Chantal Sicile-Kira

Chantal’s first experience with developmentally disabled individuals was
working full-time at Fairview State Hospital in Orange County CA. While attending UC Irvine Chantal taught self-help and community living skills
to developmentally disabled and autistic adolescents in preparation for
their de-institutionalization after the passage of the Lanterman Act. After
graduating with a BA in Social Ecology, Chantal worked as a case manager at
Orange County Regional Center.
Little did Chantal know that these work experiences would come in handy
years later, when her son Jeremy was diagnosed in France in the early
1990’s. When told to institutionalize her son and to get on with
her life, she naturally refused. Jeremy graduated from his local high
school in San Diego at age 21 in 2010 with a full academic diploma despite
being non-verbal, and gave a commencement speech using
voice-output technology. Jeremy is now a self-employed
professional artist and lives with the supports he needs 24/7 in an apartment,
and continues to serve the autism and art community in various ways.
Both Chantal’s experience as a professional and as a parent led
her to write award-winning
practical books to help both parents and educators, at a time
when few practical books were available. Chantal has
over 20 years of experience in providing practical information and
training in over 10 countries, over 25 US states and more than 65 US
cities. For those who could not access conferences,
Chantal created Autismcollege.com in
2011 to provide online training. Currently Chantal serves on the board of
directors for the Teva Community.