Empowering Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Critical Decision-making for Quality Outcomes

Amanda Webster is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong. She has gained national prominence for her focus on creating successful school communities for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Starting her career nearly 30 years ago as a group home parent for adult women with autism and intellectual disabilities, she has worked closely with individuals with ASD and their families as a school leader, teacher, specialist consultant, and behaviour analyst in the USA and Australia. Since moving into the university setting, she has served as the Program Convenor for the Autism Studies program at Griffith University and is a researcher in the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism.

Joy Cumming is a Professor of Education and Director of the Assessment, Evaluation and Student Learning research concentration at the Learning Sciences Institute Australia, Australian Catholic University. Originallya secondary school teacher for English and Mathematics, she has been involved in educational research for nearly 40 years. She is internationally recognised for her work in educational assessment, including concerns about quality education practice, assessment and accountability for diverse students and inclusive education. In addition to educational qualifications, she holds formal legal qualifications. 

Susannah Rowland is currently completing a Master of Autism Studies at Griffith University, and aspires to work with families of children after graduation. Her present qualifications include a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and a Graduate Diploma of Education in Language and Literacy. Susannah has worked as an early childhood educator and director in Australia and Hong Kong, and as an early years co-ordinator in London. Her teaching experience includes work with children from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, in a variety of educational settings.