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About Us
Our goal is to give individuals and communities a greater understanding of autism through outreach, education, and support. In many parts of the world, there is an extremely limited understanding of autism. Many communities and rural villages in developing countries lack adequate resources and are often unaware the disorder exists, even though it is occurring in children and adults around them. People see the symptoms and effects of autism, but often don't know what is wrong or how to help.
Our goal is to provide these communities with a greater understanding of autism, its effects, and ways to manage its effects. Through outreach, education, and support, individuals with autism in developing countries around the world will be better understood, accepted, and integrated into their respective communities. Understanding of autism can positively affect families, schools, and the societies as a whole.
Our Volunteers
Executive Director/ Founder
Nepal Team July 2011 Nikki Closser
Lizzy Donovan
Valorie Green
Heather Higgins
Selene Johnson
Liz Kleine
Christine O'Shea
Renee Poole
Beth Reynolds
Tracy Vail
You can learn more about the 2011 Nepal Team on our
blog.
Nepal Team July 2009
Nikki Closser
Tanya Savko
Dori Martinuzzi
Ann Marie Bokatzian
Blaine Forintos
Zahida Banu-Jamison
Executive Director/FounderNikki founded Knowledge for People in December 2008 due to the lack of autism resources available to families, educators, and communities in many developing countries. She became aware of the lack of resources for children with disabilities during her many trips to developing countries. She received her MSW from Wayne State University in Detroit, and was a School Social Worker in MI for 5 years. Nikki spent much of that time working with children living with disabilities, including children who have autism, and is passionate about helping families who have little to no resources available to them. After relocating from Michigan in September 2008, Nikki is currently working as a School Social Worker in the Tahoma School District.
nikki@knowledgeforpeople.org
Program Assistant
Liz Kleine began volunteering for Knowledge for People in January 2011. She has been working with children with autism and their families since 2004. She is currently working at Seattle Children’s and finishing her Master’s Degree in Counseling. Liz hopes to help promote the mission of Knowledge for People by bringing her knowledge and experiences with autism to the communities of developing countries who are eager to help their children grown and learn.
Marketing Consultant
Kelly has recently partnered with Knowledge for People to assist in various marketing and fundraising initiatives. She received her undergraduate degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2002 and has worked at both an advertising agency and city magazine in Cleveland, Ohio in a marketing communications capacity. After relocating to Seattle in 2008, Kelly applied best practices from the corporate sector to the world of non-profit and is currently employed at Children's Home Society of Washington as a Marketing Communications Manager.
Grant writer
Kimberly is a biologist who began working with Knowledge for People as a grant writer. She graduated with a BS in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan in 2000 and is currently a graduate student at the University of Washington. Her dissertation work has taken her to various countries around the world, and through her graduate school training, Kimberly has several years of experience preparing grants and writing papers and proposals. She combined forces with Knowledge for People because she wanted to use her writing skills to promote and encourage education in developing countries.
Program Assistant
Renee Poole has been working with families and teenagers with autism for the past 4 years and began volunteering for Knowledge for People in 2011. She starting working with ASTAR (Autism Spectrum Treatment and Research) in 2008, and is currently working at Seattle Childrens Hospital at the Autism Center and in the Research Institute. She has a degree in psychology from Western Washington University and is passionate about working with families with autism and international work. Renee hopes to be able to combine both these passions through her work at Knowledge for People by helping develop services and support for families effected by autism in the international community.
Webmaster
Ijeoma Oluo began volunteering with Knowledge for People in 2011. She works in digital advertising and has a degree in Political Science from Western Washington University.
Member of the Board
Tracy Vail has been working with children with Autism for over 30 years. She currently owns Let's Talk Speech and Language Services, Inc in Raleigh, NC where she works with a team of employees to provide speech therapy, occupational therapy, tutoring and consulting services to children on the Autism Spectrum using evidenced based practices. She provides training to professionals, individuals, families, and public and private schools all over the US. She helped start the Mariposa School for children with Autism and the training manual she wrote for the school has now been translated to 7 different languages! Tracy joined the Knowledge for People Team after participating in the 2011 Nepal training project. Being part of the organization allows her fulfill her purpose of making the biggest difference she can for children with Autism all over the world.
Treasurer
Fatima has partnered with Knowledge for People to oversee the management and reporting of the organization’s finances. She ensures financial goals and organization objectives are met annually by managing the budget and overseeing the development of financial policies. Fatima received her undergraduate degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She currently works in the non-profit sector as a Program Advisor for a child welfare organization focused on foster care.
