Rita Eagle, Ph.D. received her B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from New York University. She is a clinical psychologist with 60 years experience in assessment, therapy, teaching, and research with respect to children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy.
She has also worked extensively in child welfare matters, in assessment, therapy and research, with a particular interest in the separation experience of children who have lost or been denied access to their parents. Dr. Eagle’s background is in cognitive and developmental psychology and psychoanalysis.
She has worked in private practice, and in clinical, educational and research venues in New York City, Toronto, and California, including the Research Center for Mental Health at New York University (with Robert Holt and George Klein); Masters Children’s Center (with Margaret S. Mahler and Fred Pine); the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine, New York University Medical Center; and the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry and Surrey Place Center in Toronto.
She taught at City College and Brooklyn College in New York City, and has supervised many young clinicians and doctoral candidates in assessment and therapy of children with a wide range of cognitive and emotional abilities and disabilities. Dr. Eagle has published research and clinical articles in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities; the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry; Canadian Psychology; the Journal of Psychotherapy Research and Practice; the Journal of Divorce; Social and Behavioral Sciences Documents; and the Journal of Developmental Disabilities.
She organized and presented at the Eclipse Conference in Toronto, Ontario, regarding lower functioning individuals with autism and co-edited with Dr. Maire Percy a special edition of the Journal of Developmental Disabilities, based on that conference. She is the author of “Help Him Make You Smile – the development of intersubjectivity in atypical children”, published by Rowman and Littlefield in 2007, and of a children’s book, Sniffy the Beagle, also published in 2007. “Sniffy” celebrates exceptionality and the rewards of tolerance and respect for differences. A second children’s book, Farina and the Baby was published in 2011.
She has also worked extensively in child welfare matters, in assessment, therapy and research, with a particular interest in the separation experience of children who have lost or been denied access to their parents. Dr. Eagle’s background is in cognitive and developmental psychology and psychoanalysis.
She has worked in private practice, and in clinical, educational and research venues in New York City, Toronto, and California, including the Research Center for Mental Health at New York University (with Robert Holt and George Klein); Masters Children’s Center (with Margaret S. Mahler and Fred Pine); the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine, New York University Medical Center; and the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry and Surrey Place Center in Toronto.
She taught at City College and Brooklyn College in New York City, and has supervised many young clinicians and doctoral candidates in assessment and therapy of children with a wide range of cognitive and emotional abilities and disabilities. Dr. Eagle has published research and clinical articles in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities; the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry; Canadian Psychology; the Journal of Psychotherapy Research and Practice; the Journal of Divorce; Social and Behavioral Sciences Documents; and the Journal of Developmental Disabilities.
She organized and presented at the Eclipse Conference in Toronto, Ontario, regarding lower functioning individuals with autism and co-edited with Dr. Maire Percy a special edition of the Journal of Developmental Disabilities, based on that conference. She is the author of “Help Him Make You Smile – the development of intersubjectivity in atypical children”, published by Rowman and Littlefield in 2007, and of a children’s book, Sniffy the Beagle, also published in 2007. “Sniffy” celebrates exceptionality and the rewards of tolerance and respect for differences. A second children’s book, Farina and the Baby was published in 2011.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Rita S. Eagle, Ph.D.
Westside Regional Center
[email protected]
Phone: 310-490-1504
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Citizenship: American Citizen. Canadian Citizen.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, New York University, New York City
B.A. Psychology (Magna Cum Laude, with Honors in
Psychology; Phi Beta Kappa). Barnard College, Columbia
University, New York City
LICENSING
New York State Certification
College of Psychologists in Ontario
Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
California Board of Psychology (since 1994)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
April. 2016 – present Westside Regional Center, Culver City, California
Assessment, consultation; supervision, staff training, developmental disabilities. Primary focus is on autism and other pervasive developmental disorders, in infants, children, youth and adults...
(For appeal procedures regarding any services by me provided for Westside Regional Center, please contact the Department of Developmental Services, www.dds.ca.gov/complaints, or 916-654-987)
Oct. 2001 – present Private practice Los Angeles, California
Assessment and treatment, children, youth, young adults (with developmental, emotional, educational and/or behavioral difficulties), and their families.
Feb. 2002 – April 2016 – Harbor Regional Center, Torrance, California
Assessment, consultation; supervision, staff training, parent workshops re: developmental disabilities; Primary focus is on autism and other pervasive developmental disorders, in infants, children, youth and adults..
Sept. 1993 – Sept. 2001 Surrey Place Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Primary Psychologist, in Children & Youth Services Division: Consultation, assessment, treatment, research, in-service
training, with respect to developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis. Chair, Autism Treatment Consultation Team.
Supervision of pre- or non-doctoral students and staff. Organized and/or participated in training workshops for
teachers, medical students and child psychiatry residents, re:developmental disabilities.
Jan. 1988 – Sept. 2001 Private Practice - Toronto, Ontario
Assessment and treatment of infants, children (with developmental, emotional, educational and/or behavioral difficulties) and their families. Specializing in developmental disabilities; child welfare matters; custody/access (domestic) disputes.
