'tips for autism' courses are facilitated by two people. One is a special education professional (such as a Speech-Language Therapist or Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour) and the other is a teacher (or equivalent) who is also a parent of a child or young person with ASD. There are currently 17 facilitators and a brief profile for each is included below:

'tips for autism' facilitator profiles

Andrea Graham (formerly Ford) lives North West of Auckland in Waimauku, with her three sons, the eldest with ASD. Aside from her parenting experience Andrea has a professional background in the disability sector, nursing and midwifery, including paediatrics, working with families and schools. Andrea has done extensive training in a variety of ASD interventions and person centred planning and has a solution-focused approach.

Anita Nicholls is a parent of a child with ASD and Fragile X syndrome. Anita is an early intervention teacher and runs the National Fragile X Trust.

Barbra Cowan is currently working as a Resource Teacher:Learning and Behaviour in Palmerston North. Previously she worked in Australia as the secondary team leader for Giant Steps, Sydney and at Kingsdene Special School, teaching children with autism. She has also taught in England and Japan and has done presentations on augmented communication systems. She has completed a Masters of Adult Education, with a major in communication and teamwork.

Cheryl Palmer is a Speech-Language Therapist and Lead Practitioner for Autism for Special Education, Ministry of Education, based in Palmerston North. Cheryl has a long-term involvement with ASD in many different settings. She presents many workshops in this interest area.

Janine Moran is an educational psychologist based in Hawke’s Bay. Prior to this, she taught for many years at tertiary level in the area of communication before leaving to pursue her passion for supporting learners with special needs. She is also the mother of three boys, one of whom lives with characteristics of autism.

Jenny Lee has had many years experience teaching within the secondary sector. She is the parent of two children, one of whom is on the autistic spectrum.

Jocelyn Hadley-Buxton is a Resource Teacher:Learning and Behaviour working in the Rangiora,  North Canterbury area since 2000. This work has focused on student need from transition to primary school through to the end of year 10, secondary school. Previously she was class teacher for 10 years at Sydenham school Christchurch, in a class set up for children with communication disorders and delays. Many of these children fell under the ASD umbrella. Being a parent of a son with Down syndrome and autism has added another perspective to living and working with people with differences. 

Juanita Davidson is currently working as a service manager with the Ministry of Education, Special Education. She is a qualified Speech-Language Therapist (SLT) and has worked in Special Education as an SLT for a number of years. She has had a long-term interest and involvement with children with ASD. She is also a Hanen-certified SLT and is experienced in leading the Hanen Programme ‘More Than Words’ for parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder. 

Jude Foster is an experienced Early Intervention Teacher and has worked in Special Education for 15 years. During this time she has worked alongside numerous families with children with ASD supporting transitions into school. Jude was a member of the national SCERTS project team and continues to seek professional development in the area of ASD.

Julie Timmins is a Speech-Language Therapist with Special Education, Ministry of Education and within West Auckland. Julie has a passion for working with individuals with ASD, their families and teachers and has worked in a range of settings both in the UK and New Zealand. Julie is Hanen trained in the 'More than Words' parent programme and is a part of the SCERTS project team.

Kerry McBride is the parent of a teenager with ASD. Kerry is also an Early Intervention Teacher at Special Education and considers that it has been a privilege to work with a large number of young children with ASD and their families. She believes that young people with ASD can teach us as much about the world as we can teach them.

Kerry Scott began teaching English in 2001 after a career in the public sector. She is also the parent of a teenager with ASD.

Kerryn Long is a Special Education Advisor with Special Education, Ministry of Education in Manukau. She has a long-term involvement with ASD as a specialist teacher in England and New Zealand. Kerryn has worked in special school, boarding and mainstream settings. She has been an advisor since 2003.

Keryn Mells is a journalist, a primary school teacher and has family experience of ASD. She is the developer and Project Leader of 'tips for autism'. She was a member of the NZ ASD Guideline Implementation Advisory Group and the Intersectoral Advisory Reference Group. She has presented at several national forums and been involved in a number of national research and professional development initiatives.

Maree Rowland is a Speech-Language Therapist with Special Education, Ministry of Education. She has worked in special education in Taranaki for over twenty years and has a special interest in children with ASD. She strongly believes that working in a team with those supporting a child with ASD is both beneficial and a privilege.

Margaret Muir is a Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour in West Auckland. She has 26 years of experience in Education in New Zealand and South Africa. She has taught at all levels in schools and specialised in working with children with Hearing Impairments and learning and behavioural difficulties. Margaret has had a long term interest in supporting students with ASD, their families and teachers.

Muno Richards is a speech- language therapist in independent practice in Wellington after having worked for the Ministry of Education. She has worked in special education for the past 25 years both in the early childhood and compulsory sector. Muno has had significant involvement with ASD support- teams and is a trainer for Autism NZ in the NAS Early Bird and HELP programmes.

Naomi Grigg is a Speech Language Therapist working for the Ministry of Education In this role she has worked with a number of children and their families who have ASD. Naomi is Hanen trained in the 'More than Words' parent programme.

Richard Belton has a background in secondary education. He is currently working with a centre for people with high needs disabilities and with Autism New Zealand. He has an adult son with ASD.