Staff
Kate Szidon, M.S.
Kate Szidon is with the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Waisman Center. She earned her M.S. in Special Education at the University of Oregon through a specialized training program in Transition. Prior to this, she spent twelve years teaching in the state of Oregon. Her experiences in special education include providing technical assistance and support to a medium-sized school district in Albany, Oregon. She also was a special education teacher in a variety of settings and roles including High School Transition Coordinator, Autism Teacher for both elementary and middle school, and Reading and Math Support Teacher for all levels of school-age students. Kate's work interests are program development in autism, Transition, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Functional Behavior Assessment.
Kate Szidon is with the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Waisman Center. She earned her M.S. in Special Education at the University of Oregon through a specialized training program in Transition. Prior to this, she spent twelve years teaching in the state of Oregon. Her experiences in special education include providing technical assistance and support to a medium-sized school district in Albany, Oregon. She also was a special education teacher in a variety of settings and roles including High School Transition Coordinator, Autism Teacher for both elementary and middle school, and Reading and Math Support Teacher for all levels of school-age students. Kate's work interests are program development in autism, Transition, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Functional Behavior Assessment.
Lana Collet-Klingenberg, Ph.D.
Lana L. Collet-Klingenberg earned her Ph.D. in special education from the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996. Prior to that she lived, worked, and attended school at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign (BS with teacher certification in 1988; MS in 1991). Her professional experiences include teaching individuals with a wide range of abilities and challenges in school and community settings. Lana's graduate studies focused on communication and social skills and on the transition from school to adult life for persons with disabilities. Since 1998, she has been involved in pre-service teacher education at UW-Whitewater and UW-Madison, as well as having worked on a number of federal and state grant initiatives focusing on non-verbal communication of persons with significant disabilities, improving transition services, and creating authentic schools that address special education needs. In her home community of Stoughton, WI, Lana has served as a volunteer advocate for a number of families with children receiving special education services in the public schools. Lana's research and work interests include: autism, cognitive disabilities, disability with giftedness, self-determination, transition, communication, social skills and professional development in these areas.
Lana L. Collet-Klingenberg earned her Ph.D. in special education from the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1996. Prior to that she lived, worked, and attended school at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign (BS with teacher certification in 1988; MS in 1991). Her professional experiences include teaching individuals with a wide range of abilities and challenges in school and community settings. Lana's graduate studies focused on communication and social skills and on the transition from school to adult life for persons with disabilities. Since 1998, she has been involved in pre-service teacher education at UW-Whitewater and UW-Madison, as well as having worked on a number of federal and state grant initiatives focusing on non-verbal communication of persons with significant disabilities, improving transition services, and creating authentic schools that address special education needs. In her home community of Stoughton, WI, Lana has served as a volunteer advocate for a number of families with children receiving special education services in the public schools. Lana's research and work interests include: autism, cognitive disabilities, disability with giftedness, self-determination, transition, communication, social skills and professional development in these areas.
Elle Franzone, MS, CCC-SLP
Site Project Coordinator
Ellen L. Franzone earned her undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, and went on to receive her Master's Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998. She has worked as a speech-language therapist for the last ten years. She began her professional career with the Portage Project's Birth-3 program, providing home-based services to infants and toddlers, along with their families. She later worked as an SLP with an Early Childhood program, providing support to students in special education classrooms as well as inclusive community settings. Prior to joining the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Ms. Franzone was working in an elementary school, providing speech and language services to students with a variety of skills and needs. Ms. Franzone has worked with students with ASD and their families at pivotal life moments: prior to and at the time of diagnosis, the transition to school-based services, and the transition to middle school. She is particularly interested in ensuring that all students receive programming that takes their individual strengths, needs, and personalities into account. She has worked to develop programs that allow students with disabilities to participate meaningfully in their school and community. Ms. Franzone is thrilled to participate in work that allows her to balance her professional life with that of her family.
Site Project Coordinator
Ellen L. Franzone earned her undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, and went on to receive her Master's Degree in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998. She has worked as a speech-language therapist for the last ten years. She began her professional career with the Portage Project's Birth-3 program, providing home-based services to infants and toddlers, along with their families. She later worked as an SLP with an Early Childhood program, providing support to students in special education classrooms as well as inclusive community settings. Prior to joining the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Ms. Franzone was working in an elementary school, providing speech and language services to students with a variety of skills and needs. Ms. Franzone has worked with students with ASD and their families at pivotal life moments: prior to and at the time of diagnosis, the transition to school-based services, and the transition to middle school. She is particularly interested in ensuring that all students receive programming that takes their individual strengths, needs, and personalities into account. She has worked to develop programs that allow students with disabilities to participate meaningfully in their school and community. Ms. Franzone is thrilled to participate in work that allows her to balance her professional life with that of her family.
Julie Schears, MA
I'm an Outreach Specialist that assists the project in technical, database and media related work, as well as organization of trainings such as the Summer Institute.
I'm an Outreach Specialist that assists the project in technical, database and media related work, as well as organization of trainings such as the Summer Institute.
Tracy Henning
I am a University Services Associate and enjoy being part of the project and support the the project by assisting in travel, ordering supplies, and other organizational and administrative tasks.
I am a University Services Associate and enjoy being part of the project and support the the project by assisting in travel, ordering supplies, and other organizational and administrative tasks.