Rita Cave Shreffler
Executive Director, Founding Board Member
Mom to Andrew and Mary Kathryn
E-mail: rita@nationalautism.org

Rita's background is in advertising and public relations, managing retail and national advertising accounts for The Kansas City Star and The Daily Oklahoman. She earned her master's degree in library science from the University of Missouri in 1985 and served as author/teacher liaison for publisher William C. Brown's elementary and high school textbook subsidiary. Rita has spent the past six years working to build public awareness of the relationship between increased toxic exposures to children and the development of neurological disorders such as autism and ADHD, lobbying at state and national levels for the removal of mercury from vaccines. Rita and her husband Arnie live with their two children, Andrew and Mary Kathryn, in Nixa, Missouri.


Wendy Fournier
President, Founding Board Member
Mom to Michael, Sarah and Alyssa
E-mail: wendy@nationalautism.org

After several years in the promotional products industry, a relatively new entity called the internet piqued Wendy's interest and she began educating herself on web design and programming. In 1999 she founded a home-based web development company that has allowed her to have a career in web design and be a full-time Mom.  When Wendy's youngest daughter was diagnosed with autism, doctors gave her little to hope for. She began to research treatment options via the internet. Here she discovered that there is indeed a great deal of hope. Hope comes in the form of biomedical treatments, therapies, enlightened medical professionals, a few brave politicians and an amazing group of parents around the world who are fighting for their children.  Wendy works closely with non-profit organizations on a state and national level and runs a support group for parents of children on the spectrum.   She and her husband Paul live in Rhode Island with their three children.
 

Ann Brasher
Vice President
Grandmother to Dean and Bryan
E-mail: ann@nationalautism.org

Ann is a grandmother of six, two of which are heavy metal toxic. The oldest has recovered and is enjoying life. Her daughter's son, Dean, is still affected.

Ann has been actively working in and for autism related issues over the last 5 years. This includes organizing her state's first Autism Rally, conferences, meeting with legislators, trips to D.C. to meet with her state's Senators and Representatives, fund-raising efforts and helping families with bio-medical and emotional issues.

Together with her daughter, Ann moderates an online autism support group on Yahoo! called ChelatingKids2 with 1,500 members from around the world. 2004 brought her recognition within her state (MS) for ongoing efforts on behalf of the children and families dealing with autism when she was honored by The TEAAM Organization with their Spirit of Family Award at their annual convention. This award is given to a family member(s), who is a leader and inspiration to other families and who has demonstrated a strong commitment towards assisting and empowering individuals with Autism and their families.
 

Kelly Vanicek
Secretary
Mom to Ashley, Rachel and Kyle
Email: kelly@nationalautism.org

Kelly has a BA in Journalism. She has worked for the past 17 years with her husband, Bruce, at their wholesale nursery. When their son Kyle was diagnosed on the autism spectrum 4 years ago, she followed the path of the pioneers in biomedical interventions and has successfully recovered their son. She continues to advocate for children and their families affected by autism as a long-time volunteer for NAA and also as a Rescue Angel through Generation Rescue where she guides many families along the journey toward recovery.
 

Lori Brozek
Treasurer
Mom to Nadia, Kyle and Matthew

Lori graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in accounting in 1983. For the past twenty years, she has has worked with the Internal Revenue Service, where she audits qualified employee retirement plans including pension and 401(k) plans. Ever since Kyle, age 11, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Lori has been interested in biomedical treatments for autism and has been actively involved in educating other parents regarding biomedical treatment options for autism. She currently resides in Newtown, PA.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Scott Bono
Founding Board Member, Chairman
Media Consultant

Scott Bono is the father of 18-year-old Jackson Bono. Scott has been actively advocating on behalf of autistic children and families since the early 1990s at the local, state and national levels. He has appeared before the US Congress, spoken at universities and local service organizations to increase awareness of the need for biomedical research, therapies, and improved educational opportunities for the those with autism. He has spoken out about the toll that an autistic child takes on the family, the financial future of the family and the impact on the community.
 

