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Short Version of Bio:

Karen Simmons is the mother to six, two with special needs, best selling author and the Founder/ CEO of Autism Today, a world leader, speaker and conference coordinator in autism information, research and resources. As the Internet Entrepreneur Award winner of the year, Simmons website www.autismtoday.com joins autism and special needs communities for all concerned.


Simmons is also the author of four widely cherished books, and two CDs including Little Rainman and Gold Medal recipient, The Official Autism 101 Manual. She is also co-author along with Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Heather McNamara to Chicken Soup For The Soul, Children with Special Needs to be released September 2007.

"Karen is a great interview and a tireless advocate for families dealing with autism! She is an inspiration for parents everywhere who has shown that great ideas and big things are often born out of our frustration. If you're looking for Autism information, go to her website. If you're looking for a great show segment or article, book her NOW!"

Tonya J. Powers
Newsradio 600 WREC

Medium Version of Bio:

Karen L. Simmons, is the founder and CEO of the award-winning, internationally acclaimed Autism Today, (www.autismtoday.com) a world leading autism information and resource center which raises awareness and education about autism by hosting numerous top expert conferences across the globe. Karen is also founder of the non profit KEEN Education Foundation whose sole purpose is to enhance the education of special needs children.

Karens passion for autism and special needs comes from her own experience. She is the parent of six children, two with special needs and all of whom are special. Karen is also the author six widely cherished titles including Little Rainman, The Autism Experience, Artism, Peace of Mind for Autism CD, Surrounded By Miracles and The Official Autism 101 Manual. She is a Co-author of a forthcoming Chicken Soup For Special Needs Community book with Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield and Heather McNamara.

Karen is active worldwide in promoting a deeper and more personal understanding of autism and Asperger's Syndrome and most recently all types of special needs. Her main goal in life is to shine light on all special needs individuals. She has been featured in international publications such as Woman's World Magazine, The Donna Seebo Show, The Vicki Gabereau Show and numerous radio talk shows and print media. A former jeweler in Seattle Washington and Edmonton, Alberta, she is also related to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and former member of the U.S. Air Force and is a dual citizen of both the United States and Canada.

As well, Karen is an international presenter speaking to audiences on topics such as resiliency and the power of persistence to the special needs arena and beyond. Karen makes her home in Sherwood Park, Alberta Canada with her husband Jim Sicoli and their six children, Kimberly, Matthew, Christina, Jonathan, Stephen and Alexander where she rounds out her motherhood experience with her families own gifts and eccentricities. Needless to say, Karen is a busy woman!

"I found the interview with Karen Simmons from Autismtoday.com to be heartfelt, informative and insightful".

Jim Stowell
WBEV Idea Exchange Host

Karen Pictured With April Oakes, Mom's On A Mission For Autism

Long Version of Bio: Anyone who has visited the Autism Today website has received at least one email from Karen Simmons, founder of Autism Today and mother of six children. When her fourth child, Jonathan, was diagnosed with the unexpected diagnosis of autism at the age of two, she was thrown into an unknown world without a clue, in search of information and support to deal with the special needs of her child. Determined to find solutions to further her son's development she delved relentlessly into the mysterious terrain of autism, accumulating knowledge, insight and information to help him discover his world.

The journey was far from easy. Karen shifted gears from her deeply satisfying full time work as a Graduate Gemologist and jewelry store owner to her warm sensitive work in the autism community still working with gems but of a different nature.

In the midst of all that was going on, Karen became pregnant with her sixth child, and almost died from severe hemorrhaging during childbirth. Shortly after recovery from her “near death experience” or as she calls it, “back to life experience”, she wrote her first book, Little Rainman, Autism Through The Eyes Of A Child so that Jonathan could better understand his own autism while explaining his uniqueness to his teachers, siblings and peers. After its publication in 1996, she became the exclusive Canadian distributor for the worlds largest autism publisher based in Arlington, Texas.

In the meantime, Alex, her sixth child was diagnosed with severe challenges including ADHD. After years of personal research with both children through trial and error and discussions with other people creating pathways through the winding maze, Karen recognized a need for a “one stop” resource to assist individuals and families struggling in the world where easy answers were not readily available.

