Author: Biography | In the News | Photos |

Mary Lynch Barbera learned in 1999 that the eldest of her two sons, Lucas, had autism. Since Lucas' diagnosis one day before his third birthday, Mary has focused her attention and research on autism and related disorders. In 2000, she founded the Autism Society of Berks County. She became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2003 and worked as the Lead Behavior Analyst for the Pennsylvania Verbal Behavior Project from 2003 until 2010. Over the past several years, Mary has had the privilege of working with hundreds of children on the autism spectrum and has assisted in providing training to thousands of professionals and parents.

Mary earned a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from West Chester University and a Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked with neurologically impaired patients as a Registered Nurse at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and has served as staff development coordinator and nurse manager at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Mary completed a post-graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership at Alvernia University. Mary is an international speaker on the subject of autism and Applied Behavior Analysis.