Our Philosophy

I have been active in the autism community in southeastern Michigan since my son's diagnosis in 1997. My previous community work includes serving on the boards of the Oakland Steiner School, the Village Educational Center, the Waldorf Kinder House, and Oakland Schools Parent Advisory Council. Currently, I serve as a director for JARC, and am active at the DIA and the Community House. As a new ASAOCC director, I look forward to getting to know my fellow board members and serving those affected by autism in Oakland County.

In addition to being a single parent of a young child with autism, I work full time as director of Tiffany & Co. at Somerset Collection. My career background includes more than 30 years of luxury retail and marketing experience.

I hold a BA from UCLA and have done graduate work in several areas, including early childhood education, human services, and nonprofit management.

I have become increasingly involved in the Autism Community for the past twelve years because families affected by ASD are the most energetic, insightful, bright, and clever people I have ever met! Furthermore, working with children on the autism spectrum has enriched my life personally and professionally beyond measure.

Serving on the ASA-OCC board provides me multiple opportunities to expand my goal of developing an understanding of autism throughout the community. I am a school social worker in Oakland County with a strong desire to identify and utilize resources that truly respect and embrace the unique gifts people with autism bring us. I feel privileged to be part of this hardworking, diverse group that provides incredible opportunities for learning about, and living with, Autism Spectrum Disorders.

I live in Farmington Hills with my wife, my daughter, and my son. I had been a member of ASA/OCC since 2000 and I joined the board in 2007. I hold a MBA and a Masters in Computer Science and I work for Compuware Corp.

Before my son was diagnosed with Autism 8 years ago, my only experience with ASD was watching Rainman. In the last 8 years I have met and worked with a lot of families coping with the challenges of autism. During this period, I have found that I had a strong desire to contribute to the autism commmunity, especially on a local level. Last year, I found a way to give back by running in the Detroit Marathon to raise money for the ASA/OCC. The overwhelming support of friends, family and strangers has encouraged me to continue to find ways to improve the quality of life of people with autism in my community.

I have two children. My eldest, now twenty-one years old, was diagnosed with Asperger’s towards the end of his elementary school years. It was a struggle to obtain the correct diagnosis, and even more so, to then plot the course for education and intervention (a journey that is far from over). I have been inspired by the growth in autism awareness and services in our county.

While already a psychologist when my children were born, my personal experiences led me to specialize in assessment and intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, throughout the lifespan. I am excited to be a part of the ASA-OCC board to support the growing awareness, support, and intervention options in our county.

Carol and her husband, Bob, live in Troy. Bob is a retired engineer from GM, and Carol has been a teacher for 31 years. Carol has a B.S. in elementary education and English literature, an M.A. in elementary education (focus on reading education), and endorsement from the State of Michigan in Autistic Impairment. Additionally, she is certified to teach secondary education (English and social studies), and has achieved the junior level of ASL at Madonna University.

Carol worked for 25 years as a Title I teacher in inner-city Detroit. During that time, she also taught at Marygrove College in the Kid's College and the Adult Basic Education program. She did volunteer work in the Detroit Historical Society Guild and the Oakland Society for Deaf Children (OSDC). She was the newsletter editor for OSDC. In 1998, Carol became the program director for TimRo Children's Center, a private, non-profit organization which provided a summer program for special needs children. It was there that she first worked with autism spectrum disorder children and decided to pursue further education in that area at Oakland University. She had the privilege of working under Dr. Ira Glovinski at The Village (through the Abilities Center). She has worked as a substitute teacher in Clawson and in the Macomb Intermediate School District autism programs. She is currently employed at the Learning Disabilities Center and works as a private tutor.

Carol is brand new to the Board, and hopes to get involved in various projects, starting with the ASA/OCC Newsletter.

Lisa Kowalski has worked on behalf of all children and their families for fourteen years. She is married to a very supportive husband Joe, who constantly works behind the scenes on projects that she tackles. They have two sons, ages 16 and 13, of whom the youngest has autism spectrum disorder and several other challenges.

Lisa co-authored the Disability Awareness Workshop. This hands-on activity based program has reached students in 25 Oakland County school districts, multiple private schools and many other school districts throughout the state of Michigan. It is also used as a staff development program for educators and organizations like the American Red Cross. More than 10,000 parents have volunteered to teach over 80,000 participants using this program.

Lisa helped develop and launch the Oakland County Autism Spectrum Disorder Awareness Kits for all Oakland County School districts. The program has since received recognition from the Michigan Department of Education and is being used in many places throughout Michigan, the United States and other countries.

Lisa has been the out-of-district representative on the Rochester Parent Advisory Committee for 10 years. Lisa represents Rochester on the Oakland Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Committee. She has been a speaker and advisor for Early On/Project Find and the Oakland County Child Care Council. Lisa volunteered as the parent representative in the Oakland County Superintendent’s Association Special Education Task Force. As a team member of the Oakland Schools Quality Assurance Review Committee, she helped put together a quality review process that every school district in Oakland County must use to receive funding from Oakland Schools. As a parent representative on the Oakland County Autism Focus Group Steering Committee, she diligently got involved in creating the Full Continuum of Services and Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders Manual.

Lisa co-chaired the 2001 Oakland County Special Education and Vocational Education Millage Election Advocacy Campaign that generates millions annually for Oakland County public schools. She has also been very active in several Rochester Community Schools bond and millage campaigns. Lisa has been involved for many years with the ASA-OCC’s annual fundraiser that supports students and families affected by Autism throughout Oakland County.

I work part time as a registered nurse, I am married and have three children. My middle son was diagnosed with autism in 1997 and my first call was to this chapter. The chapter was a great support to me then and now I am able to be supportive to others.

I joined the Board in 2000 as a director, served as recording secretary for two years and served three years as president. The board is very diverse in its approach and philosophies regarding autism yet unified in its mission to serve the autism community and to uphold the options policy. I am a member of the Autism Society of America’s Chapter Services Committee and operations subcommittee that works to support Chapters nationally. I have also served as president of the Troy Special Services Parent Teacher Association in 2004-06.