Elisa Slaat - General and Services Manager

Originally from the Netherlands where I got my masters degree in Special Education, I have been in New Zealand since 2004 and am now the mother of a 2 year old daughter.

For the past 5 years, I have been working with children with ASD and their families, as a trained ABA therapist and running an ABA based play group for preschoolers as well as a school outreach service. Once I started working with children with ASD and their families, I knew this was what I wanted to do. The excitement of achieving goals with a child or a family is extremely rewarding. Seeing families reconnecting, understanding the needs of their child and being able to put a plan together that empowers the parents to take control is what I want to achieve with the Foundation.

I joined the team mid 2011.  As the General and Services Manager, I am determined to further develop services of the Children’s Autism Foundation that promote inclusion, empowerment and are holistic in approach.  Part of my role is to re-ignite and develop the SHINE Family Support Programme, to help families build a brighter future for their children.

You can contact Elisa on elisa@autism.org.nz

Véronique Manti - Programmes Manager

I came across Children’s Autism Foundation in 2007, after my son was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at age 6. From a corporate background (marketing and project management), I decided to stop working and focus my energy on meeting my son’s needs. I read every book I could get my hands on, attended as many workshops as I possibly could and actively implemented the strategies and tools that I learnt along the way. I quickly realised that although my son is the one with autism, our whole family was affected by it. So as a family we are working holistically to ensure that all our family members’ needs are met. The last four years have been an incredible journey. The help and support I received from the Foundation have been instrumental to the positive outcomes we are now experiencing. Now that things have settled down, I am excited to have the opportunity to pay forward the help I have received. To me, this is a journey of learning, sharing and giving, and I very much look forward to meeting and supporting other families on a similar journey.

You can contact Véronique on veronique@autism.org.nz.

Lynn Morrison - Accounts/Administrator

My life path is a journey of discovery as my husband and I help our 2 children cope with Autism, Auditory Processing Disorder, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Giftedness and Coeliac disease. It has been challenging and continues to be and there is never a dull moment in our household! Being a parent of a child on the spectrum, I understandt he difficulties and challenges it involves and I know how important it is for families to have access to the right support. This is what I found at Children’s Autism Foundation several years ago. Once our family’s needs were met and we had the right strategies in place to cope, I wanted to help and be part of an organisation that brings practical services to families at a minimal cost and considers the whole family unit, not just the ASD child. I joined the Foundation in 2003, working in accounts, administration and fundraising. I am passionate about helping Children’s Autism Foundation to move forward in delivering quality services to our members. Looking forward to being of service to you all.

You can contact Lynn on admin@autism.org.nz