Our Advisory Board

Dr. Wieder is a clinical psychologist who has pioneered the cutting-edge approaches to diagnosing and treating infants and toddlers with infant mental health disorder and developmental challenges. She is the co-founder and Associate Chair of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorder (ICDL) and the Director of DIR Institute, an interdisciplinary competency based training program for professionals. Dr. Wieder has authored Engaging Autism as well as The Child with Special Needs and the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health with Dr. Stanley Greenspan. She co-chaired and edited the ICDL Diagnostic Manual for Infants and Young Children and the earlier Zero to Three Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy.

Michele Havens received her Ed.D. degree from Rutgers University. She has a BA degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology and an MA degree in Audiology.  Dr. Havens was the Educational Director of the Imagine Academy from 2005-2008, and is currently a DIR/Floortime Consultant to the school.  She is certified in DIR/Floortime and is an Assistant Faculty member for Profectum and a previous expert trainer with ICDL. Dr. Havens is a Professor Emeritus from Kean University, Montclair State University in NJ and Daemen College (satellite program in Brooklyn). She is currently an advocate and private interventionist for children with special needs, and a facilitator of an Autism parent support group in Essex County, NJ.  Dr. Havens was a special education teacher and the coordinator of the Verona, NJ Preschool Disabled Program, a preschool disabilities program, for 20 years.