Sept. 1987 -Sept. 1997 Jewish Family and Child Services-Toronto, Ontario (Part Time)
Consultant/Supervisor to Play Therapy Program for children served by a child protection agency. Cases involved foster care, adoption, abuse and neglect.
Jan. 1988 - Sept. 1993 Adventure Place - Toronto, Ontario
Head of Psychological Services: Adventure Place is a day treatment center for pre-school children with developmental, communication and/or emotional /behavioral handicaps. It also maintains an early intervention community-based program for children ages 0-5. Duties included assessment and treatment, supervision, consultation, administration and research.
Sept. 1987 - Dec. 1990 Catholic Children's Aid Society - Toronto, Ontario (Part Time)
Psychological Consultant: Developmental assessment of infants and children in child welfare matters.
Nov. 1981 - Dec. 1987 Family Court Clinic, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry – Toronto, Ontario
Staff Psychologist - Referrals to the Clinic include cases before the Provincial Family Court, in three categories: Child Welfare; Custody and Access (domestic disputes); and Juvenile Delinquency. Duties included: (a) Assessment of children, adolescents, and their families, referred by the Provincial Family Court; (b) Treatment including play therapy, parent-child counseling, family therapy; consultation to protection agencies (c) Teaching and supervision of psychology doctoral students; (d) Consultation to special school on the premises; (e) Independent research.
Sept. 1980 - Nov. 1981 Dellcrest Children's Centre - Downsview, Ontario
Psychology Assessment of emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. Children referred were those in which diagnosis of cognitive and emotional problems had been especially difficult.
Feb. 1978 - Nov. 1981 Dellcrest Children's Centre - Downsview, Ontario
Clinical Consultant, Home Care Division: Supervisor of child care workers assessing and treating troubled children and their families in their homes. Approach stressed integration of behavioral management and psychodynamic understanding.
Clinical Consultant to Community Milieu Service (intensive home care to multi-problemed families); Day School; Residential and Group Programs at Dellcrest.
Research Consultant, Preschool Outreach Project: Program evaluation of a community outreach project designed to identify preschool age children manifesting or at risk for cognitive and/or emotional disturbance.
Nov. 1978 - June. 1980 Mount Sinai Hospital - Toronto, Ontario
Clinical Psychologist, Research Project: "Fantasy Formation and the Verbal Expression of Feelings in Psychosomatic and Psychoneurotic Patients: A Comparative Study," with Drs. Newman and Taylor, and Mr. K. Doody.
Jan. 1977 - Dec. 1980 Collaboration with Dr. Elmer Struening, Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University, School of Public Health, completing data analysis of research in New York University Medical Centre (see below, September 1974 – December 1976).
Apr. 1978 - Sept. 1980 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - Toronto, Ontario
Research Officer, Preschool Deaf Project: "A Study of Factors Operating During the Preschool Years Which Affect the Receptive and Expressive English Language and Social Development of Severely and Profoundly Deaf Children." Developed Social Development Scale for preschool deaf children; conducted research interviews; video-taped mother/child interaction; assisted in administration of research project.
Mar. 1977 - Aug. 1977 Lifeline Child Development Centre - Jamaica, Queens, New York
Staff Psychologist: Psycho-educational evaluation and psychotherapy of emotionally disturbed, autistic, schizophrenic, and/or organically-involved children, age five through sixteen, in a non-residential education and treatment facility.
Sept. 1974 - Dec. 1976 Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine, New York University Medical Centre
NIMH Post-Doctoral Research Fellow: Obtained NIMH grant to investigate hypoactivity in brain-damaged children. This evolved into a study of the development of early cognitive milestones and motivation (to initiate and effect changes in their environment) in congenitally brain-damaged infants and children with drastically reduced capacity for effective sensori-motor experience; alternative methods of assessing cognition and motivation in severely physically handicapped children; and variables affecting cognitive development in these children, including nature and amount of stimulation provided; protectiveness, the severity of physical handicap, socio-economic class, and other demography.
Apr. 1974 - Sept. 1974 Westchester Association for Retarded Children - White Plains, New York
Staff Psychologist: Psycho-educational evaluation of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Consultation to preschool program and supervision of teachers. (I left this position to accept a research fellowship).
Feb. 1974 - June 1974 Brooklyn College, City University of New York - New York City
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Psychology. Introduction to Psychology II (development, personality).
Sept. 1973 - June 1974 Churchill School for Children with Learning Disabilities - New York City
Psychologist: Cognitive Testing (Part Time).
Sept. 1972 - Sept. 1973 Beth Israel Hospital - New York City (Part Time)
Research Psychologist, Methadone Project: Longitudinal study of children from infancy on, born to mothers receiving Methadone during pregnancy. Developmental evaluation of babies 4 to 23 months; intelligence testing of children 2 to 7 years.
