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| F2F -
Home | About Us | The F2F Team |
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| Friend 2 Friend's Team |
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Heather
McCracken
Executive
Director / Trainer / IPG Supervisor
Heather McCracken is the creator of the Friend 2 Friend Programs
and the founder and executive director of the F2FSLS. A parent
of three, one of her children diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorder, Heather has a background in finance, business management
and human resources. She is a published author and speaker
at professional conferences and post secondary institutes
on the topic of the importance of fostering mutual friendship
for children with ASD and the F2F model. |
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Monique
Hoekstra
SLP/IPG
Master Guide
Monique Hoekstra has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and
a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She provides
speech and language therapy to children with autism spectrum
disorder and special needs and has worked with children with
autism spectrum disorder for the past 10 years. Monique supports
the delivery of the Friend 2 Friend Programs and coordinates
Integrated Plays Groups for children aged 3-14 throughout
the lower mainland of BC. |
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Janet
Cregan
Program Coordinator
F2F / Lead Presenter
Janet is a parent with 2 boys, her older son has autism. Before
having her sons Janet was a primary teacher for 12 years.
Janet is the program coordinator and lead presenter for Friend
2 Friend as she feels that it is very important for children
to learn about autism so that they can be more understanding
towards their classmates who have autism. |
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Diane
Tucker
Administrator
/ Office Manager
Diane is a mother of 2 boys, her youngest son has autism spectrum
disorder. Diane joined Friend 2 Friend as a volunteer in October
2003 after watching a presentation and seeing the impact of
the puppets on the children. She believes knowledge and awareness
are key to accepting differences between typical children
and their special needs classmates. |
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Joanne
McCartney
Lead Presenter
/ IPG Guide
Joanne holds a Bachelor's degree in Speech Sciences from UBC
and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Special Education
with a focus on autism & developmental disabilities. She
has seven years of experience in supporting children with
autism and other developmental disabilities and was pleased
to join the Friend 2 Friend team in 2005. |
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Angie
Stallings
Program
Assistant
Angie is the mom of three wonderful boys; a busy, neurotypical
10 year old and 9 year old twins who are on the autism spectrum.
She is excited to join the Friend 2 Friend Society after experiencing
first-hand the positive impact of the program upon moving
to BC from Florida, US in December, 2005. Because their classmates
have been taught how to relate to children who are different,
the twins have been able to forge meaningful friendships for
the first time ever, and continue to make great strides socially
and emotionally in this secure and loving environment. |
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Melissa
Romualdez
Program
Assistant
Melissa “Mel” graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines) in May 2006. Her undergraduate thesis was on "The Effects of Music Therapy on the Communication Skills of Filipino Children with Autism." She also did her internship at an organization for children with autism in Manila. Mel moved to Vancouver in the fall of 2006 and has been working with Friend to Friend since September 2007. She loves doing volunteer work, learning new languages and traveling. |
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Michelle Englar
Program
Presenter / Administration
Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and psychology from the University of British Columbia and has a heightened interest in the fields of ethical philosophy and developmental psychology. She is passionate about connecting with children through the Friend 2 Friend programs as a program presenter for puppet plays and simulation games as well as on the administration side of Friend 2 Friend. |
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Lynette
Lumbuan
Program Presenter |
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| Friend 2 Friend Partners |
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| Friend 2 Friend Team – Autism
Calgary Association |
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| Marie-Claude
Osterrath |
Lori Gibbs |
Valerie
Bunz |
Anita Krtek |
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| Friend 2 Friend Team – Wings
Learning Center |
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| (from left)
Shiva, Bethany, Leslie, Fran, (front) Mitra |
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Integrated
Play Groups
Pamela Wolfberg, Ph.D.,
is Assistant Professor of Special Education at San Francisco
State University and co-founder of the AUTISM
INSTITUTE ON PEER RELATIONS AND PLAY. |
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current research, grant activities and practice center on
supporting children with ASD in the areas of peer relations,
play, childhood culture and social inclusion. She earned
her doctorate in Special Education from the University of
California, Berkeley with San Francisco State University
in 1994. Prior to pursuing a higher degree, she studied
and worked with children in various capacities within the
U.S. and abroad, including as an educator and play therapist.
While teaching children with autism in the San Francisco
public schools, she originated the Integrated Play Groups
model. She now actively leads efforts to develop inclusive
peer play programs at the local, national and international
level. Pamela is widely published and the author of numerous
peer-reviewed articles, books and chapters. She recently
co-edited a special issue on play in Autism:
The International Journal of Research and Practice
(2003). Her recent books include, Play
and Imagination in Children with Autism (1999),
which is based on her doctoral dissertation Peer
Play and the Autism Spectrum: The Art of Guiding Children's
Socialization and Imagination (2003) (For more
details, see Wolfberg's Publications).
She is the recipient of several distinguished awards including:
Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation from U.C. Berkeley (1994),
Outstanding Journal Article in Research
and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities
(1999) and the Sandra L. Bailey (1991) and Glenna B. Collins
(1993) scholarship awards from the Autism
Society of America. She currently serves as associate
editor for Autism:
The International Journal of Research and Practice,
on the editorial board of RSPD
and as a guest editor for the Journal
of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
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