Susan Wood –
Executive Director (Co-Founder)
Susan is the Executive Director and founder of the Hope Center for Autism. She has spent over 25 years in early childhood development which eventually led her to her passion of helping families who have children on the autism spectrum. Susan implements and oversees all client programs and staff training.
Susan’s belief is that children on the autism spectrum can recover. She has an open approach to total treatment and reaching for recovery. She believes that ABA should be the first line of defense, noting that until the behavior is addressed and modified, it is hard to move forward with other types of therapy. In addition, she believes that all children can learn; they just learn differently.
Susan has many mentors in the autism field, the most influential of those being Dr. Temple Grandin. Susan has had several opportunities to meet Dr. Grandin, and time and time again she expressed the necessity for those with ASD to be independent and to take care of themselves. She stresses that we must teach children to work hard, do good work and to create interest in marketable skills for their futures. Susan uses that advice each day at the Hope Center, and she asks parents and families to do the same thing, carrying over ABA into the home.
Consistency at home and at the center is a must for these children, and by hosting parent workshops, parent support groups and open forums, Susan is able to encourage families to get involved in recovery.