Kathy is an Associate Research Scientist, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Psychiatry and the Director of the Initiative for Girls and Women with Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Yale Child Study Center. Kathy has a lifelong interest in autism spectrum disorders, and has worked with children with autism since her teen years. In the last ten years she has been particularly involved in using evidence-based intervention methods in a group therapy framework to help children improve their ability to participate meaningfully in social interaction with others. Kathy graduated from Yale School of Nursing in 1988 with a master’s degree in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing. She is the author of two books and has extensive clinical experience working with individuals with special needs in both inpatient and outpatient settings.