Traci Azer

I have a background in media and advertising sales. I started out in media buying and planning at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising and its subsidiary Team One Advertising, working on the Toyota and Lexus accounts. I then became the west coast salesperson for fX Cable network when it launched in 1994 and remained in the field of national cable ad sales until the birth of my son Gabriel in 1999.

Gabriel was diagnosed as PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental delay-not otherwise specified) at age 5, then on the autism spectrum at age 10. I shelved my career in advertising and directed my full attention to understanding the services and options available to my son. I devoted the next 18 years to helping Gabriel reach his full potential (Gabriel is a recent college graduate). During that time, I volunteered at his schools (public and private) and became involved in helping parents with children on the spectrum navigate the school system and learn how to advocate for their children.

As Gabriel became more independant, I segued into consulting for family law attorneys who had clients with children on the spectrum. My goal was to help attorneys understand what it feels like to live with ASD, so they could be better equipped to make well-informed decisions in their custody cases. For the past several years I have been consulting with families on how to navigate the world of ASD and ADHD. I advise them on education options and accommodations, sensory integration and food issues, therapy options and specialist referrals. I also advise on the following issues: financial insights into therapeutic options for ASD/ADHD, opportunity costs for primary caregivers of ASD children, establishing seamless transitions for ASD children in a two-household family and specialist referrals.

I have a B.A. from UCLA and am a Certified Autism Specialist (#18806)