Sept. 1971 - June 1973 Baruch College, City University of New York - New York City
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Psychology. Courses in Adult Development, Psychology of Women, Introduction to Psychology, and Personal Adjustment.
Sept. 1964 - Feb. 1965 Manhattan School for Emotionally Disturbed Children - New York City
Psycho -Educational assessment of children with autism and other severe cognitive and/ or emotional conditions.
Dec. 1965 - June 1969 Master's Children's Centre - New York City
Staff Psychologist, under the direction of Drs. Margaret S. Mahler and Manuel Furer. Evaluation, therapy and research with children labeled autistic or "psychotic" in a day treatment setting; supervision of teachers in school at treatment centre. Independent research project on exceptional memory in psychotic children. These children (preschool and school age) were evaluated and tested within a psychoanalytically-oriented clinical and research setting. My assessments, however, focused on the child's cognitive development and perceptual-motor functioning, and the interface of these with emotional issues, and parent-children interactions. I also did observation of and consultation to the treatment component of the program.
From 1960 to 1963, while in graduate school, I worked at Master’s Children’s Centre as a research Assistant, on Dr. Margaret S. Mahler’s and Dr. Fred Pine's project on autism and symbiotic psychosis and on the separation-individuation stage in normal and pathological development. My work included controlled observation and rating of normal toddlers and of "psychotic" children (ages 3 to 10) as well as observation and rating of mother-child interactions with normal babies and toddlers, and with "psychotic" children. The clinical and research work involved in this project contributed substantially to Dr. Mahler's (and Pine's) formulations and publications regarding the separation-individual phase of development in normal and atypical children.
As an undergraduate at Barnard, I did an internship at Dr. Carl Fenichel's League School, School for Emotionally Disturbed Children (actually children with autism), in Brooklyn, New York.
Throughout college and graduate school, I worked part time as a psychiatric aide at Vincent 's Hospital in New York City.
PUBLISHED WORKS
Help Him Make You Smile: The development of intersubjectivity in atypical children: Roman and Littlefield, New York, February 2007.
Sniffy the Beagle, Outskirts Press, January 2007 (children’s book –deals with coping with exceptionality).
Farina and the Baby, X libris, September 2011
Commentary: Further commentary on the debate regarding the increase in autism in California, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, February 2004, volume 34, number 1.
Co-Editor, (with Maire Percy) Journal of Developmental Disabilties, Special Edition inspired by and including the proceedings of the “Eclipse” conference (see below) , focused on individuals with autism who are lower functioning, Fall 2002, vol. 9.
Accessing and assessing intelligence in individuals with lower-functioning autism, Journal of Developmental Disabilities, Fall 2002, p. 45-53..
The “other children” with autistic spectrum disorders”, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, June, 2000.
Short Book Review for Readings (American Orthopsychiatric Association). April, 1999.
Asberger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism, Schopler, Mesibov, Kunsic, Eds. 1998.
"The importance of early intervention for speech and language in autistic spectrum disorders" The Autism Newslink, Autism Society, Ontario, April l997, p.4 (with Leora Palace.)
Musselman, C., MacKay-Soroka, S.C., Trehub, S. & Eagle, R.S. Communicative Competence and Psychosocial Development in Deaf Children and Adolescents, in J. Beitchman, R. Pannock, M. Konstantereas, Eds., Language, Learning and Behaviour Disorders: Emerging Perspectives, Cambridge University, 1996.
"The separation experience of children 'in care' - Theory, research and implications for policy." American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, July 1994, vol.64, #3.
"Airplanes crash, spaceships stay in orbit": The separation experience of a child "in care." Journal of Psychotherapy, Research and Practice, August 1993.
Denial of Access - Past, Present and Future. Canadian Psychology, July 1990.
Effectance and the Concept of Causality in Severely Quadriplegic Children. With E. Struening in Journal of Multi-Handicapped Persons, 1990.
Clinicians' Recommendations in Access Disputes Involving Initiation or Renewal of Access. With S. Schaeffer inJournal of Divorce, 12, June 1989.
Evaluation of Intelligence in Severely-Involved Quadriplegic Children: The Effects of Type of Test, Home, and Educational Experience on I.Q. Scores and Change in I.Q. Scores Over Time. Social and Behavioural Sciences Documents, 12(2), 1987.
The Role of Motivation-Related Variables in Assessment of Cognition and Intellectual Potential in Severely-Involved Quadriplegic Children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, December 1985.
Deprivation of Early Sensory-Motor Experience and Cognition in Severely-Involved Quadriplegic Children (with implications for assessment and programming). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, December 1985.
Nothing to be Sorry About, a review of normal needs of handicapped children. Educational material to accompany film of the same name. Published by Ontario Educational Communications Authority, 1981.
Short Book Review for Readings (American Orthopsychiatric Association). March 1993, vol.8, #1, p.22. Autism: Identification, Education and Treatment. Dianne Berkell, Ed., 1992.
