F2F → Home | About F2F | The Team

About F2F: The Team »»

	Michelle L.T. Englar → Executive Assistant / Program Guide Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of British Columbia. After graduating, she worked for six months as a Friend 2 Friend Program Guide before moving to Matsuida Town in Japan to teach English in public schools to children ages four to fifteen. In September of 2010, Michelle returned to Vancouver and Friend 2 Friend as the executive assistant. She is passionate about working with children, especially in the areas of communication development.
	Monique Hoekstra, MA SLP → Master Guide - F2F & IPG Programs / Trainer F2F Programs 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. 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.
	Joanne McCartney-Prest, MA → Master Guide F2F & IPG Programs / Trainer F2F Programs Joanne holds a Bachelor's degree in Speech Sciences and a Master of Arts in Special Education (focus on autism and developmental disabilities) from UBC. She has nine years of experience in supporting children with autism and other developmental disabilities and has been with the Friend 2 Friend team since 2005.
	Heather McCracken → Founder / Executive Director / Program Director Heather McCracken is the founder and executive director of the Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society. Heather is the creator of the Friend 2 Friend model and programs and a mother of three (Katie, Iain and Emma); her son Iain is on the autism spectrum. Heather actively designs and delivers social and communication based programs to children ages 3 through 18 in schools and other community settings throughout North America and abroad. For more information visit Linkedin.
	Kathryn Robbins → Play Guide Assistant / Program Presenter Katie Robbins is the daughter of Heather McCracken and big sister to Iain and Emma; Iain is on the autism spectrum. Katie has grown up involved with Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society, starting at the age of 13 by illustrating the ""That's What's Different About Me" Colouring/Story Book and again with the "Can I Play Too?" Colouring/Story Book. Most recently she has supported Friend 2 Friend by working as a Play Guide Assistant/Program Presenter in schools and helping out at the office. Katie currently attends the University of British Columbia pursuing a Bachelor of Science.
	Alison Schmelke → Program Guide / F2F Programs Alison has a Bachelor of Arts from the UBC, her Early Childhood Education diploma from Capilano University, and is the mother of three children. Her career began working with children on the autism spectrum and has been the Program Coordinator of a Family Resource Centre and a certified Orton-Gillingham tutor at a Lower Mainland school for children with learning disabilities.
	Janet Cregan → Special Projects
	Jose Andres Mora → Special Projects
	Iain Robbins → Special Projects
	Emma Robbins → Special Projects
	Diane Tucker → Special Projects
	Tanya Vipond → Special Projects

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.

Her 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.