Dena L. Gassner

ID: a square graphic on a blue gradient background with the header: “The D-30 Impact List, 2021 Honoree, Dena L. Gassner, she/her/hers, United States.” Dena’s headshot on the right. Dena is a white woman with blonde hair and is wearing a navy blue top. At the bottom, “Diversability, #D30DisList.”

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Dena L. Gassner (she/her/hers)

Dena Gassner, MSW; PhD Candidate

United States

Dena has done more to ensure that science, services, and policy for individuals with autism spectrum disorder are humane, evidence-based, and coherent than almost anyone else in the United States over the past decade. Her generosity and kindness are absolutely boundless, and allow her to not only lead but also provide a model for leadership for others in the autistic advocacy community.

Dena founded the Special Interest Group (SIG) Project of the International Society for Autism Research: Building on the Strengths of Autistic Scholars by Addressing Systemic Barriers to Autistic Success in Academia. This SIG has accelerated and focused the efforts of the field to authentically include autistic individuals in research, yielding more insights in the last year alone than in the last 5 combined.

We asked Dena if she would like to add anything else to her accomplishments, and she stated: “Personally, it would be seeing my autistic son achieve his dreams. Presumed incompetent with IDD and autism, he showed up and showed everyone. He's college degreed and seeking museum work. For work, it was speaking about the needs of autistic mothers in a UN side event.”