Autism Institute on Peer Relations and Play

Center for Integrated Play Groups Training, Research and Development

IPG Fact Sheet

Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society

The Autism Institute on Peer Relations and Play was founded by Pamela Wolfberg with Therese O'Connor as a collaborative of independent professionals dedicated to enhancing peer play and friendships for children on the autism spectrum.

Pamela Wolfberg, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of special education and director of the Autism Spectrum graduate program (Project Mosaic) at San Francisco State University. She received her doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley with SFSU in 1994. Her research and practice are centered on peer relations, play and childhood culture as related to the social inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorders. Prior to pursuing a higher degree, she studied and worked with children in various capacities within the U.S. and abroad, including as an educator and play therapist. While teaching children with autism in the San Francisco public schools, she originated the Integrated Play Groups model. As co-founder of the Autism Institute on Peer Relations and Play she leads widespread efforts to develop inclusive peer play programs worldwide.

Dr. Wolfberg has published extensively and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, books and chapters. She co-edited a special issue on play in Autism:The International Journal of Research and Practice (2003). She is the author of Play and Imagination in Children with Autism (1999/2nd revised edition in press), which is based on her doctoral dissertation, and Peer Play and the Autism Spectrum: The Art of Guiding Children's Socialization and Imagination (2003). She is co-editor of a new volume with Kari Dunn Buron that includes contributions from world renown authors titled: Learners on the Autism Spectrum: Preparing Highly Qualified Educators (in press). (For more details, see Publications).

She has an active agenda as an invited speaker at the local, national and international level. She presently serves as associate editor for Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, on the editorial board of RSPD and as a guest editor for the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. She is currently Director of Project Mosaic: Preparing Highly Qualified Educators to Meet the Unique Needs of Students with Autism in Diverse Settings (U.S. Department of Education Grant No. H325K060211).

Dr. Wolfberg is the recipient of several distinguished awards for her scholarship, research and service to the community. These include: recognition for developing the  Autism Spectrum graduate program at SFSU in partnership with the ANGELS Center from AASCEND (2006), Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation from U.C. Berkeley (1994), Outstanding Journal Article in Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (1999) and the Sandra L. Bailey (1991) and Glenna B. Collins  (1993) scholarship awards from the Autism Society of America.

Heather McCracken is a mother of three children, one of whom is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. She is the creator of the Friend 2 Friend model and founder and executive director of the Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society, a British Columbia (CANADA) based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering friendships for children with ASD. Heather has a background in finance, small business management and human resources and is currently a student of child psychology at the University of British Columba. She also provides presentations on autism spectrum disorder at post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. She is a published author and speaker at professional conferences on the topic of the importance of fostering mutual friendship for children with ASD and the F2F model. She has recently formed a partnership with Pamela Wolfberg to offer seminars on blending the F2F and IPG models. Heather has received distinguished recognition for her work, which has been featured on radio and television news broadcasts, as well as in printed media.

Rebecca Berry, MS,PT has been an active pediatric physical therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1985, most recently as co-founder of Developmental Pathways for Kids.  She received her Physical Therapy degree from the University of Southern California in 1985. For over 15 years she has provided physical therapy evaluation and treatment for infants and children with mild to severe developmental delays. In addition to direct patient services, she has served as coordinator of a multi-disciplinary pediatric team at Mills-Peninsula Hospitals and consultant to schools throughout the Bay Area. She currently presents workshops throughout the U.S. for educational programs, professionals and families. Both Rebecca and Glenda have presented their unique program model at the National Conference on Autism.

Glenda Fuge, MS,H.Ed,OTR is co-founder of Developmental Pathways for Kids. She received her OT degree from San Jose State University where she has been a clinical faculty member, teaching pediatrics with an emphasis in Sensory Integration.  She additionally holds a Master’s degree in Health Education.  Her 20-year career includes 12 years as coordinator of pediatric therapy services at Mills-Peninsula Hospitals where she provided administrative services as well as direct patient care and consultation to families, educational programs and health care agencies. She currently provides in-service training and presentations for professionals working with children with ASD and related special needs.

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©Integrated Play Groups (IPG) by Pamela J. Wolfberg, 1987, 2008 (all rights reserved)

©Autism Institute on Peer Relations and Play, 2000, 2008 (all rights reserved)