Sarah MacDermott (Chair)

Sarah MacDermott has a B.App.Sc in Speech and Hearing Science and an MA in Education. She has always worked in the disabilities field, initially as a Speech Pathologist in Western Australia and then in early intervention programs in Los Angeles, as a home based provider, a classroom teacher and then the Education Director of a specialist ASD early intervention school. She currently works in a range of intervention and research related ASD projects. Sarah has been the WAADF Chair since the group’s incorporation.

Ritu Campbell (Vice Chair)

Ritu Campbell is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, with a wide range of clinical experience and a specific interest in ASD. She has previously worked as a Senior Psychologist with Disability Services Commission. Ritu is a recognized specialist ASD assessor. She has been a long term member of WAADF, was the group’s initial Meeting Coordinator, and has been a board member and Vice Chair since its incorporation.

Jane Klinken (Treasurer)

Jane Klinken is a Psychologist currently working with Disability Services Commission. Jane has extensive experiences working with individuals with a wide range of developmental disabilities, across all age groups. She has also worked in school based settings as an Educational Psychologist. Jane is recognized as a specialist autism assessor and has been a long time member of WAADF. She is currently in her second year as a board member.

Sandy Gray (Secretary - shared position)

Sandra Gray has a BAppSc in Speech Pathology and a Grad Dip Education. She has extensive experience working with paediatric populations in both clinical and school settings. Sandra has previously worked at Disability Services Commission and the Autism Association of Western Australia and is currently in private practice. Sandra is a recognized ASD assessor, has been a long time member of WAADF, and was recently elected as WAADF’s Co-Secretary.

Helen Bolton (Secretary - shared position)

Helen Bolton has a BAppSc in Speech Pathology and a Grad Dip Education. She has extensive experience working with paediatric populations in both clinical and school settings. Helen has previously worked at Disability Services Commission and the Autism Association of Western Australia and is currently in private practice. She is a recognized ASD assessor, has been a long time member of WAADF, and was recently elected as WAADF’s Co-Secretary. Helen was awarded a Churchill Scholarship in 2006 and traveled to the US to further her studies in Pivotal Response Training.

Bernadette Benson

Bernadette Benson is a Registered Psychologist in her home province of Alberta, Canada and her adopted home, Western Australia. She received her M.Sc. in School and Community Psychology from the University of Calgary in 1998 and is currently a PhD candidate at UWA. Before moving to Australia in 2008, Bernadette worked in private practice, consulted to schools, and was actively involved in several pediatric research studies. In addition, she was the psychologist on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Clinic before moving to the Developmental Clinic at Alberta Children’s Hospital. Bernadette received specialist training in autism assessment at both the University of Toronto Autism Research Unit and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York).

Teresa Davidson

Teresa Davidson is a Speech Pathologist who currently works in private practice. Her practice specialises in autism diagnostics and she has recently completed further training in this field through the Institute of Child Health in London. She has a background in rural health and continues to be a strong advocate for families living in rural areas to improve their access to quality diagnostics and intervention through both the public and private sectors. Teresa is an active member of Speech Pathology Australia and is currently a representative on the WA Branch Executive Committee.

Alana Maley-Berg

Alana Maley-Berg is a psychologist, specialising in autism early intervention and autism assessment. She is currently in private practise. She conducts research on autism through the State Child Development Centre, the University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Autism Research Centre.

Suzanne Midford

Suzanne Midford is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice. She has extensive experience working with a wide range of clinical populations across the paediatric, adolescent and adult age groups. Suzanne is a recognized specialist ASD assessor. She has been a long term member of WAADF and a board member and Treasurer since the group’s incorporation.

Robyn Weinstein

Robyn Weinstein is a Speech Pathologist with a wide range of experience working in both her native South Africa and in Western Australia. She has a particular interest in ASD and is a recognized ASD specialist assessor. Robyn has been a long time member of WAADF and is currently in her second term as a board member.

Andrew Whitehouse

To be provided.

John Wray

John Wray is a Developmental Paediatrician. He is currently Head of Department, Community and Developmental Paediatrics, at State Child Development Centre and Princess Margaret Hospital in Western Australia. John has been a past chairperson of WAADF and is a participant in a wide range of professional, public and community groups and committees. He is also a reviewer for several peer-reviewed Australian and international publications and a senior lecturer in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Western Australia.