Prof.Dr. Memet ÖZEK

In 1989, Dr. Özek started his academic career in Marmara University School of Medicine as an assistant professor. In 1990 and 1991, he was a fellow in the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the New York Medical Center directed by Fred Epstein. Soon after his return to İstanbul, he established the first independent Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery of his country and became an associate professor. In 1999 he achieved the position of full professor in his department. Between the years 2008 and 2010 , he was the president of the European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery. In 2011, he moved to Acıbadem University and became the head of the Department of Neurosurgery in 2018.

He is an active member of 8 scientific societies, editor of 4 books, an author of 105 indexed papers. He joined 82 neurosurgery courses as a member of the faculty and organized 18 courses on different topics of pediatric neurosurgery in his own institution to educate young neurosurgeons of his geographical region.

Dr. Enis Şaban, Turkey

Dr. Ennis Şaban is a leading specialist in gait and movement analysis, part of the team of Prof. Memet Özek.

Judy Newman, USA

Master of Science, Associate Professor. Lecturer at the University of Oregon. Early Childhood Intervention Consultant at Open Society Foundations.

Judith Newman is director and co-founder of early childhood CARES, an early intervention and early childhood special education program for Lane County, Oregon. She is a senior policy advisor for the Oregon Early Learning Alliance. Her over thirty years of experience includes direct service delivery, administration, teaching at the university, participation in numerous research activities, and extensive work at state and local councils, committees and working groups related to policies, systems and funding of education, and more specifically early childhood care. For the past 10 years, she has worked for the Open Society Foundations, Holt International, the University of Oregon and as an international consultant in several states on the development and implementation of legislation, policies and practices related to early childhood intervention systems.

Catherine Hyslop, USA

An early intervention specialist and an autism and behavior consultant with over 22 years of experience working with young children with ASD and their families.

Coordinator of individualized curricula, with a focus on educating parents to implement evidence-based learning strategies in home environment. National and international presenter on topics including Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Parent-Centered Early Intervention (Family-Mediated Intervention), professional consultations and teaching methods with successful training, presented in India, Georgia and Bulgaria. She is currently teaching courses at Portland University and workshops for students. A practitioner with experience in group work with children from the autistic spectrum and their parents, advising community partners (schools and kindergartens), providing ongoing training for parents and teachers.

Eleana Logotheti, Greece

Eleana Logotheti completed a BSc in Psychology in Athens and a Master of Science in Child Psychology at the University of London. She works in home and clinic settings in early intensive behavioral intervention programs in Greece. She is a Pyramid Consultant and PECS Supervisor and Co-Director of Pyramid Educational Consultants in Greece since 2013.

Nino Mikaia, Georgia

Nino Mikaia holds Bachelor’s degree in Medical Psychology and Master’s degree in Education Administration, currently specializing in Psychological assessment and counseling of child and adolescent at Tbilisi State University. She has worked for Children of Georgia as psychologist, specialist of family support services, supervisor, trainer and researcher. Co-founder and psychologist in Applied Psychology and Research Center. Since 2016 Nino is part of the team od MAC Georgia, responsible for designing and conducting training programs.

Prof. Ivan Ivanov, Bulgaria

Специалист по педиатрия и детска неврология; началник на отделението по детска неврология и Клиниката по педиатрия в УМБАЛ „Св. Георги”, Пловдив. Научните му интереси са в областта на детското развитие, неврологичните увреждания при рискови новородени, аутизма, невродегенеративните и метаболитни заболявания, епилепсията, синдромните състояния и в други области на педиатрията.

Zvezdelina Atanasova, Karin Dom

Director of the Karin Dom Foundation Vocational Training Center

Methodologist of Karin Dom Center. Master of Special Education and Speech Therapy. Doctoral student in organization and management of education, with special interests in organizing and managing a supportive environment. Professional mediator.

She is the first PECS teacher for children in our country. She has completed series of courses in the field of work with children with special needs, early childhood development, family-centred approach. Practitioner with many years of experience in working with children with varying needs in a team with specialists and parents, she works tirelessly to improve the quality of life, applying innovative, alternative methods and approaches. Supports Karin Dom therapists and trainers in their direct work. Author and co-author of methodologies, manuals, assisting professionals, teachers in working with children and families and in inclusive education.

Zvezdelina is our leading trainer, consultant, supervisor. She organizes and conducts trainings mainly for practical purposes, in which she shares knowledge and skills with the participants in and outside Bulgaria, through the experience of the proven good practice of Karin Dom. She is a lecturer and co-organizer of Early Intervention and Autism post-graduate courses at the Medical University of Varna. Participates and organizes seminars, conferences focusing on early childhood development towards inclusive education and cross-sector cooperation.

Medical University Varna

Coming soon

Vera Rangelova, Bulgaria

Early Childhood Development Officer, UNICEF Bulgaria

Snezhana Radeva, Bulgaria

Consultant, UNICEF Bulgaria

Diana Boyanova, Hestia Foundation

Doctor of Psychology, Senior Psychometrist

Maya Bargationi-Gruzinski, MAC Georgia

Maya Bagrationi – Gruzinski, MA in Neuropsychology and BA in Occupational Therapy, has more than 15 years extensive work experience in the field of disability. She has started her professional career as a practitioner psychologist and occupational therapist working with persons with disabilities and their families. Being employed at different positions within the Government and Non Government Organizations - Georgian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, MAC Georgia, UNICEF, Caritas Georgia, Save the Children, she has been actively involved in building right based education and social systems for PWD. Particularly, facilitating development and implementation of inclusive education policy and practice standards for students with special educational needs (SEN); as well as supporting development of different social services (Day Care Center Service; Wheelchair Service, etc.) for PWDs.

Employed by UNICEF and Georgian Social Workers Association she was actively involved and contributed in the development Social Model of Disability and Functional Assessment Instruments for persons with disabilities. She has created concept paper for establishing SEN Assistant professional standard and service; and developed tailored training modules for specialists, with the specific emphasize on following topics: Functional Assessment of Persons with Disabilities, Functional Assessments instruments.

One of the recent topic elaborated is the recommendations to the general, preschool educational and early intervention systems to establish supported to school-transition mechanisms for preschool children.

Assoc. Prof. Ruzha Pancheva-Dimitrova, MD, Medical University Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov, Varna, Bulgaria

Assoc. Prof. Ruzha Pancheva-Dimitrova is a Pediatrician and Nutrition and Dietetics Specialist. She graduated from the Medical University of Varna in 1997. In 2003 she acquired the specialty Children's Diseases, and in 2017 Nutrition and Dietetics. In the period from 2007 to 2012, Dr. Pancheva was a clinical doctor at the Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Metabolic Diseases at St. Marina Hospital in Varna. Since 2012 she is an assistant professor in the Department of Hygiene and Disaster Situations, and since 2013 she is Assistant Professor in the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Varna.