OTHER COMPLETED WORKS
Principal Investigator: Retrospective Study of Jewish Family and Child Services Play Therapy Program.
The R-A-P: Responsivity-Activity-Pathology -- a behaviour inventory for use with developmentally handicapped children: preliminary results with severely quadriplegic children.
Extraordinary memory of autistic children:
I. Types of memory reported by mother of autistic children as compared to memory forms reported by mothers of normal toddlers.
II. Developments in memory and language in two children with delayed echolalia.
OTHER RECENT OR CURRENT ACTIVITIES:
Toronto, Ontario, January 25, 2001. Organized a one-day conference for professionals: “Eclipse: the complex issues in understanding and serving school-aged children, youth and adults with autistic spectrum disorders, whose impairments in communication, cognition and/or behavior are especially severe”, regarding individuals with autism who are lower functioning.
Adjunct Editorial Staff, Journal Of Autism and Developmental Disorders:: Critical Review of submissions on request. (ongoing, since 2005)
PAPERS PRESENTED
Paper presented at the Eclipse Conference (see above), Toronto, January 25, 2001, “Accessing and Assessing Intelligence in Individuals with Lower Functioning Autism”.
Paper presented at Quality of Life Conference, Surrey Place Centre, June 1996, “Relationships Between Impaired Functions in Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Issues in Differential Diagnosis and Theories of Autism”.
Paper presented at Over, Under, Around, and Through Conference, Autism Treatment Services of Canada, Victoria, B.C., May 16, 1996, "Impaired Psychological Functions in Suspected Autistic Spectrum Disorders".
Paper presented at Surrey Place Centre, Toronto, June 22, l995 "Remystifying Autism: Issues in Diagnosis and Theory".
Paper presented at Victims of Developmental Disabilities and the Law Conference, held in Toronto, May ll-l2, l995. "Assessment for Custody and Access Litigation involving Persons with Developmental Disabilities".
Paper presented at Symposium, Post-21 Years for Adults with a Developmental Handicap, December 1991, sponsored by the Metropolitan Toronto School Board.
Invited Lecture: “Autism and Related Disorders” for Post-Graduate Program in Psychiatry, 1990-1991, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, August 22, 1990, Toronto, Ontario.
Paper presented at the Meetings of Division of Psychoanalytic Psychology, Ontario Psychological Association, March 1989: “Changing Conceptions and Treatment of Severe Psychopathology in Children: A Personal Odyssey from Mahler and Back”.
Paper presented at the Family Court Clinic Conference, May 1988, Ottawa, Ontario: “Child Welfare Task Force Report: Child Welfare Assessments - How Do We Do Them, How Do They Feel”.
Paper presented at Foster Parents Association, Metropolitan Toronto Children's Aid Society, St. Catharines, Ontario, 1986: “The Separation Experience of the Child "in care" - Theory, Research, and Implications for Policy”
Paper presented at Meeting of Canadian Psychological Association, June 1981, Toronto: “The Role of Motivation Related Variables in Assessment of Intellectual Potential in Severely-Involved Quadraplegic Children”.
Paper and workshop presented at Meetings of American Orthopsychiatry Association, April 10, 1980, Toronto: “Home Care for the Multi-Problemed Family”.
Paper presented at Meeting of American Psychological Association, September 4, 1979, New York City: “Cognition and Effectance in Severely-Involved Quadriplegic Children: A Brief Synopsis of Two Studies”.
CONFERENCES/ WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED
Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, June 2003, Training (with Pam Serota) for Preschool and School Teachers, Jewish Board of Education, Los Angeles.
Surrey Place Centre. November 5, l997. Educational Options for Students with Developmental Disabilities. (Chair of Organizing Committee, and participant presenter)
Understanding and Managing Classroom Behavior Challenges in Student with Developmental Disabilities: a series of three workshops, sponsored by Surrey Place Centre in 1998, for teachers throughout greater Toronto area. Member of five person panel.
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. October 28, l997: Member of a panel of professionals presenting on assessment of developmental disabilities to third year psychiatric residents.
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. October 30, 1996: Member of a panel of professionals presenting on assessment of developmental disabilities to third year psychiatric residents.
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. October 25, 1995: Member of a panel of professionals presenting on assessment of developmental disabilities to first year psychiatric residents.
Metropolitan Toronto School Board, Toronto, May 26, l995, Building Self Esteem in Children with Special Needs (with Dr. Nitza Perlman).
Metro Special Education Advisory Committee Special Education Seminar, February 7,
1992, Special Education Students in the Community - Post 21.
Foster Parents Association, Metropolitan Children's Aid Society, St. Catharines, Ontario, 1986, Separation and Loss Experiences of Children in Long-Term Foster Care, Part I.
Foster Parents Association, Metropolitan Children's Aid Society, Guelph, Ontario, 1987, Separation and Loss Experiences of Children in Long-Term Foster Care, Part II.
Pilot Parents Conference, Metropolitan Toronto Association for Mentally Retarded, Toronto, 1986, Development of "Self" and Nurturing Self-Esteem in Handicapped Children (Training Workshop).
