Dr. Barbara Firestone is the President, CEO and Founder of The Help Group. Widely recognized for her vision and innovative spirit, she has dedicated her life’s work to helping children with special needs realize their fullest potential. Under her leadership, The Help Group has become one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofits of its kind serving young people with autism and other special needs. With an impressive list of accomplishments and contributions to the field, Dr. Firestone has created brighter futures for countless young people.
Dr. Firestone is committed to promoting autism awareness, early identification and the development and expansion of education and treatment opportunities for children, adolescents and young adults. She has played a key role in California’s autism public policy. She was appointed Vice Chair of the trailblazing California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism and appointed to a leadership role in support of the California Senate Select Committee on Autism & Related Disorders.
In the arena of professional training and research, Dr. Firestone collaborated with the UCLA Semel Institute to establish The Help Group – UCLA Autism Research Alliance and The Help Group – UCLA Neuropsychology Program, and with the USC Chan Division to launch The Help Group – USC Occupational Science Initiative.
To provide a lifeline of hope and support for families, Dr. Firestone wrote the highly acclaimed and award-winning book “Autism Heroes: Portraits of Families Meeting the Challenge.”
