Flourishing with Autism: The Case for Positive Psychology
A Special Report by Proof Positive
Authored by Patricia Wright, Ph.D., MPH and Katie Curran, MAPP
Proof Positive
Paige Raetz, PhD., BCBA-D
Vice President of Implementation
and Dissemination
Proof Positive
(she/her)
“By building strong, connected teams and emphasizing the importance of wellbeing, I aim to create a world where everyone can achieve their fullest potential and experience the joy of personal and collective growth.”
As Vice President of Implementation and Dissemination, Dr. Paige Raetz brings a wealth of expertise and a kind, engaging presence to the Proof Positive Autism Wellbeing Alliance.
Paige’s journey in autism services and support is marked by her significant contributions, especially her nine years of developing and refining services as the Director of Teen and Adult Services at Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC). Prior to her time at SARRC, she pioneered services at Trumpet Behavioral Health and influenced practices on an international level as the Clinical and Research Director at Kinark Child and Family Services in Toronto, Canada.
Paige is a respected scholar and leader in her field. She has published extensively and served as a guest editor for notable journals. Her research and interest spans diverse areas, including autism, behavioral gerontology, verbal behavior, and organizational behavior management. Paige has contributed as an adjunct professor in the Psychology department at Arizona State University and serves on the Governor’s appointed committee on Behavior Analysis for the state of Arizona. She has also held leadership roles, including President of Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism and the Autism Provider Exchange.
With a strong commitment to fairness, Paige is inspired by the potential of positive psychology to transform autism services to benefit all. She collaborates with Autism Wellbeing Alliance members to implement the science and skills of happiness. Paige envisions a world where the skills of happiness and wellbeing are accessible to everyone, and is especially hopeful of its potential to benefit caregivers and support teams. Through her work, Paige uses a sense of gratitude to create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. She employs her humor to strengthen her relationships with teams and fairness to build stronger connections between team members and those they support, enhancing retention and increasing satisfaction for all participants.
Outside of her professional life, Paige is a sports enthusiast. Whether on the basketball court cheering for her daughter or on the baseball field supporting her son, she loves being involved in sports. She also enjoys going to the gym and playing golf and pickleball. Her creative side shines through her love of photography, where she appreciates the beauty of taking and admiring photos, especially the vibrant murals around her city.
Katie Curran, MAPP
Chief Wellbeing Officer
Proof Positive
Imagine a world where wellbeing wins for everyone, including individuals with autism. Katie Curran believes this is possible through the science of happiness.
Katie is the Chief Wellbeing Officer of Proof Positive, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the science and skills of happiness for individuals with autism, their families, educators, and service providers.
Katie has more than 20 years of clinical experience working with autistic individuals. She’s widely recognized as a creative force when it comes to autism intervention, developing strategies and tools that fuse Positive Psychology with Applied Behavior Analysis to improve wellbeing.
Katie’s zest for her work makes her a sought-after speaker and workshop leader. In her role as a Primary Instructor on UPenn’s Master Resilience Training team, she led interdisciplinary teams around the world to train educators, soldiers, athletes, and government officials on the skills of resilience and human flourishing. Prior to Proof Positive, Katie held tenure at three of the world’s leading behavioral institutions (i.e., Sheppard Pratt Mental Health Institute, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Princeton Child Development Institute).
Through her studies, she realized that behavioral interventions alone were not enough to develop thriving lives for autistic individuals and their communities. Early in her career, she recognized an opportunity to prioritize wellbeing as a pathway to improve learning trajectories and quality of life outcomes.
Katie has authored articles on the topics of Goals Setting, Hope Theory, Character Strengths, and Learned Happiness. She serves as a global representative to the International Positive Education Network; held a seat on the MAPP Alumni Board at the University of Pennsylvania, and was a founding board member for the Global Autism Project.
Katie holds a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her Bachelor of Psychology with honors from Towson University in 2004. With her love for lifelong learning, Katie is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania.
Katie lives in Princeton, NJ, with her partner, Maria, and their two kids. She is most grateful for the joy she finds getting lost in nature, playing (just about anything…as long as she is winning) with family and friends, and spoiling her dog, Georgie.
