For over 20 years, Dr. Shelley has developed a nationwide consulting practice that offered autism education, collaboration and support for parents, clinicians and educators toward autism optimal outcomes.
Prior to her own family’s journey through severe autism, which began in 1991, Dr. Shelley was an experienced educator of pre-K-12 and a Master's-level teacher trainer. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership for Change: Autism Optimal Outcomes. As a scholar-practitioner, and a researcher, Dr. Shelley completed an evaluation study of the relationship-based, multi-disciplinary intervention program that she developed. She published the extensive quantitative and qualitative evidence that resulted. The research participants’ responses (parents, clinicians, educators, family, and community stakeholders) demonstrated the effectiveness and cost/benefits of this parent-led intervention program.
Dr. Shelley is the Founder and Executive Director of Parents as Partners: The Autism Education and Change Network, which is a non-profit, web-based parent educational platform focused on parent empowerment through developmental, relationship-based "understandable" education.
Dr. Shelley graduated with her BA and MS Ed., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She and her husband have been married 44 years. They have 2 children, and 2 grandchildren.