In May of 1998, Karen launched Autism Today's Web site www.AutismToday.com, a pioneer interactive online magazine and community for people whose lives have been touched by autism and related disorders whether they are family members, professionals, educators or those on the autism spectrum. Today it is one of the nation's leading clearing-houses of information, resources, tools, and top experts and is active worldwide in promoting a deeper and more personal understanding of autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The company is dedicated to making autism-related electronic and physical books, videos, DVD’s, CD’s workshops and educational resources affordable and easily available. She received the “Internet Entrepreneur of the Year Award” in 2001 presented by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen.

In addition to Autism Today, Karen hosts “Keys To The Treasure Chest” conferences and workshops on autism and Aspergers across North America where she is an active presenter and brings the nation’s top experts and speakers in the autism field for events that attract numerous delegates each time. She will also be providing conferences that are focused on healing attitudes around autism related issues promoting love and acceptance based interventions.

Other resources Karen has created include “Peace of Mind For Autism CD”, presenting a gentle series of guided visualizations for individuals on the autistic spectrum, their families, caregivers, and teachers as well as a relaxing meditation. Karen also compiled responses to her invitation for submissions from the Autism Today online community into two distinctive books: The Autism Experience: Stories of Hope and Love and Artism: Art By Those With Autism, which received the Global Book Publishers Award immediately upon its release.

Karen Pictured With Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen

Karen is active worldwide in promoting a deeper and more personal understanding of autism and Asperger's Syndrome. She has been featured in international publications such as Woman's World Magazine, The Donna Seebo Show, The Vicki Gabereau Show and numerous radio talk shows. A former jeweler in Seattle Washington and Edmonton, Alberta, she is also a distant relation to Woodrow Wilson and former member of the U.S. Air Force and is a dual citizen of both the United States and Canada .

Her main goal in life is to shine light on all special needs." Karen and her husband Jim and children, Kimberly, Matthew, Christina, Jonathan, Stephen and Alex make their home in Sherwood Park Alberta, Canada where she rounds out her motherhood experience with her families own gifts and eccentricities. Needless to say, Karen is a busy woman!

"Talking with Karen Simmons was sa joy. She is a fountain of information and inspiration as she knows the special needs of our very special children. Karen Simmons of AUTISM TODAY has the answers to the questions we need."

John Maer
Metro Networks News
Indianapolis

"Karen Simmons was a fantastic guest with so much information for families dealing with Autism. Karen is a great guest and her website is a fantastic tool for Autism Awareness and Resources!"

Shawn Michaels Ocean County
Breakfast Show 92.7
Wobm-FM Toms River
New Jersey

"Karen Simmons was a fantastic guest with so much information for families dealing with Autism. Karen is a great guest and her website is a fantastic tool for Autism Awareness and Resources!" -

Shawn Michaels Ocean County
Breakfast Show 92.7 Wobm-FM ...
Toms River
New Jersey

"Karen did a great job of not only presenting her personal story, but also giving hope to parents and grandparents of autistic children who might be listening. I learned quite a bit about autism just talking with her."

Jeff Brucculeri
"Tulsa Business Today"
KAKC-Tulsa

Karen is available to the news media to discuss how:

• She launched Autism Today and offers help to the special needs community
• Parents, siblings, and professionals can help those with autism
• Families can cope with the devastating impact autism has on their children
• Early diagnosis and intervention is crucial for those with autism
• The autism epidemic needs the attention of the Federal Government
• Popular myths surrounding autism must be discarded
• If you need columns, tip sheets or other items, I can meet toughest deadlines

Karen can help the media in the following ways:

• If you are looking for publicity success stories, I can share sources and contact information.
• If you need articles, columns, tip sheets, or other short items, I can meet even the toughest deadlines without fail.
• I can provide more than 40 articles you can reprint--and adjust the word count to meet your needs to save you time editing..
• I can provide a list of other experts and contact information on the topic of free publicity.

Call 1 - 866 - 9 - AUTISM (928-8476) karen@autismtoday.com