Patricia Wright, PhD, MPH
Executive Director
Proof Positive
(she/her)
Dr. Patricia Wright has dedicated her career to ensuring individuals with autism have access to effective services and supports that lead to more joyful, meaningful lives. Passionate about education and advocacy, she’s worked tirelessly to make the world a more inclusive place for autistic individuals and the communities that support them. Through her current role at Proof Positive, her bold vision is being realized.
In the media spotlight, you can catch Patricia in numerous news outlets and publications, including Education Week, Autism Spectrum News, October 2011 issue of Parents Magazine, The Teaching Channel podcast, PBS, WNYU radio, and National Academies Press, and is a regular blog contributor for Psychology Today.
Now she’s leading the charge to advance the science of positive psychology and skills of happiness as the Executive Director of Proof Positive, a national nonprofit collaborating with schools, autism organizations and positive psychology leaders to integrate and expand wellbeing programming for autistic individuals and their communities.
Applauded as a global leader in autism advocacy, programming and interventions, Patricia brings a track record of success working in management at top autism organizations. She was pivotal in the design and transformation of a statewide system of support for children with autism for the state of Hawaii, and she also served in leadership roles for NEXT for AUTISM and as the National Director of Autism Services for Easterseals.
Additionally, Patricia has held advisory roles for a number of professional associations and advocacy groups, including the Organization for Autism Research’s Scientific Council, the Executive Committee for the Friends of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts and the Autism Society Panel of Professional Advisors.
Patricia has advised and provided expert testimony at Congressional Hearings. She is also a frequent contributor in the media, raising awareness of early identification and developmental milestones and deepening the public’s understanding of disability equity, inclusion and access.
She holds a Ph.D. and Master of Public Health from the University of Hawaii. Her research focuses on the delivery of evidence-based interventions in community-based settings and healthcare access for people with disabilities.
Avery Bell
Associate Director,
Content & Engagement
Proof Positive
(she/her)
“I’m driven to create an inclusive world where everyone thrives. In order for others to fully flourish, I believe the beauty of the outdoors can bring healing, joy, and happiness.”
When Avery Bell is not enjoying fresh air and outdoor adventures, she’s bringing her kindness and innovation to help others practice happiness in any environment.
As the Associate Director of Content & Engagement at Proof Positive, Avery engages diverse teams of educators, caregivers and service providers to integrate positive psychology skills into the daily rhythms of life. Always learning, Avery supports the organization’s social media, messaging, and collaborations to promote inclusion, equity, and sustainability.
Prior to Proof Positive, Avery fueled her passion for people and the planet as a youth development leader at Cheley Colorado Camps in the Rocky Mountains. At her alma mater, Colorado College, she engaged community members in various initiatives to enhance campus sustainability goals in her role as the Green Programs Intern at the Office of Sustainability.
Applying her innate passion for mental health and wellbeing, Avery has also worked to promote research and awareness on mental health and suicide at the James Kirk Bernard Foundation, where she coordinated social media, marketing, and fundraising events.
With a love for service, Avery enjoys volunteering for a variety of organizations, including Conservation Colorado and Ascendigo Autism Services. As a previous Division III student-athlete, Avery loves working as a team to achieve goals, and will apply this sense of teamwork and community involvement to optimize collaborations at Proof Positive.
She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Environmental Issues from Colorado College.
Avery currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts but calls Basalt, Colorado home. Always looking for a new adventure Avery loves to hike and ski, learn a new crafting skill (currently, it’s printmaking!), and do all things music-related: concerts, playing, singing, and appreciating its beauty!
Karra Lang
Administrative Coordinator
Proof Positive Autism Wellbeing Alliance
“I believe we can achieve wellbeing through education and a holistic approach. By appreciating the excellence of the organization in daily operations, I hope to spread positive change and advocate for wellbeing for all.”
For Karra Lang, wellbeing wins for all. For her, that wellbeing must extend to all people, all animals, and all of nature, our planet.
Rooted by a lifelong love of animals, Karra has held a variety of roles in the pet care industry. Early on in her professional career, she began to identify issues with many of the traditional approaches to the wellbeing of pets through their daily care. Driven to help change pet care for the better, she became a certified Positive Reinforcement/Fear Free dog trainer with an interest in educating and influencing pet parents to see a new perspective.
