Lisa Barrett Mann
Read a letter from Lisa...

Lisa Barrett Mann, M.S.Ed., is a consultant specializing in cognitive-behavioral interventions for children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome or similar disorders. Formerly a successful publishing executive and an award-winning healthcare writer for the Washington Post, Lisa made a mid-life career change after her son was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. "I was just appalled by the shortage of services available for children with Asperger's and the shortage of qualified professionals to provide those services" says Lisa. "What makes it even sadder is that these kids have so much potential, if you can just find the way to tap into it. They have amazing minds, unique points of view, and often a quirky sense of humor. But they have very real needs, too. And for some kids, getting these needs addressed can literally mean the difference between growing up to be a college professor or never being able to hold down a full-time job."

Lisa has seen firsthand what the right combination of interventions can do. Her son today is a straight-A middle school student, with a quick smile and an easy-going disposition. "There's no 'cure' for Asperger Syndrome," Lisa points out, "but that's okay. I don't want to fundamentally change these kids. As my son says, 'Being like everyone else would be boring!' Instead, our goal should be to help these kiddos learn how to make friends, fit in at school, manage their emotions and behaviors, and generally lead happy, productive lives."

Lisa has a bachelor's degree in psychology from University of Maryland, graduate training in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech, and a master's degree in special education/autism and Asperger Syndrome from the University of Kansas. She and her family live in Overland Park, Kansas, where her consulting practice is also based.

More Than Little Professors-Children with Asperger Syndrome: In Their Own Words

www.lisabarrettmann.com