Chantal Sicile-Kira

Chantal Sicile-Kira is an award-winning author, speaker, and leader in the field of autism, with over 20 years of experience as a parent and a professional.  She is known for her practical and inspirational advice on raising children and teens with autism, and has appeared on PBS, NPR, and Fox. Chantal's family was also highlighted in the  Newsweek cover story Growing Up with Autism, and featured in the MTV documentary 'True Life' series, in I Have Autism which was the recipient of a 2008 Voice Award.

Chantal is  the founder of AutismCollge.com which provides useful information on-line. Her first experience with autism was at Fairview State Hospital, teaching self-help and community living skills to severely developmentally disabled and autistic adolescents in preparation for their de-institutionalization, and then at Orange County Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled. Her son Jeremy, severely impacted with autism, graduated from high school with a full academic diploma in June 2010 and is attending community college. Chantal and Jeremy are co-authoring A Full Life with Autism, to be published by MacMillan in March 2012.

Chantal was appointed by the California Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders to serve as Co-Chair, South Counties Autism Regional Taskforce, and on the Transitional Services & Supports Taskforce of The California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.