Autism and the Extended Family: A Guide for Those Outside the Immediate Family Who Know and Love Someone with Autism

Dr. Raun Melmed, medical director of the Melmed Center and a developmental and behavioral pediatrician,founded Developmental Pediatric Associates, now known as the Melmed Center in 1989. He is a co-founderand the medical director of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. A native of South Africa, hecompleted his postgraduate studies in Israel, New York City and Boston. He was a fellow with Dr. Mel Levine atthe Children's Hospital in Boston where he was an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Melmed is anAdjunct Senior Researcher at the Translational Genomics Institute in Phoenix. He is a member of the Societyfor Behavioral Pediatrics and the Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, the AmbulatoryPediatric Association and he is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a board certifiedpediatrician and is also certified as a Diplomat in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. He lives inScottsdale, AZ.Dr. Melmed has been instrumental in setting up nationally recognized physician training programs for the earlyidentification of infants and toddlers with developmental and behavioral concerns and has authored a programgeared toward the early screening of autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Melmed is the co-author of Succeedingwith Difficult Children. He has published numerous articles and chapters and has presented around the worldon topics related to development and learning. Dr. Melmed is a member of the board of directors of communityagencies including the New Directions Institute, the Council for Jews with Special Needs.Dr. Melmed is principal investigator in numerous studies including the use of novel therapeutic agents in thetreatment of ADHD and autism. He is a co-principal investigator in studies involving family linkage, proteomicsand gene expression in autism. He lives in Scottsdale, AZ.Maria Wheeler, M.Ed., has spent more than 20 years in the fields of psychology and special education, withan emphasis on neurobehavioral disorders, applied behavior analysis, and specific learning disabilities. Sheauthored the definitive guide Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Issues, as wellas the staple behavior guide A Treasure Chest of Behavioral Strategies for Individuals with Autism. She lives inAmarillo, TX.