Co-founded the Chicagoland Autism Connection: CAC (formerly known as the Chicago Southside Autism Support Group) in 1997. CAC has supported hundreds of families in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. She also served as President and Board President of the organization. Wanda is the loving mother of four children, Shavonne, Steven, Kristen and John. She has been a member of CSO’s board for the past ten years and currently serves as Secretary. She served as a board member and an officer for the Autism Society of Illinois served for six years. She was one of the original parent members of The Autism Program (TAP) and served for seven years. She was a parent consultant for Easter Seals and advocated for the opening of an autism therapeutic day school on the Tinley Park Mental Health Center’s campus where she was employed. In May, 2013 she received “The Advocate of the Year Award” from the State of Illinois Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities (ICED) for her advocacy on behalf of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and spoke at the “Illinois Inclusion Conference”. Wanda received her BS in Medical Technology from North Park University and a MBA in Healthcare Administration (Honors) from St. Xavier University. She is a Senior Public Administrator-Laboratory Manager –Northern Region for the Illinois Department of Human Services.