BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Judee serves as CARD’s conference coordinator, and also serves as the Director of Providing Autism Links and Supports (PALS).  Ms. Samuels received her Masters Degree in Health Service Administration from UCF.  She  joined UCF CARD in May 2000, as the Coordinator of Community Relations after working 20 years in marketing and real estate. She has  actively been working in the field of autism since her son was diagnosed with autism in 1992.  In 1995, she founded the Autism Society of Greater Orlando.  During her seven year presidency, she published the first Central Florida Autism Resource Guide for families, founded “Sea of Dreams,” for children with autism in conjunction with Sea World, and was one of three mothers that formed Princeton House, (now known as Princeton House Charter School). She was also secretary for the Autism Society of Florida., and a committee member for the Autism Society of America (ASA).  Throughout the years she has presented to numerous families and professionals in Florida and spoken on several television and radio shows to increase autism awareness.  Judee was one of the initial trainers for Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) program in conjunction with the Orlando Sheriff's Department.  Her goal is to give not only her own son, but every child with autism a quality of life and increase the understanding of typical peers to best support and befriend others with ASD. Judee enjoys gourmet cooking, entertaining, shopping, snow skiing, traveling, reading, and spending quality time with her son.