Our Staff
Cindy
Waeltermann, founder and Director of both AutismLink and the Autism Center
of Pittsburgh is the parent of two children on the autism spectrum. A
former marketing and communications professional in the computer industry,
she is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. Frustrated with the
lack of services and help for parents, she founded AutismLink in 2000.
Ms. Waeltermann provides much of the parent support and guidance for the
Autism Center of Pittsburgh and is a member of the PA State Autism Task
Force, the PA State Behavioral Health Task Force, a compliance monitor
for the PEAL Center, former member of the Board of Directors of PACAS
(Pennsylvania Action Coalition for Autism Services, and is currently the
Director of PAFTA (Pennsylvania Families Together for Autism.)
Dr. John Carosso,
a licensed psychologist who has been in practice for 16 years. Dr. Carosso
has evaluated over 2.000 patients with disabilities, school concerns,
and custody issues to name a few areas. Dr. Carosso has a certification
in school psychology. His decade of service to the school system includes
developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and Multidisciplinary
Evaluations (MDE).
Dr. Carosso's experience in the mental health field dates back to over
fifteen years in a number of capacities including as a Licensed Clinical
Psychologist and School Psychologist. He has worked in private, school-based,
inpatient, residential, and in-home settings. His specialization is in
the evaluation, assessment, and treatment of children and teenagers and,
in that regard, has conducted literally thousands of evaluations with
children, and families, of all walks of life. He has also encountered
virtually all mental health complexities including within the autistic
spectrum, attention deficit, defiance and oppositionality, depression,
anxiety and panic, academic problems, psychosis, and delinquency. As part
of the evaluation and treatment process. Dr. Carosso makes it a priority
to help parents obtain a thorough understanding of their child's diagnosis
and suggest ways to manage their child's developmental needs.
Judith McKnight Krynski can do initial evaluations if you suspect autism, or can perform quarterly wraparound evaluations. She is a licensed psychologist with over 37 years of experience as an evaluator, therapist and psychologist. A former psychologist at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and has worked with children with many developmental disabilities, but particularly autism, and utilizes Best Practice Evaluations. Ms. McKnight-Krynski is a CCBHO preferred provider.
If you have VALUE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH as your managed care organization, outside of Allegheny County, Judith McKnight-Krynski can do your initial evaluation, but not a wraparound evaluation.
Cara
Koscinski (carakoscinski@aspirepediatrictherapy.com),
part owner of Aspire Pediatric Therapy, LLC, received her Master’s
Degree in Occupational Therapy in 1997 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
Cara is also a founding partner of Route2Greatness, LLC, which creates, produces, and distributes CDs for children with autism and auditory sensitivity. The company’s products can be found in several nationwide catalogues for children with special needs and on various websites including their own site.
Cara is a recipient of the Duquesne University Alumni Award for Innovative Practice Entrepreneur. She also serves on the board of directors of AutismLink. She is trained in the Therapeutic Listening program. Her continuing education includes courses on sensory integrative techniques, autism spectrum disorders, Handwriting Without Tears, use of visual strategies, upper extremity disorders, pediatric feeding techniques, early intervention, use of assistive technology, management, and core muscle techniques. Cara has presented information on sensory integration at several “autism 101” classes and at conferences and schools in the Pittsburgh area. She has been a featured guest on television programs such as “Community Psychiatric Centers Presents….”
Cara states, “The best training I’ve received comes from living with my son with autism and sensory integration dysfunction. I have true empathy for my clients because I walk in their shoes!”
* Registered
by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
* Commonwealth of Pennsylvania licensed Occupational Therapist
* Member of the American Occupational Therapy Organization
Heather
Fisher, MOTR/L attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and obtained
her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education/Sport Science. She
went on to Chatham College to earn her Masters Degree in Occupational
Therapy. She has recently relocated to her hometown from the Philadelphia
area, where she lived and practiced for 3 years at an outpatient pediatric
center for a women and children’s hospital. There, she had the opportunity
to serve a wide range of patient populations including, but not limited
to: autistic spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, and orthopedic/neurological
conditions.