Lori McIlwain
Co-Founder. Vice-Chairperson
Mom to Connor and Charlotte

Lori began her career in radio and television and has focused primarily on conceptual development, commercial copywriting, and media strategies on the agency side. She has an extensive and diverse background in advertising, marketing, public relations, and consumer behavior working with national, regional and local accounts. Her fight for a cure began right after her only son, Connor, was diagnosed with autism. Her husband Christian is also very pro-active in the autism fight and is committed to finding a cure.
 

Laura Bono
Co-Founder, Board Member
Media Relations Director
Mom to Jackson and his sisters Ashley and Dillan

Laura has worked in marketing and publishing for over 20 years.  Presently she serves as Director of Marketing for a multi-million dollar publishing company providing copy writing, strategy, direct mail, product development and public relations expertise. Like so many others, the rest of her life is devoted to making a positive difference in the lives of autistic children and their families. Along with her husband, Scott, she focuses on helpful biomedical interventions and lobbies the government to seek the cause, treatments, and a cure for autism.


 

Claire Bothwell
Board Member
Mum to Will, Katrina, and Jillian

Claire works full-time as a paralegal and office manager of the California office of the law firm of Waters & Kraus.  Claire has worked in the legal field since coming to the United States at age 19 in 1982.   She is originally from Coventry, England, but now resides in Long Beach, California.  She is married to Bruce, an attorney, and has three children: Will (aged 12 and autistic), Katrina (age 10 diagnosed with autism, but now recovered) and Jillian (age 8 and seemingly typical, whatever that is).  When Will was diagnosed with autism in 1995, Claire quit her job and dedicated her time to running Will’s 40+ hours a week Lovaas program and advocating on Will’s behalf.  She and Bruce sued their local school district and regional center for funding for Will’s program and prevailed.  Soon, she and Bruce were successfully advocating for services for other autistic children in the area.  In 1997, Claire’s second child, Katrina, was diagnosed with autism and Claire co-founded the first support group in the area specifically targeted at newly-diagnosed parents.  She serves on the Board of the Autism Society of America-Greater Long Beach South Bay Chapter and has previously edited their newsletter and served as the Corresponding Secretary.  She was one of the founding parents of L.A.-F.EA.T. and was a frequent contributor to the old FEATLIST.  In 2000, she returned to work full-time and opened the California office of Waters & Kraus.  One of her first assignments was to research the issue of thimerosal in vaccines and its link to mercury poisoning and autism.  Waters & Kraus filed the first civil suit in the United States alleging that thimerosal had caused neurological damage to children later diagnosed with autism.  In the meantime, Bruce Bothwell left his partners in a general civil practice and opened his own office.  He now practices exclusively in special education law.  Claire and Bruce have made it their mission to do as much as they personally can to address the needs of individuals with autism in their community and beyond. 
 

Leslie Davidson
Founding Board Member
AACR Affiliate
Biochemist
Grandmother to Dylan
E-mail: leslie@nationalautism.org

Leslie has had simultaneous careers in the Arts and Science for many years. After retiring from teaching and choreographing dance for theatre she began learning about and advocating for Autism Awareness. While continuing her work as part of a team researching Chrono-Neuroendochrine Oncology in upstate NY, she hopes to be able to help bring valid biomedical research and treatments into the standard of care for affected children.

