Board of Directors

Emile Gouws, PhD is a researcher, Autism self-advocate, executive member of the Commonwealth disability forum, and NEC member of Autism South Africa.  He is a Postdoc fellow in the Department of Inclusive Education at the University of South Africa (UNISA).  He is a sought-after speaker and an advocate for people on the autism spectrum.  His MA thesis was an auto-ethnographic study – in other words, a study of the first 18 years of his life as an autistic person in a neurotypical society. His doctoral thesis was a continuation thereof, focusing on his early adult life as a student.

Treasurer

Tina received her Master’s in Social Work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work and her Master’s in Education from Baruch College. Before coming to the Rebecca School, Tina was the Program Director at the Early Intervention Center of Brooklyn. She first began attending DIR® trainings in 1994 and has continued to participate in the annual ICDL conference for the last eight years. She received intense ongoing training from Dr. Greenspan from September 2005 to March 2010.

Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Atlanta, GA whose practice focuses on both assessment and therapy with very young children through adults and their families.   She specializes in developmental and relationship based challenges (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder), ADHD, learning challenges, attachment, school phobia, anxiety and mood disorders, and general coping struggles.  She offers services that include consultation, psychotherapy, parent coaching, and treatment planning as well as supervision and  mentoring. She provides on-site, and online training in the DIR®/Floortime™model. She is currently expanding her practice to work with those diagnosed later in life with ADHD and Autism. Amanda believes in neurodiversity and that there are not “one size fits all”  interventions. 

She is a Certified Expert DIR®/Floortime™ clinician and training leader. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the International Council on Developmental and Learning.  Amanda received her Doctoral of Psychology degree (PsyD.) from APA accredited Georgia School of Professional Psychology (GSPP), in December 2010. She received her Master’s of Arts in Clinical Psychology from (GSPP) as well. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University and a B.F.A. in Studio Art from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Amanda began training and working at Floortime Atlanta in the spring of 2006.

Zachary Simmons-Glover is the Chief Operating Officer and Owner of Project99, a privately owned Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Care Agency. Zachary Simmons-Glover and the late Patrick Pasteur founded Project 99 in January of 2004; Realizing the importance of success through leadership and positive partnerships, these gentlemen made a vow to dedicate their lives to developing innovative programs and services that would bring change to disadvantaged youths. In keeping to their pledge: Project 99 continues to be a pillar in various communities as their initial stride toward uplifting families one at a time.  

Zachary's constant need for professional and personal growth inspired him to cofound and create NAOMI Software Solutions in 2015, a software consultation, engineering, design, and development company. Through this venture, Zachary vigorously partners with health and social service agencies to achieve their missions and client service outcomes, and their needs. NAOMI Software Solutions continues to evolve to adhere to the accountability and reporting requirements and deliver the best experience possible to their customers via Naomi's SaaS Technology platform. 

In his off time, which comes far and few, Zachary enjoys studying entrepreneurship, firing up his grill, and spending time with his family and friends. 

Dr. Stanley Greenspan was the founding president of the International Council on Development and Learning and founding president of Zero to Three: The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families. He was Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at George Washington University Medical School. As a foremost authority on clinical work with infants and young children Dr. Greenspan was a recipient of many national and international awards, including American Psychiatric Association's highest award for child psychiatry research. He is the author or editor of over forty books which have been translated into over a dozen languages.