Pilot Parents Conference, Metropolitan Toronto Association for Mentally Retarded, Toronto 1981, Parenting Handicapped Children (Training Workshop).
United Cerebral Palsy School, New York, 1976 - For Parents and staff of Infant Stimulation.
Program - Parental reactions to and interactions with developmentally delayed children.
CONSULTATION
Member of statewide California) consortium mandated to advise regarding statewide guidelines for assessment and treatment of autism (December 2002 through December 2005))
Member of Ontario Board of Examiners in Psychology Examining Team, evaluating applicants for Certificate of Psychology (registration in Ontario); April, 1993, November 1982, Toronto.
Chair-person, Child Welfare Task Force, Family Court Clinic, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 1987, Toronto.
Member of FY-82 Scientific Review Panel, Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Extramural R & D Grants Program, March 15 - 17, 1981, Chicago.
Psychologist Consultant, Ontario Education Communications Association, TV Ontario Film Series, "Every Child is Special" and "A Different Understanding." Winter 1980 - Spring 1981, Toronto.
Review of papers submitted to the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Participation in television film, Nothing to be Sorry About, produced by Ontario Educational Communications Authority, regarding handicapped children and their families (l980).
St. Stephen's Community Centre, Toronto: member of Program Committee (l992 - 2000; St. Stephens serves immigrant and ethnic minorities in Kensington Area); participant in planning and review of Leaps and Bounds Program (integrated, outdoor adventure program, developed by St. Stephen's in collaboration with MTACL (l994-l996).
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Member of American Psychological Association, Canadian Psychological Association.
Westside Regional Center
[email protected]
Phone: 310-490-1504
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Citizenship: American Citizen. Canadian Citizen.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, New York University, New York City
B.A. Psychology (Magna Cum Laude, with Honors in
Psychology; Phi Beta Kappa). Barnard College, Columbia
University, New York City
LICENSING
New York State Certification
College of Psychologists in Ontario
Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
California Board of Psychology (since 1994)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
April. 2016 – present Westside Regional Center, Culver City, California
Assessment, consultation; supervision, staff training, developmental disabilities. Primary focus is on autism and other pervasive developmental disorders, in infants, children, youth and adults...
(For appeal procedures regarding any services by me provided for Westside Regional Center, please contact the Department of Developmental Services, www.dds.ca.gov/complaints, or 916-654-987)
Oct. 2001 – present Private practice Los Angeles, California
Assessment and treatment, children, youth, young adults (with developmental, emotional, educational and/or behavioral difficulties), and their families.
Feb. 2002 – April 2016 – Harbor Regional Center, Torrance, California
Assessment, consultation; supervision, staff training, parent workshops re: developmental disabilities; Primary focus is on autism and other pervasive developmental disorders, in infants, children, youth and adults..
Sept. 1993 – Sept. 2001 Surrey Place Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Primary Psychologist, in Children & Youth Services Division: Consultation, assessment, treatment, research, in-service
training, with respect to developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis. Chair, Autism Treatment Consultation Team.
Supervision of pre- or non-doctoral students and staff. Organized and/or participated in training workshops for
teachers, medical students and child psychiatry residents, re:developmental disabilities.
Jan. 1988 – Sept. 2001 Private Practice - Toronto, Ontario
Assessment and treatment of infants, children (with developmental, emotional, educational and/or behavioral difficulties) and their families. Specializing in developmental disabilities; child welfare matters; custody/access (domestic) disputes.
Sept. 1987 -Sept. 1997 Jewish Family and Child Services-Toronto, Ontario (Part Time)
Consultant/Supervisor to Play Therapy Program for children served by a child protection agency. Cases involved foster care, adoption, abuse and neglect.
Jan. 1988 - Sept. 1993 Adventure Place - Toronto, Ontario
Head of Psychological Services: Adventure Place is a day treatment center for pre-school children with developmental, communication and/or emotional /behavioral handicaps. It also maintains an early intervention community-based program for children ages 0-5. Duties included assessment and treatment, supervision, consultation, administration and research.
Sept. 1987 - Dec. 1990 Catholic Children's Aid Society - Toronto, Ontario (Part Time)
Psychological Consultant: Developmental assessment of infants and children in child welfare matters.
Nov. 1981 - Dec. 1987 Family Court Clinic, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry – Toronto, Ontario
Staff Psychologist - Referrals to the Clinic include cases before the Provincial Family Court, in three categories: Child Welfare; Custody and Access (domestic disputes); and Juvenile Delinquency. Duties included: (a) Assessment of children, adolescents, and their families, referred by the Provincial Family Court; (b) Treatment including play therapy, parent-child counseling, family therapy; consultation to protection agencies (c) Teaching and supervision of psychology doctoral students; (d) Consultation to special school on the premises; (e) Independent research.
Sept. 1980 - Nov. 1981 Dellcrest Children's Centre - Downsview, Ontario
Psychology Assessment of emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. Children referred were those in which diagnosis of cognitive and emotional problems had been especially difficult.
