WSOC Welcomes Nina Walls as an Autism Fellow

WSOC Welcomes Nina Wall as an Autism Fellow 

Woods System of Care is pleased to welcome Nina Wall MSS, LSW, as a WSOC Autism Fellow. Ms. Wall is a distinguished professional in the field of autism services, policy, and advocacy.    

 In her new role as Autism Fellow at Woods Services, Ms. Wall’s extensive background in systems design, policy development, advocacy and clinical support will be instrumental in advancing Woods Services’ mission to provide innovative and comprehensive lifespan supports to individuals with ASD.  Ms. Wall’s appointment as Autism Fellow will enhance the organization’s capacity to deliver evidence-based services and support tailored to the unique needs of individuals with ASD.  She will work with the Woods community and affiliates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to strengthen partnerships with families, caregivers and the community in order to advance our mission of eliminating barriers and creating possibilities for achievement and positive outcomes for the individuals we serve.   

  Ms. Wall comes to Woods after completing a 19-year tenure as the founding director of the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations within the Office of Developmental Programs at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.  In this role she designed and supervised the implementation of innovative statewide initiatives aimed at enhancing services for individuals with ASD and complex co-occurring behavioral and mental health challenges.   

In her role with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Ms. Wall led efforts to establish the Bureau of Autism Services and the design and implementation of two first-of-their-kind models addressing the needs of adults with ASD.   

 She oversaw the creation of the Autism Services Education Resources and Training (ASERT) collaborative and initiated statewide training programs for service providers and justice system professionals. She was instrumental in establishing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a site in the Center for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Monitoring Network (ADDM).   

  As an advocate, Ms. Wall served as a founding member and past president of the Pennsylvania Action Coalition for Autism Services (PACAS), the Information and Referral Director for the Autism Society of Greater Philadelphia, and as one of three managing co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Autism Task Force. Ms. Wall’s clinical pursuits have focused on assisting families, individuals with ASD, and youth with learning and behavioral health challenges.  Her personal experience as a parent of an adult with ASD further enriches her understanding and commitment to the field.  

 She earned her Master of Social Service (MSS) degree from the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.  Her career has been dedicated to supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families.