The Asperger Autism Network (AANE) recently shared some inspiring news that truly resonated with me. Their newsletter announced a fundraising initiative to renovate and expand their training center, a space they intend to name The Elsa Abele Training Center. Upon reading this, I immediately felt compelled to contribute. Elsa Abele is, without exaggeration, one of the most insightful and compassionate individuals I have ever known. For over a decade, I’ve been fortunate enough to consider her not just a colleague, but a mentor and a dear friend.
“Among my colleagues who know her, the mention of Elsa’s name always seems to conjure up a smile. She’s like everyone’s favorite grandmother – provided that Grandma is an incomparable genius.”
My journey with Elsa began more than ten years ago when I enrolled in a couple of continuing education courses she led. Her reputation preceded her; Elsa was widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of assessment and treatment for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. I had high expectations for her classes, but I could never have anticipated the profound impact Elsa and her teachings would have on my professional life and understanding of autism.
Donate to The Fund to Support the Elsa Abele Training Center
A photo of Elsa Abele, a respected figure and pioneer in autism spectrum disorder assessment and treatment.
The first course I attended with Elsa was titled What Can I Say? What Did You Say? This intensive three-day program focused on the complexities of social skills and social cognition in individuals on the autism spectrum. At the time, I had already been working with children with autism for approximately fifteen years, dedicated to improving their social interactions. I had explored the existing literature, attended various conferences, and learned considerably through practical experience. While I felt I was making a positive difference for my clients, my understanding of autism remained somewhat fragmented and lacked a cohesive framework. My knowledge base felt like a collection of isolated facts, missing a central organizing principle to connect them. Elsa’s instruction provided me with a rich, integrated, and comprehensive understanding. She equipped me with a clear and precise lens through which to interpret the behaviors, cognitive processes, and emotions of individuals with autism. This perspective proved to be far more than just theoretical or academic. It became an indispensable tool that I have utilized daily in my professional life ever since, guiding my efforts to understand the underlying meaning behind the actions, interactions, and emotions of my clients with autism. This level of practical application and relevance is exceptionally rare in continuing education, where a successful training often translates to just a few actionable insights that you might occasionally recall.
“Among my colleagues who know her, the mention of Elsa’s name always seems to conjure up a smile. She’s like everyone’s favorite grandmother – provided that Grandma is an incomparable genius.”
Elsa possesses a uniquely calming and reassuring demeanor, coupled with a palpable and contagious sense of caring and compassion. On numerous occasions, when faced with challenging cases or seeking a knowledgeable and experienced sounding board for new ideas, I reached out to her. One instance stands out vividly. In 2010, the American Psychiatric Association was considering significant revisions to the autism diagnosis for the upcoming DSM-5. Their website invited public feedback on these proposed changes, and given my reservations about the suggested modifications (reservations which persist to this day), I felt compelled to respond. These comments eventually evolved into an op-ed published in the Metrowest Daily. Someone from AANE read it and subsequently invited me to moderate a panel discussion on the topic at an upcoming conference. This was a tremendous honor, and I approached it with considerable apprehension. While expressing opinions online or in writing is one thing, facilitating a discussion among scholars, practitioners, individuals on the spectrum, and their caregivers seemed to require a deeper level of preparedness. I proceeded to consult with several colleagues whose perspectives I valued, gaining valuable insights. However, my conversation with Elsa remains the most impactful. I knew she possessed the expertise necessary to help me structure my thoughts, but it was her empathy, understanding, and clarity that truly distinguished her guidance from all others. She also seemed to recognize my anxiety about leading this discussion and, true to her nature, provided the reassurance and confidence I needed.
Donate to The Fund to Support the Elsa Abele Training Center
The timing of AANE’s decision to dedicate their new training center to Elsa is particularly poignant. For the past several years, Elsa has been bravely battling cancer, and sadly, the prognosis is not optimistic. In the Jewish tradition, upon someone’s passing, we often say, “May their memory be a blessing.” Elsa’s life has undoubtedly been a blessing to countless individuals, myself included. AANE’s mission is centered on promoting understanding, support, and connection for individuals on the autism spectrum, and they have empowered countless people to reach their full potential. They are, without a doubt, the ideal custodians of Elsa’s legacy, inspiration, and life’s work. Please consider supporting AANE in their endeavor to ensure her memory continues to be a lasting blessing for generations to come by donating to The Fund to Support the Elsa Abele Training Center.
