GURRY AUTISM CONSULTING, LLC

Educational and Behavioral Consulting in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Related Disabilities

 

 

 

About Susan Gurry, Ed.D.

 

Dr. Gurry began her career in 1975 as a teacher of children with severe disabilities in a public school system; she also taught in a self-contained class of children with language and learning disorders. In both situations she did direct instruction and integrated education. For one additional year, she was Program Director of Project Mainstream, a grant-funded integrated program for teenagers with severe disabilities in a local public high school, where she instituted a Peer Buddy system. In addition, she worked as an LD tutor and staff trainer.

In 1983, Susan was hired as Assistant Professor and Program Director for the Severe Disabilities Program in the Graduate School at Lesley College; for 23 years she served in the University in many positions: as a faculty member in the Special Needs Division, as Program Director in Severe Disabilities for 20 years, as Director of Graduate Teacher Education for one year, and as Coordinator of the Collaborative Internship Programs for four years. Her expertise and research has been in autism spectrum disorders, and she has served as a private consultant in autism, curriculum development, staff training, and inclusion to cities and towns such as Providence, R.I., Avon, MA.; Brookline, MA.; Arlington, MA.; and the Pentucket Regional High school in West Newbury, MA. For ten years at Lesley she co-directed the Summer Institute on Autism and/or Inclusion, and has lectured at many local and national conferences. She is a member of the Massachusetts Advocates for Children Autism Advisory Committee, as well as other organizations, and founded a Respite Care Agency in Greater Boston for families of children with seriously handicapping conditions. Her B.S. and M.S. from Syracuse University were in elementary education, special education/autism, and her Ed.D. from Boston University had an emphasis on special education for children with severe disabilities, administration, the development of community-based programs and program/curriculum development.

Susan created successful teams of collaborators in her teaching situations, and worked effectively as a colleague at Lesley University. In addition, her experience founding the respite care agency included the process of working cooperatively with families and on behalf of their children.  She has excellent interpersonal and communication skills, is fair and thoughtful, and enjoys working on behalf of children on the autism spectrum and with other severely disabling conditions.