Over time, Karra worked to extend her interest in animal and pet wellbeing to greater human wellbeing, from diet and exercise to communication and understanding. Believing in the possibility of a more holistic, resilience-centered approach, she has taken a particular interest in holistic health and wellness, beginning with proper nutrition. And the way to do that? Through education. Karra believes that spreading knowledge in a creative and honest way is the most important way to create positive change.
As the Administrative Coordinator at Proof Positive, Karra applies her appreciation of beauty and excellence to ensure efficient organizational operations and maintenance. She employs her kindness every day to support the team, and her humor to keep things light, navigating all of the many problem-solving and daily tasks necessary.
Outside of Proof Positive, you may find Karra spending time with her kiddo, cats (Scuba, Tyrion, and Mini Cat) and puppy (Hiccup), reading a new favorite book, or enjoying the creative storytelling narrative of video games in her home in Maryland.
Jamie Evanko
Manager of Customer Success
Proof Positive Autism Wellbeing Alliance
(she/her)
“When we spread the science and skills of happiness, we help create more nurturing and inclusive environments for our students with diverse needs. And then, both educators and students will thrive.”
For Jamie Evanko, the science of happiness extends well beyond her classroom’s walls. Jamie first discovered the potential of positive psychology to benefit her students, teams, and personal life while teaching, and it quickly became a passion. As an educator, she knows positive psychology practices can foster not only academic growth but also emotional wellbeing among her students – because she’s experienced and implemented it first-hand.
Now, as Proof Positive’s Manager of Customer Success, Jamie applies her expertise and leadership in education, as well as her prudence, to ensure anyone using Proof Positive resources has the highest-quality implementations support. Additionally, Jamie still serves as a special education teacher for a small program focused on enhancing the wellbeing of teens with autism. Simply stated, Jamie is committed to ensuring the skills of wellbeing are accessible to all.
Prior to Proof Positive, Jamie served as a Special Education teacher within the public education system in New Jersey for nearly ten years. Here, she specialized in supporting students with executive functioning needs, using her social intelligence to help them develop essential life skills. Tapping into her natural leadership strengths, Jamie led professional development in positive psychology and effective instructional practices at her previous school, supported onboarding of new teachers, and completed an administrative internship. Jamie believes that honest collaboration is key to achieving the best outcomes for students.
Jamie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and English, Master of Arts in Teaching Leadership, and Principal’s Certification from Rider University in New Jersey. During her time at Rider, she had the opportunity to work with schools in both Spain and China during study abroad programs, gaining a global perspective on teaching and learning.
Jamie lives in central New Jersey, where she appreciates the beauty of the outdoors by exploring local parks with her family, daughter, and dog – especially on Long Beach Island. She is always up for travel, whether an adventure abroad to Europe or a tropical island.
Jason Kniss, MSc
Director of Instructional Design & User Experience
Proof Positive
(He/Him)
“I firmly believe the frameworks that support wellbeing belong in every classroom, on every team, and at every organization. Through clear and engaging content, I hope to provide perspective to leaders that wellbeing always wins.”
For Jason, translating scientific best-practices into dynamic and meaningful content is more than just a career – it is an act of generosity and love. Jason grew up in a working-class family in Portland, OR and recalls regularly watching PBS as a child. From an early age, Jason was inspired by quality storytelling, opening him up to a world of possibility and a lifelong love of learning. After studying the core sciences in undergrad, he taught Middle School Math & Secondary Special Education where he saw the power of well-designed educational content in helping students grow and feel a sense of belonging.
Through his experience working in schools, Jason became fascinated with the intersection of learning design and organizational effectiveness. He quickly expanded his work beyond K-12 education to spend more than 10 years providing training leadership to universities, non-profits, health systems, and Fortune 500 companies. In helping organizations evolve and thrive well-into the digital age, Jason blends his skills of strategic thinking, creativity, and fostering community.
Jason holds a Bachelor’s in Biology from Oregon State University and a Master’s in Information Design & Strategy from Northwestern University in Chicago where he completed his capstone work on Design Thinking within complex organizational settings. Knowing the incredibly hard work it takes to change our individual and organizational habits, Jason brings a spirit of innovation and an ever-present sense of humor to his work.