Heather is registered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational
Therapy and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Sarah
Gordish, OTR/L is a graduate of Duquesne University and received her
Masters Degree of Occupational Therapy in 2003. After graduation, she
worked at Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. There she worked with transplant,
orthopedic, and neurological patients. Sarah began working for
Aspire Pediatric Therapy in 2006. Having pediatric clinical experience,
Sarah has worked with children with autistic spectrum disorders, neurological
impairments, cerebral palsy, and downs syndrome.
Sarah is registered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Sarah is certified in Therapeutic Listening.
Christine
Zundel, mother of three, earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in
Occupational Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993. Since
that time, she has had the privilege of working in a variety of settings
with diverse patient populations. In addition to working with pediatric
outpatients, Christine also works with children in early intervention.
Christine has completed many hours of continuing education related to sensory processing disorders, listening therapy, hand and upper extremity dysfunction, dysphagia, and physical agent modalities. Christine has also developed educational materials in topics such as positioning, ADLs, ROM/contracture management/splinting, feeding, transfers/falls/balance, skilled rehab process/program development, and documentation. These materials have been used in clinical education and presented at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association conference.
She is licensed
as an Occupational Therapist by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Amy
Morgan, SLP (amymorgan@aspirepediatrictherapy.com),
part owner of Aspire Pediatric
Therapy, LLC, received her master’s degree in Speech Language
Pathology from Duquesne University. After graduation, she worked at DePaul
Institute where her caseload addressed the needs of children with hearing
impairments, Developmental Verbal Apraxia, seizure disorders, autism,
and auditory processing disorders. Further career development includes
over six years of early intervention throughout Allegheny County. This
position entailed varying caseload including but not limited to individuals
with Downs Syndrome, Rett's Syndrome, autism, cognitive deficits, developmental
delays, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, pediatric stroke, and many
other conditions.
Amy's certifications include:
Board certified
by The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Licensed Speech Language Pathologist
Pennsylvania Professional Instructional teaching certification of Speech
and Language Impaired
Kristi
Smith is a graduate of Duquesne University, where she received her Master
of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Kristi worked in the research
and development department at Dynavox Technologies where she helped develop
AAC page sets to improve communication for individuals with varying abilities.
Kristi currently provides speech and language services in Allegheny County
through the early intervention program. Her experience includes, but is
not limited to, providing speech and language therapy to children with
autism spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury and developmental
delays.
Kristi’s professional certifications include:
- Certificate of Clinical Competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
- Board certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association
Gregory
Del Duca is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, and received his
Master of Arts in 1998. After a year with Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh,
Gregory served a variety of communities as an AmeriCorps volunteer, a Peace
Corps volunteer, and a founding teacher with a KIPP (Knowledge is Power
Program) charter school in East Point, Georgia.In 2004, Gregory returned to Pittsburgh and served in the Pittsburgh Public Schools as a speech and language specialist. His experience at PPS included elementary schools (K-5), pre-kindergarten classrooms, early childhood education centers, and a LEAP pre-kindergarten classroom. Through consultation, advocacy, trainings and direct integrated services, Gregory has served a variety of families and populations using techniques rooted in evidence-based practice, individualized supports, family-centered and relationship-based planning, positive behavior support, and functional, life-based social and communication skill-building.
Gregory's
professional credentials include: Certificate of Clinical Competence issued
by the American
Speech-Language Hearing Association, Pennsylvania State Teacher Certification
(Level II), 12: Speech and Language Impaired, Pennsylvania State Licensure:
Speech and Language Pathologist
Kristen Hartzell is the parent of 3 children on the autism spectrum. Kristin travels to conferences all over the country for AutismLink, and assists in the day to day operation of the AutismLink Store. She also serves as a Family Support Coordinator at the Center.
Terri Fitzgerald is the parent of three children, one of whom has autism spectrum disorder.