Janine Collins, President

Ms. Collins has a Bachelor’s Degree in Special/Elementary Education and Psychology and a Master’s Degree in both Theological Studies and Social Work. She is a Research Associate at University of Maine’s Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies.  Prior to this she was a Special Education Teacher and a Case Manager in Adult Social Services.  She is co-author of Quality Employment Practices for Supporting Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  She works on a number of projects related to best practices and improving service delivery and is a member of a statewide workgroup reviewing evidence-based practices for the education of individuals with ASD.  Her work is informed by her own experience as an adult with ASD.  Janine lives in Saco.

Lynda Mazzola, Past President

Ms. Mazzola is a Speech and Language Pathologist in private practice who primarily sees children on the Autism Spectrum. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Southern California. She received a Master’s Degree in Speech/Language Pathology from the University of Oregon and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Southern Maine. She has been in the field for over 30 years. She has been a Special Education teacher and a Special Services Director and is one of the founding members of ASM. She lives in Winthrop.

Michael Lamoreau, Treasurer

Mr. Lamoreau has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration – both from the University of Maine, Orono.  He recently retired from his position as an auditor for the State of Maine.  He facilitates a social group for adults with autism. He is the parent of an adult son on the Autism Spectrum.  Mike lives in Manchester.

Cindy Bernstein

Ms. Bernstein is the mother of three children diagnosed with autism. She has been a speech/language pathologist for 16 years and is currently working at the Children’s Center in Augusta with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Cindy recently completed a Master's in educational leadership with the purpose of understanding how to best advocate for her and all children with autism navigating through the public school system. She lives in Augusta.

Marla DiBiase

Ms. DiBaise earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science, a Master’s Degree in General Psychology, and is working on a Doctoral Degree in Educational Psychology. She has worked as an Ed Tech II in Special Education. She is currently a Developmental Therapist and Early Intervention Specialist in private practice. She works with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She lives in Winthrop.

Jonathan Duguay

Mr. Duguay graduated from Winthrop High School in 2008.  He is enrolled as a student at Kennebec Valley Community College working on his Associates Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology.  He plans to become a Speech Pathologist Assistant or an Ed Tech.  He has worked at Longfellow’s Greenhouse, Target, and Circuit City. He is an individual on the Autism Spectrum. Jon lives in Winthrop.

Richard Farnsworth

Mr. Farnsworth has a Master’s Degree in Education from Ohio State, a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Boston University, and Advanced Graduate Studies in Organization Development from Temple University.  He was the Chair of Children’s Services Committee of the Maine Association for Community Service Providers.  He has been actively involved in various committees related to Child Development Services at the state level. He recently retired, after 18 years, as Executive Director of Woodford’s Family Services where he had a strong commitment to individuals with disabilities, including autism. Since retiring, he has been serving as a consultant with United Cerebral Palsy of Maine to establish an Autism Society and an Autism Resource Center in Pakistan.    Richard lives in Portland.

Kenneth Huhn

Mr. Huhn holds a Bachelors degree in business from the University of Akron, a Masters from the Weatherhead School of Business at Case Western Reserve University and has graduate work in Economics at Xavier University.  He is the Director of Program Development at United Cerebral Palsy of Maine (UCP).  In his position at UCP he is in charge of working with the staff & outside agencies to develop new programs and to enhance the current programs including those dealing with Autism and other developmental disability programs.  He has been in the Healthcare sector for 40 years. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ken is a past Chair of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce where he still sits on the Governmental Affairs Committee. Ken has served on many boards and committees and considers Advocacy, Governmental relations, and Finance his strengths.  He resides in Bangor with his two boys 19 & 27 respectively.

Deborah Gilmer

Ms. Gilmer earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Social Work, and a M.Ed. in Special Education and Severe Disabilities from the University of Maine. Currently she is the Director of Development with Syntiro, Director for the Center for Self Determination, Health & Policy, and Assistant Director of Western Maine Partnership with University of Maine Farmington. She is an Executive Board Member of National Center on Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, President of Maine APSE and board member, and Disability Rights Center of Maine. She lives in Orono.

Jean Mason

Ms. Mason is a student at Central Maine Community College majoring in Nursing.  She plans to become a pediatric nurse.  She has worked as an Ed Tech in a developmental preschool.  She wrote and was awarded a grant to install safety fencing around the playground at the Wayne Regional Autism Program.  She helped organize the additional ASM Walk-a-Thon in Farmington and has participated in other ASM fundraisers.  She is the parent of three boys; two are on the Autism Spectrum. Jean lives in Livermore Falls.

Nancy Ponzetti-Dyer

Ms. Ponzetti-Dyer graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 1977 and earned her Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Binghamton University in 1986, focusing on Applied Behavioral Analysis. She was Clinical Coordinator for CPC Mental Health Center, Residential Group Home Program in New Jersey, which served children and adolescents with diagnoses of autism. She had a private practice in Winthrop for 10 years and provided treatment for children and families and consultation to schools. In 1999 she joined the staff in Edmund Ervin Pediatric Center at Maine General Medical Center where she provides treatment, evaluation, consultation, and supervision services. For over 20 years she has worked with children diagnosed with Developmental Disabilities, including autism. She lives in Winthrop.

Laurie Raymond

Ms. Raymond has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Social Work – both from the University of Maine, Orono.  Laurie has worked as a clinician for several agencies:  Home Resources, HealthReach Network, and Tri-County Mental Health Services.  She was the Program Director of Spurwink Services in Chelsea.   She is currently the Director of Clinical Services at Port Resources in Portland.  She is the parent of an adult son with autism.  Laurie lives in Portland.

Matthew Siegel

Dr. Siegel attended Amherst College and Stanford Medical School.  He completed a triple Board Residency at Brown University in child psychiatry, psychiatry, and pediatrics.  He is the Medical Director for the Developmental Disorders Program of Spring Harbor Hospital and Maine Medical Center, and is currently co-authoring the national child psychiatry guidelines for treatment of children with autism.  He consults and speaks for a number of organizations, and he is the principal investigator for the Pediatric Autism Research Team.  He is actively engaged in a number of research projects and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry of Tufts University School of Medicine.  Matthew lives in Yarmouth.

 

The Autism Society of Maine Board of Directors consists of up to 15 members, 4 are officers. The Board of Directors includes parents, individuals on the spectrum and professionals. This is a volunteer board. The Autism Society of Maine (ASM) holds it’s annual meeting to re-elect officers and new board members every September. If you are interested in becoming a board member please download an application.