Meet the Board
Since 1988, the Autism Society of Florida has been working to ensure full participation and self-determination in every aspect of life for people with autism. We will realize this vision by opening avenues of self-advocacy and advocating on behalf of others in a way that values equity, respect, dignity and diversity in all communities. We work every day to empower people across the spectrum and across the lifespan. The ASF board of directors is comprised entirely of volunteer parents and family members of people with autism and adults with autism.
Stacey Hoaglund
Cooper City, Florida
Stacey Hoaglund is a parent of a young man with autism, mediator, educational advocate with Family Network on Disabilities, past editor of The Autism Notebook Magazine and statewide coordinator for Partners in Policymaking. As a trainer, consultant and interventionist, Stacey provides educational opportunities to parents and organizations on a variety of disability related topics. For more than 20 years she has promoted, enhanced, and advocated for the inclusion of people with ASD from birth to adulthood.
PRESIDENT
Kelly Busch
Weston, Florida
Kelly Busch is the mother of three children, two young adult daughters and a young adult son with autism. She has held numerous committee positions including chairperson of the Autism Committee of ESE (ACE) for five years, Chairperson ESE Advisory Council, Best Practices for Inclusive Ed. Committee, Florida Developmental Disability Council’s Partners in Policymaking 2013 graduate and advisory member, and co-founded FAN – Family Autism Network and Responding to Autism. Kelly is a passionate activist for people with autism and their families.
VICE PRESIDENT
Rea Martinez
Davie, Florida
Rea Martinez-Malo has a Master of Taxation from Nova Southeastern University. She is the owner of Liberty Accounting and Tax Services. Rea has served as treasurer of Family Advisory Counseling, an organization at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and the Miami Power Team Foundation. She has been a leader of the literacy campaign, Acude, in her native country of Venezuela. Most of all, she is a special-needs mother with a great deal of passion for bringing supports to those in need.
TREASURER
Margi Hedelund
Pompano Beach, Florida
Margi Hedelund and her husband, Martin Sr, are parents to identical twin boys, Dalton and Martin Jr, both of whom have ASD. She is a dedicated community volunteer and President of Responding 2 Autism. She has served as vice-chairperson of the Broward Autism Committee (ACE), Board Member of Family Autism Network of Florida (FAN), and is a graduate of Florida Partners in Policymaking, Class of 2013. Margi is dedicated to her family and all families living with autism.
BOARD MEMBER/TRAINER
Ann Reynolds
Venice, Florida
Ann Reynolds has served on various autism boards and school advisory councils over the past 20 years. She is the parent of a young adult with autism and currently facilitates the Suncoast Autism Social Group for Young Adults, which is ASF’s group for independently functioning young adults in Sarasota County. Ann is a tireless advocate for adults on the autism spectrum and passionately pursues appropriate funding of adult programs and services focusing on employment and quality of life for all.
BOARD MEMBER
Patty Crist
Hudson, Florida
Patty Crist is a mother of four (4) children, the youngest son having autism with an accompanying language and speech impairment, sensory processing disorder and anxiety. Patty is a graduate of Florida’s Partners in Policymaking and is a passionate advocate for inclusion. She is a member of the Pasco County District ESE Collaborative Network (ESE Advisory Committee) and administers their community Facebook page. She’s also a parent representative on School Advisory Council and PTO.
BOARD MEMBER
Ron Kaplan
Maitland, Florida
Ron Kaplan is a father to a young man with autism. In 2007, due to extensive international and domestic travel requirements, Ron left his career as CEO/Chairman of a NASDAQ company in educational consumer products to support the escalating needs of his son. Ron is dedicated to using his experience and knowledge in business and ASD parenting to helping Florida's ASD community. As a licensed Realtor, Ron has successfully assisted families whose home life is impacted by ASD.