Feb. 1978 - Nov. 1981 Dellcrest Children's Centre - Downsview, Ontario
Clinical Consultant, Home Care Division: Supervisor of child care workers assessing and treating troubled children and their families in their homes. Approach stressed integration of behavioral management and psychodynamic understanding.
Clinical Consultant to Community Milieu Service (intensive home care to multi-problemed families); Day School; Residential and Group Programs at Dellcrest.
Research Consultant, Preschool Outreach Project: Program evaluation of a community outreach project designed to identify preschool age children manifesting or at risk for cognitive and/or emotional disturbance.
Nov. 1978 - June. 1980 Mount Sinai Hospital - Toronto, Ontario
Clinical Psychologist, Research Project: "Fantasy Formation and the Verbal Expression of Feelings in Psychosomatic and Psychoneurotic Patients: A Comparative Study," with Drs. Newman and Taylor, and Mr. K. Doody.
Jan. 1977 - Dec. 1980 Collaboration with Dr. Elmer Struening, Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University, School of Public Health, completing data analysis of research in New York University Medical Centre (see below, September 1974 – December 1976).
Apr. 1978 - Sept. 1980 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - Toronto, Ontario
Research Officer, Preschool Deaf Project: "A Study of Factors Operating During the Preschool Years Which Affect the Receptive and Expressive English Language and Social Development of Severely and Profoundly Deaf Children." Developed Social Development Scale for preschool deaf children; conducted research interviews; video-taped mother/child interaction; assisted in administration of research project.
Mar. 1977 - Aug. 1977 Lifeline Child Development Centre - Jamaica, Queens, New York
Staff Psychologist: Psycho-educational evaluation and psychotherapy of emotionally disturbed, autistic, schizophrenic, and/or organically-involved children, age five through sixteen, in a non-residential education and treatment facility.
Sept. 1974 - Dec. 1976 Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine, New York University Medical Centre
NIMH Post-Doctoral Research Fellow: Obtained NIMH grant to investigate hypoactivity in brain-damaged children. This evolved into a study of the development of early cognitive milestones and motivation (to initiate and effect changes in their environment) in congenitally brain-damaged infants and children with drastically reduced capacity for effective sensori-motor experience; alternative methods of assessing cognition and motivation in severely physically handicapped children; and variables affecting cognitive development in these children, including nature and amount of stimulation provided; protectiveness, the severity of physical handicap, socio-economic class, and other demography.
Apr. 1974 - Sept. 1974 Westchester Association for Retarded Children - White Plains, New York
Staff Psychologist: Psycho-educational evaluation of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Consultation to preschool program and supervision of teachers. (I left this position to accept a research fellowship).
Feb. 1974 - June 1974 Brooklyn College, City University of New York - New York City
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Psychology. Introduction to Psychology II (development, personality).
Sept. 1973 - June 1974 Churchill School for Children with Learning Disabilities - New York City
Psychologist: Cognitive Testing (Part Time).
Sept. 1972 - Sept. 1973 Beth Israel Hospital - New York City (Part Time)
Research Psychologist, Methadone Project: Longitudinal study of children from infancy on, born to mothers receiving Methadone during pregnancy. Developmental evaluation of babies 4 to 23 months; intelligence testing of children 2 to 7 years.
Sept. 1971 - June 1973 Baruch College, City University of New York - New York City
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Psychology. Courses in Adult Development, Psychology of Women, Introduction to Psychology, and Personal Adjustment.
Sept. 1964 - Feb. 1965 Manhattan School for Emotionally Disturbed Children - New York City
Psycho -Educational assessment of children with autism and other severe cognitive and/ or emotional conditions.
Dec. 1965 - June 1969 Master's Children's Centre - New York City
Staff Psychologist, under the direction of Drs. Margaret S. Mahler and Manuel Furer. Evaluation, therapy and research with children labeled autistic or "psychotic" in a day treatment setting; supervision of teachers in school at treatment centre. Independent research project on exceptional memory in psychotic children. These children (preschool and school age) were evaluated and tested within a psychoanalytically-oriented clinical and research setting. My assessments, however, focused on the child's cognitive development and perceptual-motor functioning, and the interface of these with emotional issues, and parent-children interactions. I also did observation of and consultation to the treatment component of the program.
From 1960 to 1963, while in graduate school, I worked at Master’s Children’s Centre as a research Assistant, on Dr. Margaret S. Mahler’s and Dr. Fred Pine's project on autism and symbiotic psychosis and on the separation-individuation stage in normal and pathological development. My work included controlled observation and rating of normal toddlers and of "psychotic" children (ages 3 to 10) as well as observation and rating of mother-child interactions with normal babies and toddlers, and with "psychotic" children. The clinical and research work involved in this project contributed substantially to Dr. Mahler's (and Pine's) formulations and publications regarding the separation-individual phase of development in normal and atypical children.
