Speaker: Dr. Thomas Crawford & Andrew Shahan, MA

Dr. Crawford is a licensed clinical psychologist who has spent the last several years specializing in the diagnostic assessment and case management of autism spectrum disorders.  While he maintains a small private practice, his primary professional role is as the senior psychologist and training director with the Kaiser Permanente ASD Clinic in San Jose.  He has personally conducted or supervised thousands of evaluations of children and teens across a very wide range of functioning and presentations.  He has performed hundreds more assessments for Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research on research programs such as the Environmental Exposures and Autism Study, the Autism Treatment Network, and SEED, the Study to Explore Early Development.  Dr. Crawford prides himself on the conducting of ASD evaluations using evidenced-based practices and the Best Practices guidelines set forth by the California Department of Developmental Services, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and other professional organizations.  Dr. Crawford obtained his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut where he did specialized study in developmental psychopathology as well as the role of fathers in the development of children's development.  Both his internship and post-doctoral residency were with outpatient psychiatry clinics treating children, adults, and families.  He also previously served as a counselor at a school in San Diego for children with ASD and other behavioral and learning disorders.

Andrew Shahan is an Early Childhood Special Education Consultant, Children's Services Resource Specialist with Easter Seals and Bay Area Regional Autism Health Educator with Kaiser Permanente Northern California.  He has spent the last 20 years working with children with autism and families in classrooms, home and clinic-based settings, and community-based programs.  He holds a Master's Degree and Education Specialist Teaching Credential in Early Childhood Special Education from San Francisco State University.  Andrew served on the California State Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism, and has consulted with many Bay Area public school districts to build their capacity to support students with autism.  At the Autism Clinic at UCSF and Children's Hospital, Oakland, Andrew developed training and coaching methods for staff and parents.  In his current positions as Regional Autism Health Educator for Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Children's Services Resource Specialist for Easter Seals Bay Area, Andrew provides training and education for families and service providers.  Andrew brings an exceptional range of knowledge, practical experience, enthusiasm, compassion, honesty and humor to all of the children, families and professionals with whom he works.