BOARD MEMBER
Jael Arroyo
Ocala, Florida
Jael Arroyo is a mother to a beautiful 7-year-old girl who has autism, as well as many other medical issues including feeding difficulties. She is a member of the board for OASN
(Outreach Autism Services Network) and an advisor for a self-advocacy group that is part of the
FL SAND Network. She is also a key member of the Marion County Disability Alliance in addition to being a graduate of the Florida Partners in Policymaking program, an advocacy and leadership training program.
BOARD MEMBER
Carla Mercer
Jacksonville, Florida
BOARD MEMBER
Carla served over 11 years active duty in the Army and has 4 children, the third is an 18 year old with autism. She served as an Equal Opportunity Rep during her military career, and it became part of the foundation of her advocacy. She has been a Parent Mentor for special needs families, Parent Who Leads graduate of the National Parent Leadership Institute, a 2020 graduate of Partners in Policymaking and serves as a Guardian Ad Litem and Certified Education Surrogate in NE Florida.
Annette Lizardo
DeLand, Florida
BOARD MEMBER
Annette Lizardo has three teenage children, including a son with ASD. She is a graduate of FL Partners in Policymaking ('19) and served on the initial FL Step up for Students, Gardiner Scholarship Parent Advisory Council for four years. She has written a published article on making Continuing Medical Education on special needs a legal requirement for physicians (Exceptional Parenting Magazine, August '21) and is working towards a Ph.D. and ADA Coordinator certification.
Conrad Blaze
DeBary, Florida
BOARD MEMBER
Conrad Blaze is a late diagnosed Aspie (one who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome). He is currently a student at Savannah College of Art and Design going for his BFA in Performing Arts. After he obtains his degree, he intends to become a teacher specializing in Performing Arts, Illustration, and Gen Ed. He is also the treasurer of the Social Spectrum Club at SCAD. At SCAD, he has become a valuable resource for younger students on the spectrum and a voice for advocacy and change. In his free time he illustrates and performs live improv theater.
Lucia Barbeyto
Miami, Florida
BOARD MEMBER
Lucía Barbeyto was born and raised in Spain and currently lives in Miami. She is the mother of a son diagnosed with severe autism and epilepsy. For the last 15 years, Lucia has devoted her life to learning and being involved in all things related to children’s development, especially children with developmental disabilities and the educational system. She is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking and formerly a Board Member of the Florida State Advisory Committee for the Education of Exceptional Students (SAC) at the Florida Department of Education (FDOE).
BOARD MEMBER
Elizabeth Bonker
Maitland, Florida
Elizabeth Bonker is the Executive Director of Communication 4 ALL, a nonprofit with the mission to ensure nonspeakers with autism have access to communication. Elizabeth’s decade of advocacy work includes a book, I Am in Here, and a music album. Her story has been featured in three documentary films: SPELLERS, Understanding Autism, and In Our Own Hands. Elizabeth is a 2022 graduate from Rollins College’s Honors Program and her valedictorian commencement address went viral with 4 billion media impressions propelling her mission onto a global stage. Elizabeth is a member of Autism
Society of America’s Justice Center Task Force and Public Policy Committee.
BOARD MEMBER
Janae Dulcos, Ph.D.
Tallahassee, Florida
Janae Duclos, Ph.D., has a younger sister with autism and serves as a content expert, researcher, and Professor of Special Education at Florida State University. With over 17 years of professional experience, Dr. Duclos has worked with students with disabilities and their families at the local school, district, state, and university sectors. She previously served as the Autism Program Specialist at the Florida Department of Education. She is the inventor of Conversation Cue Cards and CEO of C3forMe- a company that offers person-centered supplementary support for effective transition planning.
The Autism Society of Florida is grateful to Ven Sequenzia, our President Emeritis who has been a tireless advocate for people with autism for decades.
Without Ven ASF would not be what it is today.
Ven Sequenzia
Ven Sequenzia served as the Autism Society of Florida president for 18 years. He was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Autism Spectrum Disorders and president of Autistic Childs Advocate Association. He was instrumental in helping to expand the number of CARD - Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, throughout the state of Florida. He is one of the founding trustees of Parent to Parent of Miami.
PRESIDENT EMERITIS