Neurodiversities (2020), offering the universal language for a guiding narrative to research, develop and achieve supportive housing solutions.
• Opening Doors: A Discussion of Residential Options for Adults Living with Autism and Related Disorders (2009), the first-ever study to focus on the housing challenges of adults with autism and other neurodiversities, which cites specific design goals and guidelines and remains the go-to source for architects, planners and developers.
  

First Place–Phoenix, the nonprofit’s first property, opened mid-2018 with the bold vision of ensuring housing and community options for adults with autism and other neurodiversities are as bountiful as they are for everyone else. The 81,000-square-foot, $15.4 million property, set within the heart of the Greater Phoenix community, represents a new residential prototype demonstrating greater opportunities for employment, lifelong education, healthcare and recreational options that create more choices for more independent living.

Denise serves as a member of Arizona State University’s Watts College Dean’s Council, Home Matters® to Arizona Board, the Creighton University Presidential Health Sciences Phoenix Advisory Board and The Precisionists, Inc. Advisory Board. Former leadership positions include the Autism Speaks Housing Committee, Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism Leadership Council, National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism and the National Autism Transition Research Network Advisory Panel. Denise has also served as a federally appointed member of the U.S. Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee of the National Institutes of Health.

June Groden

June Groden, Ph.D., was co-founder and co-CEO with her husband for over 40 years at The Groden Network in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  The Groden Network is an educational and treatment institute that serves children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.  She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. degree in psychology from Boston College, an M.Ed. in education from Rhode Island College and a B.S. in business administration from New York University School of Finance.  Dr. Groden served on the clinical faculty at the University of Rhode Island and Salve Regina University and was a visiting research associate at the Center for the Study of Human Development at Brown University.  She is a fellow of the American Psychotherapy Association and is on the Panel of Professional Advisors of the Autism Society of America.

June Groden has adapted stress reduction procedures such as relaxation and imagery-based picture rehearsal for special populations.  She is a co-author of Relaxation; A Manual for Adults, Children and Children with Special Needs (Research Press Second Edition) and Coping with Stress Through Picture Rehearsal, and has produced three videos on relaxation, picture rehearsal and intensive early intervention.  She also co-authored the book Stress and Coping in Autism (Oxford University Press).  Most recently, June Groden coauthored How Everyone on the Autism Spectrum, Young and Old, Can. . . Become Resilient, Be More Optimistic, Enjoy Humor, Be Kind, and Increase Self-Efficacy: A Positive Psychology Approach (Jessican Kingsley).  June has also written numerous book chapters and articles and has lectured in many parts of the United States, Europe and Australia. June’s research has focused on stress and stressors and she developed The Stress Survey Schedule for Individuals with Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disabilities with Dr. Joseph R. Cautela, Amy Diller, Dr. Wayne Velicer and Dr. Gregory Norman.

Terri

Terri Robson, an Autistic Advocate who struggled to accept and understand the personal impact of Asperger Syndrome. She became determined to share her life experiences with others. She considers herself a non-ableist “Aspie”.

Terri is the founder and owner of “Awkward Spirit: Looking Beyond the Mask” and international presenter. She is also founder of an Adult Asperger Support Group and parent support group in Red Deer, Alberta. Terri has made presentations for various professional organizations; including a number of government departments, Alberta Teacher’s Conventions, Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton and a webcast panel for the Employment First Symposium. Terri is very proud to have presented a breakout session after Michelle Garcia Winner.

Terri received the “Premiers Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities” Award of Excellence for Public Awareness (in 2016 in the province of Alberta). She has also mentored young men and women with ASDs.

Terri’s passion has led her to inspire and empower professionals, caregivers, teachers, and parents in finding the information and supports needed to lessen the struggles for those individuals who may be on the same journey she has travelled.  Terri is indeed a remarkable and resilient woman.

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