Neurodiversity and Autism
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Welcome to the University of Maryland's NATS program developed for neurodivergent college students and college-bound high schoolers who want to understand others, express themselves and navigate academic & campus life in better ways without losing their INDIVIDUALITY
Leadership Team
Kathy Dow-Burger, M.A., CCC-SLP, Friedman Family Director of Neurodiversity & Autism Transition Services
Kathy has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for over 30 years and is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She is licensed to practice in Maryland.
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Kathy is a Clinical Professor and the founder and coordinator of SIGNA. She has expertise in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric, adolescent, and adult autism, language-learning & reading disabilities, speech/language disorders and stuttering. In addition to SIGNA, she does research in the intersection of identity (race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, financial status, etc.,) and disability; full acceptance and inclusion of neurodiverent people in the workplace; and, Universal Design of learning spaces. Kathy is a certified PEERS® provider for the adolescent, school-based professional and young adult curricula and is also a co-organizer of the annual Neurodiversity at Work Research Conference with the University of Washington and Carnegie Mellon University. She also serves as a neurodiversity-affirming trainer and resource on the campus of the University of Maryland and throughout the region and country.
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Mairin Batten, M.A., CCC-SLP, Faculty Assistant, Dept. of Hearing and Speech Sciences
A graduate of UMD’s Hearing and Speech Program, she is licensed to practice in both Maryland and Washington, D.C., and is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
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Mairin Batten, MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with over 10 years of experience. She is the director of the NATS Teen Programs and a service provider with the Neurodiversity and Autism Transition Services (NATS) Program at the University of Maryland (UMD), where she also supervises graduate clinicians.
In addition to her work at UMD, Mairin owns a private practice in Hyattsville, MD, and has been providing speech services to families in the Route 1 area for many years. As a dedicated professional and mother of two, Mairin is passionate about empowering individuals with the tools they need to thrive. She believes in fostering welcoming, inclusive environments and is committed to providing compassionate, individualized care that helps every person reach their full potential. |
Madelen Simonds, MA., CCC-SLP, Faculty Assistant, Dept. of Hearing and Speech Sciences
Maddy earned her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from George Washington University in 2020. She is certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and is Maryland State licensed.
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Madelen "Maddy" Simonds, MA, CCC-SLP, is a Faculty Assistant for the SIGNA (Social Interaction Group Network for All) Program in UMD’s Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. As a bilingual (Spanish-speaking) individual, Maddy has had the opportunity to work with people of all ages—from toddlers to young adults—in a variety of settings, including home, daycare, clinic, and school environments.
Before joining the University of Maryland, she worked with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), where she had the exciting opportunity to work in a dual-language school, supporting a diverse group of students and families. She truly cares about offering neurodiversity-affirmative care, striving to make a positive impact. Outside of work, Maddy loves experimenting with different accents (she enjoys hearing how people speak!), staying active with hiking and dancing, and learning new things every day. |
Candace Nuzzo Michiels, M.A., CCC-SLP,
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Candace Nuzzo Michiels, MA, CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Faculty Assistant in the University of Maryland’s (UMD) Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences (HESP). Throughout her career, Candace has worked with pediatric, teen, and adult clients in the home, daycare, clinic, and school settings. Currently, she supports the UMD Social Interaction Group Network for All (SIGNA) program. In this role, she trains and supervises undergraduate Peer Coaches and Peer Mentors on the implementation of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Young Adults curriculum for weekly communication skills groups and one-on-one mentoring sessions. She also supervises graduate students in the planning and implementation of individual treatment plans for neurodivergent college students to improve executive function, Theory of Mind, self-advocacy, problem-solving, and social communication skills.
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Aruna Hari Prasad M.A., CCC-SLP,
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Aruna is a Faculty Assistant at the University of Maryland's Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. She received her Master’s of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland-College Park.Aruna is a PEERS School-Based Professional certified provider and has worked in Montgomery County, MD for over fourteen years. During this time, she has worked with preschool, elementary, middle and high school students with language learning disabilities, autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Reading Disabilities, Writing Disabilities, and Other Health Impairments.
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Lourdes "Lulu" Arteaga Baeza, SIGNA Graduate Assistant, SLP Graduate Student, Dept. of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland
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Lourdes “Lulu” is the NATS graduate assistant working with SIGNA. She supports undergraduate peer mentors and coaches by drawing upon her experiences during her undergraduate education at UMD. She oversees administrative work, including the organization of orientation, recruitment, and end of the semester programming. Lulu is a first year MA Speech-Language Pathology student pursuing the bilingual certificate.
Lulu's goal is to increase access to care for members of the community by using her Spanish language skills. 
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