As an undergraduate at Barnard, I did an internship at Dr. Carl Fenichel's League School, School for Emotionally Disturbed Children (actually children with autism), in Brooklyn, New York.
Throughout college and graduate school, I worked part time as a psychiatric aide at Vincent 's Hospital in New York City.
PUBLISHED WORKS
Help Him Make You Smile: The development of intersubjectivity in atypical children: Roman and Littlefield, New York, February 2007.
Sniffy the Beagle, Outskirts Press, January 2007 (children’s book –deals with coping with exceptionality).
Farina and the Baby, X libris, September 2011
Commentary: Further commentary on the debate regarding the increase in autism in California, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, February 2004, volume 34, number 1.
Co-Editor, (with Maire Percy) Journal of Developmental Disabilties, Special Edition inspired by and including the proceedings of the “Eclipse” conference (see below) , focused on individuals with autism who are lower functioning, Fall 2002, vol. 9.
Accessing and assessing intelligence in individuals with lower-functioning autism, Journal of Developmental Disabilities, Fall 2002, p. 45-53..
The “other children” with autistic spectrum disorders”, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, June, 2000.
Short Book Review for Readings (American Orthopsychiatric Association). April, 1999.
Asberger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism, Schopler, Mesibov, Kunsic, Eds. 1998.
"The importance of early intervention for speech and language in autistic spectrum disorders" The Autism Newslink, Autism Society, Ontario, April l997, p.4 (with Leora Palace.)
Musselman, C., MacKay-Soroka, S.C., Trehub, S. & Eagle, R.S. Communicative Competence and Psychosocial Development in Deaf Children and Adolescents, in J. Beitchman, R. Pannock, M. Konstantereas, Eds., Language, Learning and Behaviour Disorders: Emerging Perspectives, Cambridge University, 1996.
"The separation experience of children 'in care' - Theory, research and implications for policy." American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, July 1994, vol.64, #3.
"Airplanes crash, spaceships stay in orbit": The separation experience of a child "in care." Journal of Psychotherapy, Research and Practice, August 1993.
Denial of Access - Past, Present and Future. Canadian Psychology, July 1990.
Effectance and the Concept of Causality in Severely Quadriplegic Children. With E. Struening in Journal of Multi-Handicapped Persons, 1990.
Clinicians' Recommendations in Access Disputes Involving Initiation or Renewal of Access. With S. Schaeffer inJournal of Divorce, 12, June 1989.
Evaluation of Intelligence in Severely-Involved Quadriplegic Children: The Effects of Type of Test, Home, and Educational Experience on I.Q. Scores and Change in I.Q. Scores Over Time. Social and Behavioural Sciences Documents, 12(2), 1987.
The Role of Motivation-Related Variables in Assessment of Cognition and Intellectual Potential in Severely-Involved Quadriplegic Children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, December 1985.
Deprivation of Early Sensory-Motor Experience and Cognition in Severely-Involved Quadriplegic Children (with implications for assessment and programming). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, December 1985.
Nothing to be Sorry About, a review of normal needs of handicapped children. Educational material to accompany film of the same name. Published by Ontario Educational Communications Authority, 1981.
Short Book Review for Readings (American Orthopsychiatric Association). March 1993, vol.8, #1, p.22. Autism: Identification, Education and Treatment. Dianne Berkell, Ed., 1992.
OTHER COMPLETED WORKS
Principal Investigator: Retrospective Study of Jewish Family and Child Services Play Therapy Program.
The R-A-P: Responsivity-Activity-Pathology -- a behaviour inventory for use with developmentally handicapped children: preliminary results with severely quadriplegic children.
Extraordinary memory of autistic children:
I. Types of memory reported by mother of autistic children as compared to memory forms reported by mothers of normal toddlers.
II. Developments in memory and language in two children with delayed echolalia.
OTHER RECENT OR CURRENT ACTIVITIES:
Toronto, Ontario, January 25, 2001. Organized a one-day conference for professionals: “Eclipse: the complex issues in understanding and serving school-aged children, youth and adults with autistic spectrum disorders, whose impairments in communication, cognition and/or behavior are especially severe”, regarding individuals with autism who are lower functioning.
Adjunct Editorial Staff, Journal Of Autism and Developmental Disorders:: Critical Review of submissions on request. (ongoing, since 2005)
PAPERS PRESENTED
Paper presented at the Eclipse Conference (see above), Toronto, January 25, 2001, “Accessing and Assessing Intelligence in Individuals with Lower Functioning Autism”.
Paper presented at Quality of Life Conference, Surrey Place Centre, June 1996, “Relationships Between Impaired Functions in Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Issues in Differential Diagnosis and Theories of Autism”.
Paper presented at Over, Under, Around, and Through Conference, Autism Treatment Services of Canada, Victoria, B.C., May 16, 1996, "Impaired Psychological Functions in Suspected Autistic Spectrum Disorders".
Paper presented at Surrey Place Centre, Toronto, June 22, l995 "Remystifying Autism: Issues in Diagnosis and Theory".
