About the Author | Vera Bernard-Opitz, PhD, has worked as a clinical psychologist, associate professor, and behavior therapist (BCBA-D) in rehabilitation centers, schools, universities, and autism centers in the United States, Singapore, and Germany. She combines her background in applied research with a passion to find individual treatment solutions based on best practice methods. For more than 15 years, she has coordinated the STEP Program in Singapore, which formed the basis for the STeP curriculum (Structured and Experience-Based Program). This program matches the main intervention methods (ABA, precision teaching, experience-based learning, and visual support) to the characteristics of children with ASD. The STeP curriculum is available in three languages. Vera also is the long-time editor of the Autism News of Singapore and the Autism News of Orange County & the Rest of the World. She currently works as an international consultant helping families, home teams, and autism centers through tele-consultation and workshops. In addition, she is supervisor for ABA teams in Southern California, reviewer for the main autism journals, and - last but not least - mother of two. |