MORE INFO
Due to the high volume of calls, we're experiencing a higher-than-usual backlog.
We appreciate your patience. In the meantime, please refer to our Resource Directory, Special Education Legal Library, or Insurance Portal as needed on our website while you're waiting
Latest Financial Statements.
Washington State has an estimated 130,000 children, youth, adolescents and adults living with ASD, with nearly half of them from low-income families. We want every one of them, rich or poor, to have an equal chance to thrive and succeed in life. With your support, WAA can:
Thanks to the generosity of people like you, this is what WAA has been able to accomplish in the past year:
We could not do this without your support and donation! Your willingness to support and honor those with Autism will change the world! Thanks for being part of something bigger than all of us! – Arzu Forough, President & CEO
Bev is the first point of contact for individuals and families in need of resource information, family navigation, or insurance navigation to improve access to evidenced based healthcare services, effective services in schools, and supportive community based resources.
Misha is the intake screener for WAA. She is the first point of contact and face of WAA for families and individuals seeking help to navigate through myriads of needs. Misha has over 10 years of experience at nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Misha started with WAA as a volunteer a few years ago and has worked in a few roles on various projects. She feels passionate about the mission of WAA and the help she is able to provide by being a part of a goal driven, compassionate team. She has an MS in Computer Engineering and a Masters in social communications and outreach science. She loves travelling, volunteering at school, playing board games with her kids and cooking for her family.
Ms. Thrush brings over 12 years of experience in health law, special education, disability advocacy and small business management to her position.
As a proud parent of two neurodivergent teens, Trish first joined WAA as a client in 2010. She joined WAA on staff in 2013 as a health law advocate. Between 2013-2019 she served as a team leader providing mentorship and support to other team members, while she supported WAA clients through multi system navigation and administrative appeals.
We welcome Ms. Thrush back to WAA as our Office Manager. You can learn more about Trish here .
Ms. Forough brings over 25 years of experience in training and development to her position, including leadership development, government relations, and non-profit management.
In 2007 she founded Washington Autism Alliance and Advocacy, developed the “Autism IEP supplement: Best Practice Guidelines for educating students with autism”. Her IEP supplement as well as guidelines for training teachers was legally adopted by the Washington State legislature in 2008 and became the requirement for all teachers working with learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders statewide.
Arzu introduced Shayan’s Law, Autism Insurance Parity to the Washington State legislature, petitioned the state Health technology Assessment of evidence-based treatment of autism, and ignited multiple legal actions that have clarified state and federal laws mandating insurance benefits for those with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Arzu designs, implements, and manages local, statewide, and national projects as well as provides technical assistance to agencies, providers, and families on current insurance, education, and social service practices and strategies.
Ms. Cushman holds a Masters degree in Curriculum Development and Instruction and a Bachelor degree in Education with emphasis on Special Education. She was formerly a teacher with Olympia school district and has familial experience with autism.
Mr. Dogadchenko brings over 15 years of experience in B2B business and Telecom and IT product management, project management, consulting, and business development in driving innovation and pushing the envelope with new products in IT / Telecommunications / Mobile, including Customer Engagement solutions, Business Voice, and Contact Center technologies.
Larry Blasko is Chief Revenue Officer at Apptio, where he led sales through its growth from venture-backed startup to successful IPO and then acquisition several years later. He is a parent of a child on the autism spectrum.
Lindsey Myers is a dedicated advocate for individuals with autism and their families, as a person with Autism and a parent of a child with Autism. She is a Digital Transformation consultant with 15 years of experience in finance, consulting, and operations from companies such as KPMG and Instacart. She is deeply committed to growing the resources necessary to advance WAA’s mission in our community.
Lakshmi Nidamarthi brings a wealth of experience as an executive leader and innovator, spanning over two decades. Her expertise lies in skillfully assembling cross-functional teams to deliver technology, product development, operations, and design solutions on a global scale. Beyond her corporate roles, Lakshmi is deeply committed to societal progress.
In her role as a board member and Chair of the Governance Committee for the Washington Autism Alliance (WAA), she demonstrates a dedicated focus on initiatives related to education and neurodiversity. Additionally, Lakshmi serves as a mentor and advisor to women leaders and entrepreneurs, actively engaging with her community through nonprofits like Amrita Seattle and the Shanti Bhavan Children's Project. These engagements reflect her sincere commitment to providing support to underrepresented populations globally and fostering the career success of women and minorities.
Keith Foe, CFA®, CFP®, CPA, CLU®, ChFC®, is a Partner at Pillar Financial Group, a Wealth Management firm affiliated with Northwestern Mutual. Keith also teaches accounting courses in North Seattle College’s CPA Preparation Program. He is a Seattle Native and a graduate of the University of Washington.
Dr. Park was most recently the Head of Business at Scale.AI, where he lead all go-to-market and operations. Previously, he was the Head of Growth & Operations at ClassPass, the Head of Global Sales Operations & Business Operations at Dropbox, and an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company. He is a proud parent of two and an enthusiastic supporter of the autism community.