Jason loves traveling, becoming ever closer to visiting all 50 states (46 and counting). He is grateful for the opportunity to let his mind wander while visiting museums, exploring new cities, and taking long walks along a lake. Jason has called Oregon and Chicago home and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Patricia Wright, PhD, MPH
Executive Director
Proof Positive
(she/her)
“I have traveled to the ends of the earth to learn from autistic individuals. My hope is that through aligning the science and skills of happiness with autism intervention, wellbeing becomes accessible to all.”
Many of Dr. Patricia Wright’s greatest stories lie within the pages of her passport (just ask her about Alaska, India or China), but her most exciting pursuit is making the world a more inclusive place for autistic individuals and the communities that support them. Through Proof Positive, her bold vision is being realized.
Guided by her passion (and zest) for education and advocacy, she’s dedicated her career to ensuring individuals with autism have access to effective services and supports that lead to more joyful, meaningful lives.
Now she’s leading the charge to advance the science of positive psychology and skills of happiness as the Executive Director of Proof Positive, a national non-profit collaborating with schools, autism organizations and positive psychology leaders to integrate and expand wellbeing programming for autistic individuals and their communities.
Applauded as a global leader in autism advocacy, programming and interventions, Patricia brings a track record of success working in management at top autism organizations. She was pivotal in the design and transformation of a statewide system of support for children with autism for the state of Hawaii, and she also served in leadership roles for NEXT for AUTISM and as the National Director of Autism Services for Easterseals.
Additionally, Patricia has held advisory roles for a number of professional associations and advocacy groups, including the Organization for Autism Research’s Scientific Council, the Executive Committee for the Friends of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts and the Autism Society Panel of Professional Advisors.
Patricia has advised and provided expert testimony at Congressional Hearings. She is also a frequent contributor in the media, raising awareness of early identification and developmental milestones and deepening the public’s understanding of disability equity, inclusion and access.
She holds a Ph.D. and Master of Public Health from the University of Hawaii. Her research focuses on the delivery of evidence-based interventions in community-based settings and healthcare access for people with disabilities.
Katie Curran, MAPP
Chief Wellbeing Officer
Proof Positive
“I believe passionately in the potential for human flourishing. Positive psychology allows me to cultivate growth through meaningful connections and joy.”
Imagine a world where wellbeing wins for everyone, including individuals with autism. Katie Curran believes this is possible, and she loves making it happen. The engine that drives her purpose forward: the science of happiness.
Katie is the Chief Wellbeing Officer of Proof Positive, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the science and skills of happiness for individuals with autism, and their families, educators, and service providers.
Katie has more than 20 years of clinical experience working with autistic individuals. She’s widely recognized as a creative force when it comes to autism intervention, developing strategies and tools that fuse Positive Psychology with Applied Behavior Analysis to improve wellbeing.
Katie’s zest for her work makes her a sought after speaker and workshop leader. In her role as a Primary Instructor on UPenn’s Master Resilience Training team, she led interdisciplinary teams around the world to train educators, soldiers, athletes, and government officials on the skills of resilience and human flourishing.
Prior to Proof Positive, Katie held tenure at three of the world’s leading behavioral institutions (i.e., Sheppard Pratt Mental Health Institute, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Princeton Child Development Institute). Her sense of purpose was ignited when she realized that behavioral interventions, alone, were not enough to develop thriving lives for autistic individuals and their communities. Early in her career, she recognized an opportunity to prioritize wellbeing as a pathway to improve learning trajectories and quality of life outcomes.
Always curious, she has authored articles on the topics of Goals Setting, Hope Theory, Character Strengths, and Learned Happiness. She serves as a global representative to the International Positive Education Network; held a seat on the MAPP Alumni Board at University of Pennsylvania and was a founding board member for the Global Autism Project.
Katie holds a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her Bachelors of Psychology with honors from Towson University in 2004. With her love for lifelong learning, Katie is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania.
Katie lives in Princeton, NJ with her partner, Maria, and their two kids. She is most grateful for the joy she finds getting lost in nature, playing (just about anything…as long as she is winning) with family and friends, and spoiling her dog, Georgie.
