Guest Post by Joe Mazza

Today, 1 in 88 children are affected autism. Boys are more at risk with a 1 in 54 ratio. Many of us completed coursework in college where the term “autism” wasn’t even on the radar for pre-service teacher training. As a result, in 2012 many school teachers and leaders without specialized training are oftentimes at a loss when it comes to knowing what to do for students affected by autism, as well as how to engage their families.

This week’s Parent-Teacher Chat (#PTchat) on Twitter will look to shed light on what we can do to meet the needs of these students and their families. Joining us on the chat will be National Autism Association President @WendyFournier.

After several years in the promotional products industry, Wendy founded a home-based web development company that allowed her to have a career in web design and be a full-time Mom. Her youngest daughter was diagnosed with autism in 2002. Wendy is committed to changing the perspective of autism from what was once considered a mysterious mental illness to a biologically definable and treatable medical disorder. She attends and speaks at conferences throughout the US. Wendy currently serves on the RI State Commission to study the education of children with autism, as a consumer reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for Autism Research through the U.S. Department of Defense.

Please join us this Wednesday night at 9EDT/6PST for #PTchat as we look to engage families of students affected by autism from the very first day of school.