Marlene Driscoll is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
specializing in supporting individuals and families impacted by
ASD. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field
of developmental disabilities and currently directs the
counseling department at Autism Partnership in Seal
Beach. She has brought her knowledge of Applied
Behavior Analysis and ASD together with her therapeutic training
to provide counseling services for children, adolescents and
adults. She has consulted with families and school
districts throughout the United States and Internationally.
Jeremy started his teaching career as a special education teacher
in the middle school setting. While teaching Jeremy earned his
master’s degree in special education at Loyal Marymount
University, and has since earned his BCBA. Jeremy has worked at
Autism Partnership since 2009 and works as an international
consultant, school consultant, provides staff training, develops
curriculum for students, works with children on an individual
basis, has presented at international ABA conferences, and has
published research articles as part of the Autism Partnership
Foundation research team.
Leticia Palos-Rafuse (Lety)has been with Autism Partnership since
1996. Her experience implementing intensive ABA programs for
children with autism spectrum disorder spans twenty-seven years.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in
Special Education, from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
then went on to receive her master’s degree in Applied Behavior
Analysis from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota. Lety has
contributed to various publications while at Autism Partnership
and has also presented at professional conferences within the
field. She has consulted to school districts, families and other
related agencies both nationally and internationally. As a
consultant for Autism Partnership, Lety has worked within the
Maui school district teaching and providing on-site continuous
management of a pre-school model classroom program while training
district employees. Additionally, she has co-taught an elementary
school model classroom in Orange County, providing ongoing
mentoring and training to Autism Partnership personnel and school
district staff. Among her various roles, Lety’s
primary responsibility is as Autism Partnership’s Staff
Development Coordinator, ensuring all agency staff are well
trained to provide the highest quality services for all AP
clients and families. Moreover, she has a deep passion for
helping children on the autism spectrum discover the power of
language by identifying speech difficulties and devising the best
plan to address these issues and allow kids to soar!
Jon continues to build on his 30 years of clinical experience in
the field of ABA. He works with children diagnosed with Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and supervises therapy teams to better
provide treatment to this highly individualized population. He
graduated from UCLA in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in
psychology and then, in 1991, earned his master’s degree in
clinical psychology from Antioch University. In 1992, he began
work at the May Institute in Chatham, Massachusetts, eventually
running one of the off-campus group homes serving students
dramatically impacted with ASD. Jon joined Autism Partnership in
1995, where he is currently a Curriculum Developer. In addition
to this role, he provides advanced training, mentoring, and
supervision to ABA-service providers and teaching staff within
school districts across the country. He has presented both
nationally and internationally at conferences on Applied Behavior
Analysis, and continues consulting and supervising families,
program staff and school district personnel throughout the United
States, Australia and Asia.
Andrea Waks is the Site Director and Director of Client Services
at Autism Partnership. She began working with children with
autism in the late 1970s at UCLA on the Young Autism Project,
where she served as a Senior Therapist, Research Assistant, and
Teaching Assistant. Andi has worked with Drs. Leaf and McEachin
on the Young Autism Project, the Behavior Therapy and Learning
Center, Straight Talk, and Autism Partnership. She earned her
Masters Degree in General Psychology at Pepperdine University in
1983 and returned to school in 1993 to pursue a law degree. She
practiced special education law, representing families of
children with autism, before returning to Autism Partnership
full-time. She consults with families and school districts both
locally and nationally.
Rick began his career in 1992 as an undergraduate at the Young
Autism Project at UCLA under the supervision of Dr. Ivar
Lovaas. He spent 2 years at the project finishing his time
as a supervising student therapist. Following his time at
UCLA, Rick joined Autism Partnership at its inception in
1994. Under the tutelage of Dr. Ronald Leaf, Dr. John
McEachin, and Dr.