Rosemarie Dubrowsky
Board Member
Mom to Danny

Rosemarie (Roe) is a CPA who has served in executive financial and operation positions in several industries, including technology, franchise and airlines. She earned her master’s degree at Pace University in accounting in 1984. Roe’s son Danny was diagnosed with autism in 1997. Unlike many first time parents, the word autism was not new to the Dubrowsky’s, their niece, now 21, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4 and has been living in the Hunterdon Developmental Center since she was13. The center provides a safe environment for a beautiful young girl whose mother did an incredible job advocating for and helping children despite not having the tools we have today like the internet along with the numbers of families that we see today supporting one another. According to Roe “These parents that went it alone and paved the way, are our kid’s true heroes.” Since 1997, Roe has volunteered for several organizations including CAN, Safe Minds, The NJ Governors Council, and POAC where her husband Geoff currently serves as Director of Development. Roe has lobbied for several pieces of legislation related to autism including increased money for research, IDEA re-authorization and vaccine safety. Because of Roe’s determination Danny has seen some of the best doctors in the country and no biomedical option has gone by without research. Today, Danny is in a model district verbal behavior program and is on the gfcf diet. He is also going through chelation and has a daily vitamin regimen that would revel any of today’s steroid free athletes.

Becky Grant-Widen
Board Member
Mom to Noah and Justin

Becky comes to NAA with 13 years experience in public health non-profits, with a history in tobacco control and community health program development. She currently works a public health consultant, focused on grantwriting for local and national autism organizations. As the parent of two boys, one of whom is on the autism spectrum, Becky is committed to using her experience to benefit children with autism. In her home state of Maine, Becky has organized local autism events, testified before the state legislature to eliminate the use of mercury in vaccines, and helps guide parents just starting out on the autism journey.

Deirdre Imus
Board Member

Ms. Imus, a national leader in children’s health and environmental issues, is the founder and president of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology, part of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in New Jersey, a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation.  The Center represents one of the first hospital-based programs whose specific mission is to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children.

Deirdre is also co-founder and co-director with husband, Don Imus, of The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, a 501(C) (3) not-for-profit authentic 4,000 acre working cattle ranch in northern New Mexico, which provides the experience of the American cowboy to children suffering from cancer and various blood diseases, as well as to children who have lost a brother or sister to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
 

James A. Moody
Founding Board Member, Government Affairs Committee Chair

Jim is a practicing attorney and Founder of Citizens for a Competitive Economy. He is very active in cause-related advocacy.

Lyn Redwood
Founding Board Member, Research Committee Chair

Lyn, R.N., M.S.N., CRNP is a Nurse Practitioner and has worked in the nursing profession for 25 years specializing in pediatrics and women's health care. In the late 1990's she became involved in autism research when her son was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified and found to be mercury toxic. Ms. Redwood is co-author of Autism: a novel form of mercury toxicity and has testified before the Government Reform Committee on Mercury in Medicine: Are we taking unnecessary risks? As a writer and researcher on autism and mercury toxicity, Ms. Redwood has been published in Neurotoxicology, Medical Hypothesis, Molecular Psychiatry, Mothering Magazine and Autism-Aspergers Digest. She has also appeared on "Good Morning America" with Diane Sawyer and has been interviewed by U.S. News and World Report, Wired Magazine and numerous other publications. Ms. Redwood is co-founder of the Coalition for SAFEMINDS and is currently working on a book concerning autism, the pharmaceutical industry, Government agencies and politics, titled "Big Shots."

Adrienne Rousseau
Founding Board Member
Mom to Alicia, Joan, Hez, CJ, Xander, and Yo

Adrienne is a busy Mom of six whose day time career is in the family business, Summit Chase Country Club. Outside of the family business, she is committed to fighting for families affected by autism across the country, beginning with Xander. She is also a conference speaker committed to training parents and professionals in the diverse aspects of life unique to the autism community.




Katie Wright
Board Member
Mom to Mattias and Christian

Katie is the mother of two boys, Mattias, age 3 and 5 year-old Christian.  Christian  regressed into autism at 2 ½ years old.  Katie completed her under-graduate studies at Boston University and received a Masters in Education from Columbia University.  Studying counseling psychology, she received her professional license in 2000 and was the Clinical Director of the Sexual Assault Crisis Center in Stamford, CT providing free and confidential counseling services to male and female survivors of rape and sexual assaults.   Katie resigned her position when Christian became ill and now, with her husband Andreas, is dedicated to working to improve the lives of children and families affected by Autism.

Click here to watch a clip of NAA Board Member Katie Wright on The Oprah Winfrey Show.