Transdisciplinary Workshops

John M. Ortiz, Ph.D. is the director and founder of The Asperger’s Syndrome Institute.® A licensed psychologist, consultant, musician, composer, certified clinical hypnotist and psycho-educational trainer, he is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. His international lectures on Asperger’s Syndrome, Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities, High-Functioning Autism, and Neurodevelopmental disorders are based on over twenty years of work with autism spectrum and related conditions and over a dozen years specializing in Asperger’s Syndrome, neurodevelopmental, and genetic disorders. A practicing psychologist with extensive clinical, research and consultation experience, his lectures bring a multi-disciplinary, integral approach to understanding and serving these challenging, highly rewarding populations. The founder of the Institute of Applied Psychomusicology®, his work also incorporates elements from the creative arts in general, and his books, The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology (1998 Small Press Book Award in Self Help/Psychology), and Nurturing Your Child with Music: How Sound Awareness Creates Happy, Smart and Confident Children (2000) in particular.

Dr. Ortiz’s work serving children, adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders originated in the late 70’s, at which time he was instrumental in helping to secure a grant for the South Florida State Hospital that facilitated the appropriation of a facility to house adolescents apart from the general, adult population. More recently, since 1992, he has specialized in serving children, teens, and adults presenting with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, Non-Verbal Learning Disorders, and related conditions. His eclectic and far reaching work with these populations involves direct clinical service, assessment and evaluation, multi-disciplinary team coordination and instruction, research, professional training and lecturing, mentoring and supervision, and consultation with schools, universities, medical and psychotherapeutic facilities, mental health agencies, parents and caregivers, and others who serve these immensely gratifying, fascinating persons. Dr. Ortiz is also the author of the training-interactive game: Exploring the Asperger Dimension^TM featured in his more extensive workshops, and the books The Myriad Gifts of Asperger’s Syndrome (originally titled "The Gifts of Asperger"), My Kitty Catsberger, and Asperger’s, Autism & Non-verbal Learning Disorders: Screening, Assessing & Diagnosing; (2008). His audio CDs: The Soothing Pulse® (adults and adolescents), "It’s Sleepy Time!®, and Turning Daydreams into Dreams® (children) were designed to facilitate relaxation for persons across both the neurotypical and autistic spectrums.

A dedicated practitioner and consummate professional Dr. Ortiz has specialized in serving families, children and adolescents since 1974. Deeply invested in current research and promoting education he served on the senior faculty at Cambridge College's National Institute of Teaching Excellence (1996-2004) and the editorial board of the American Counseling Association's Journal of Counseling and Development between 1995-1998. A dynamic lecturer, with an engaging wit and lively sense of humor, Dr. Ortiz is an active member of various professional organizations and deeply invested in promoting the practical application of scientific knowledge. As of July, 2008, he has conducted close to 500 programs on Asperger’s, autism, Non-verbal Learning Disorders, and Neurodevelopmental Conditions speaking at every state throughout the continental U.S., as well as Alaska and Hawaii. He is an active member of various professional organizations including the American Psychological and American Music Therapy Associations.

John M. Ortiz, PhD