We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Paige Raetz, PhD., BCBA-D, has joined the Proof Positive Autism Wellbeing Alliance as the Vice President of Implementation and Dissemination. With her extensive background and dedication to enhancing autism services, Paige brings invaluable expertise and a compassionate spirit to our team.
Proof Positive’s communications team had a chance to chat with Paige and learn more about who she is – not just in her professional life but in her personal life, too.
Watch this video to learn more about Paige, from Paige herself!
About Paige
Signature Character Strengths: Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence, Humor, Gratitude, Fairness, Kindness
Professional Background: Paige joins Proof Positive with a distinguished career in autism services and support, including over nine years at the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC) as Senior Director of Client Experience. She has also held pivotal roles at Trumpet Behavioral Health and Kinark Child and Family Services in Toronto, Canada. She has published extensively in her field as a guest editor for renowned journals and is an adjunct professor at Arizona State University.
Favorite Wellbeing Practices: “We practice gratitude as a family. Along with my husband and two teenagers at the dinner table, we identify what we’re grateful for. It’s a nice connection point,” she said. Paige also said, “Getting outside, sitting with a coffee, or walking in nature is a big part of my day. As is some type of movement. It helps me be creative and show up for those around me.”
Personal Motto: Throughout her experiences, Paige has lived by the motto, “Two things can be true.” She said, “Few things are just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or one way or the other. It’s been a way to navigate decisions I’m in conflict with. It helps me to be flexible and not get lost in right or wrong or yes or no. I use it with my kids and parenting, too!”
Other Interests: Paige enjoys playing and watching various sports, often cheering for her daughter on the basketball court or her son on the baseball field. Paige also loves going to the gym, playing golf, and playing pickleball. Her creative side shines through her passion for photography, especially capturing and admiring the vibrant murals around her city.
Paige’s Vision and Role at Proof Positive
Paige was drawn to Proof Positive’s mission after attending the Learning Institute in June 2023:
“As I spent time learning more about ways positive psychology can be braided into autism services, I was inspired to do better in how I practice wellbeing and how I support people with autism and their families. I knew I could provide something new to improve quality of life and wellness for the people I served, for those working in autism services, and for society at large.”
And now, in her role at Proof Positive, she can really make a difference by collaborating with partners and Alliance members to implement positive psychology into their organizations.
Paige’s approach is rooted in her personal mission statement: “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.” She uses gratitude to foster an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, humor to strengthen team relationships, and fairness to build stronger connections between team members and those they support.
We are excited to have Paige join our team and look forward to the positive impact she will have on the broader autism community.
Welcome, Paige!
