Dr. Christen A. Szymanski
Dr. Christen A. Szymanski, Ph.D. is a trained Clinical Psychologist who currently works as the school psychologist at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School of the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University in Washington DC. She received doctoral trainings at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, and the University of Rochester focusing on the diverse needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, often with a focus on intervention and treatment. In addition to formal doctoral training, she has served as a consultant for several schools for the deaf and mainstream programs to help implement positive behavioral supports, appropriate classroom accommodations, and consider appropriate instructional practices for children who are deaf and have additional disabilities, to assure learning success. Dr. Szymanski, has presented at several state, national, and international conferences about best practices for working with children who are deaf and have complex additional disabilities, their families and the professionals/educators who serve them, often with an emphasis on Autism and other neuro-developmental disabilities.