Read About Our Panelists for the Question and Answer Session Following the Screening of Here We Are

Dr. Michael Alessandri is the Executive Director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD). He has worked with individuals with autism and their families since 1981 in various capacities. Dr. Alessandri has presented, consulted and published internationally on developing appropriate and effective educational programs for students with autism. In addition, he has received numerous research and service grants.

A professor at the University of Miami since 1996, he serves as the Department of Psychology’s Assistant Chairman for Community Outreach and Engagement as well as other leadership roles.

His many honors include the Autism Society of America’s Wendy F. Miller Autism Professional of the Year Award; the David Lawrence Champion for Children, one of South Florida’s highest honors for community service; the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Visionary Leader of the Year; and the Dade County Bar Association’s Inclusion and Diversity Award. UM-NSU Card has also been recognized as National Autism Program of the Year by the Autism Society of America.

He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Rochester and obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in psychology from Rutgers University.

Nancy Zaretsky is the Inclusion Specialist in the Planning Department of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and oversees the Miami Jewish Abilities Alliance. Ms. Zaretsky is also a faculty member at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where she teaches a unit on Building Family and Professional Collaboration & Interprofessional Teams in the Graduate Fellowship Program in Leadership Development in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Before this position, Ms. Zaretsky served for six years as the Chair of the Constituency Board of the University Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD).

Over her career, she has initiated shadow programs for children with disabilities, served on many community boards and ran an Applied Behavioral Analysis home program for an early learner with autism. She has lived in Miami for more than 30 years and has three grown children who love politics, art and film, including her son on the autism spectrum.