Marlo Payne Thurman

Marlo began work with children diagnosed with ASD in 1986. With group home management and intensive ABA therapy in her early career, she developed a special interest in meeting the unique needs of those individuals who were asynchronously developed into the realms of the'ASD savant." Through her private practice, Ms. Thurman followed her passion and began specialising in assessment, advocacy, cognitive training, sensory and behaviour support, and socio-emotional coaching. In 1999 Marlo founded the Brideun Learning Communities and built the Brideun School for Exceptional Children, a play-based, therapeutic school exclusively serving children grades one through eight who were identified as "twice-exceptional." A quarter of the students served in Marlo's school were on the autism spectrum. After closing the school, Marlo founded 2E Consulting Services to provide training and support to individuals and programs working with twice exceptional students and learners with autism. With advanced degrees in both school psychology and special education, Marlo holds board positions with 2E Newsletter and the US Autism and Asperger's Association. She regularly speaks at conferences and trains teachers and mental health practitioners, where several of her talks have resulted in keynote presentations. In addition to her public speaking and private practice work, Ms. Thurman is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Northern Colorado where she teaches preservice educators and in the graduate school's Autism Certification program. Marlo has been recognised for her work by People magazine, The Special Educator, ADDitude Magazine, The New York Times, and National Public Radio as well as numerous local venues. Most recently, Marlo completed a landmark study proposing an alternative sensory-cognitive difference theory based on her extensive discussions and interactions with diagnosed adults. This research was the foundation for this book. Marlo lives in Johnstown, Colorado. In addition to several 'quirky' close friends and family members, Ms. Thurman credits her two adult children for teaching her about the value and beauty of being 'different-minded'.