Reducing Seclusion and Restraint for Autistic Students: Using CPS with Nonspeaking and Echolalic Communicators with Stephanie Izzi and Sarah Hamel

Stephanie Izzi (she/they) is co-founder and Executive Director of Autism Included. An autistic adult herself, Stephanie uses her unique insight into neurodivergent communication and learning to support inclusion for autistic students. Stephanie works as a speech therapist, autistic inclusion specialist, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) expert. Her background as a research scientist provides a unique approach to their work, combining evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence to drive her workshops and practice. Stephanie completed their PhD in Genetics at Stony Brook University, and M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Massachusetts General Hospital IHP.

Sarah Hamel (she/her) is co-founder and Director of Strategic Initiatives at Autism Included, where she spends her time building a coalition of individuals and organizations passionate about inclusion for autistic students, particularly our youngest learners. She is always on the lookout for partnerships to expand the collective capacity for change. In addition, she continues to practice as a Speech Pathologist specializing in autistic learning and development including AAC. In her free time she enjoys making music, writing, and listening to funny podcasts

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