Kimberlee Rutan McCafferty, Community Contributor

My name is Kimberlee Rutan McCafferty, I’m a former educator and presently a stay-at-home mom/therapist. I’ve recently had the good fortune to have several articles published in Exceptional Parent Magazine, including one which illustrates the immediate steps to take if your child is diagnosed with autism. I have also been published in Autism Parenting Magazine. In 2014 I was honored as Autism Parenting Magazine’s top Female Parental Narrative Writer. My post, “The Talk,” was selected by Autism Speaks as one of the top ten most informative and inspirational blogs of 2013, and in 2014 my post about my son speaking for the first time was nominated as one of the top ten viral blogs of the year. In 2012 I produced and directed my play “Raising Autism,” with all proceeds going directly to POAC Autism Services, a non-profit located in Brick, NJ. I’ve recently had the honor to be selected to participate in the Family Partners Program, a part of the Autism Treatment Network at CHOP (funded by Autism Speaks), and I serve as a family partner for CNNH as well. In 2014 I had the honor of speaking at the kickoff for the Philadelphia walk for Autism Speaks. My essay on high-functioning autism was recently published in the textbook Asperger Syndrome: Risk Factors, Cognitive-Behavioral Characteristics and Management Strategies. I have also had the honor to be featured on the Mighty. I’ve recently had the opportunity to be interviewed by Kerry Magro of Autism Speaks for his cable television show Different is Beautiful. When not promoting my memoir “Raising Autism: Surviving the Early Years,” I can be found on the couch with chocolate, a good book, and an even better glass of wine.