Paper presented at Victims of Developmental Disabilities and the Law Conference, held in Toronto, May ll-l2, l995. "Assessment for Custody and Access Litigation involving Persons with Developmental Disabilities".
Paper presented at Symposium, Post-21 Years for Adults with a Developmental Handicap, December 1991, sponsored by the Metropolitan Toronto School Board.
Invited Lecture: “Autism and Related Disorders” for Post-Graduate Program in Psychiatry, 1990-1991, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, August 22, 1990, Toronto, Ontario.
Paper presented at the Meetings of Division of Psychoanalytic Psychology, Ontario Psychological Association, March 1989: “Changing Conceptions and Treatment of Severe Psychopathology in Children: A Personal Odyssey from Mahler and Back”.
Paper presented at the Family Court Clinic Conference, May 1988, Ottawa, Ontario: “Child Welfare Task Force Report: Child Welfare Assessments - How Do We Do Them, How Do They Feel”.
Paper presented at Foster Parents Association, Metropolitan Toronto Children's Aid Society, St. Catharines, Ontario, 1986: “The Separation Experience of the Child "in care" - Theory, Research, and Implications for Policy”
Paper presented at Meeting of Canadian Psychological Association, June 1981, Toronto: “The Role of Motivation Related Variables in Assessment of Intellectual Potential in Severely-Involved Quadraplegic Children”.
Paper and workshop presented at Meetings of American Orthopsychiatry Association, April 10, 1980, Toronto: “Home Care for the Multi-Problemed Family”.
Paper presented at Meeting of American Psychological Association, September 4, 1979, New York City: “Cognition and Effectance in Severely-Involved Quadriplegic Children: A Brief Synopsis of Two Studies”.
CONFERENCES/ WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED
Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, June 2003, Training (with Pam Serota) for Preschool and School Teachers, Jewish Board of Education, Los Angeles.
Surrey Place Centre. November 5, l997. Educational Options for Students with Developmental Disabilities. (Chair of Organizing Committee, and participant presenter)
Understanding and Managing Classroom Behavior Challenges in Student with Developmental Disabilities: a series of three workshops, sponsored by Surrey Place Centre in 1998, for teachers throughout greater Toronto area. Member of five person panel.
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. October 28, l997: Member of a panel of professionals presenting on assessment of developmental disabilities to third year psychiatric residents.
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. October 30, 1996: Member of a panel of professionals presenting on assessment of developmental disabilities to third year psychiatric residents.
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. October 25, 1995: Member of a panel of professionals presenting on assessment of developmental disabilities to first year psychiatric residents.
Metropolitan Toronto School Board, Toronto, May 26, l995, Building Self Esteem in Children with Special Needs (with Dr. Nitza Perlman).
Metro Special Education Advisory Committee Special Education Seminar, February 7,
1992, Special Education Students in the Community - Post 21.
Foster Parents Association, Metropolitan Children's Aid Society, St. Catharines, Ontario, 1986, Separation and Loss Experiences of Children in Long-Term Foster Care, Part I.
Foster Parents Association, Metropolitan Children's Aid Society, Guelph, Ontario, 1987, Separation and Loss Experiences of Children in Long-Term Foster Care, Part II.
Pilot Parents Conference, Metropolitan Toronto Association for Mentally Retarded, Toronto, 1986, Development of "Self" and Nurturing Self-Esteem in Handicapped Children (Training Workshop).
Pilot Parents Conference, Metropolitan Toronto Association for Mentally Retarded, Toronto 1981, Parenting Handicapped Children (Training Workshop).
United Cerebral Palsy School, New York, 1976 - For Parents and staff of Infant Stimulation.
Program - Parental reactions to and interactions with developmentally delayed children.
CONSULTATION
Member of statewide California) consortium mandated to advise regarding statewide guidelines for assessment and treatment of autism (December 2002 through December 2005))
Member of Ontario Board of Examiners in Psychology Examining Team, evaluating applicants for Certificate of Psychology (registration in Ontario); April, 1993, November 1982, Toronto.
Chair-person, Child Welfare Task Force, Family Court Clinic, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 1987, Toronto.
Member of FY-82 Scientific Review Panel, Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Extramural R & D Grants Program, March 15 - 17, 1981, Chicago.
Psychologist Consultant, Ontario Education Communications Association, TV Ontario Film Series, "Every Child is Special" and "A Different Understanding." Winter 1980 - Spring 1981, Toronto.
Review of papers submitted to the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Participation in television film, Nothing to be Sorry About, produced by Ontario Educational Communications Authority, regarding handicapped children and their families (l980).
St. Stephen's Community Centre, Toronto: member of Program Committee (l992 - 2000; St. Stephens serves immigrant and ethnic minorities in Kensington Area); participant in planning and review of Leaps and Bounds Program (integrated, outdoor adventure program, developed by St. Stephen's in collaboration with MTACL (l994-l996).
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Member of American Psychological Association, Canadian Psychological Association.
