Executive Director – Michelle Schmidt, PhD
Michelle has been active in the area of inclusive education, including mental health and developmental disabilities, throughout her career, which has spanned more than 30 years. Michelle has served on several provincial and national initiatives and presented nationally and internationally on a variety of topics, including equity, access and inclusion; collaborative practices; transitions to adulthood; interdisciplinary navigation; education of the d/Deaf or hard of hearing; Deafblindness; and school refusal. When Michelle left the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows School District in 2013, the Michelle Schmidt Legacy Award: Recognizing Students who Persevere with Empathy and Compassion, was created in her name. The Canadian Association of Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing acknowledged Michelle’s advocacy by presenting her with the Advocacy Award in 2017.
Before joining ACT in 2022, Michelle Schmidt was involved in public education in British Columbia as an educator, school psychologist, and administrator. Most recently, Michelle served as Director of Instruction in the Surrey School District, where she was responsible for inclusive education and supports for students with diverse abilities.
During her time in Surrey, Michelle led several district initiatives to support children and youth with autism and their families, including:
- collaborating with ACT to provide evidence-based training in autism for educators;
- development of kindergarten readiness programs for children with autism;
- Implementation of Practical Functional Assessment/Skill-based treatment;
- creation of an autism diagnostic team for children of families experiencing multiple barriers; and
- providing leadership in established formal partnerships and research between the Surrey School District and the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University, related to students with autism.
These initiatives and others are profiled in the Spring 2022 and Spring 2021 issues of InspirEd, a publication of the BC School Superintendents Association.
Michelle has a Doctor of Philosophy, Educational Psychology (honours) degree from Capella University; a Master of Science, Division of Educational Policy and Management degree from the University of Oregon; a Diploma in Educational Psychology and Special Education from the University of British Columbia (UBC); a Bachelor of Education from Brandon University; a Certificate in Organizational Coaching from UBC and is a Certified Autism Specialist, International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. Michelle has written university and college course curricula and served as an expert consultant, and is a Program Evaluator with the British Columbia Private Training Institution Branch.
Administrative & IT Coordinator – Albert Huang
Albert Huang serves as ACT’s Administrative & IT Coordinator, supporting the organization through administrative coordination, digital communications, and technical systems support. With a strong background in cybersecurity, full-stack web development, and customer service, Albert plays an important role in helping ACT maintain efficient operations, strengthen its digital presence, and support staff, families, and professionals across the autism community.
Albert holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from the New York Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of British Columbia. He is also certified as an AWS Solutions Architect and Microsoft Azure AI Engineer.
At ACT, Albert supports a wide range of organizational functions, including website management, digital content updates, IT troubleshooting, social media support, training logistics, document coordination, and administrative systems. He also assists with improving internal workflows and supporting day-to-day operational processes to help ensure that ACT’s resources and services remain accessible and well-organized.
Albert is passionate about leveraging technology and collaboration to support inclusive education and accessibility, and to advance ACT’s mission of providing evidence-informed autism training and resources to families and professionals throughout British Columbia.
Administrative Assistant – Baraa Nasser
Hi, I’m Baraa Nasser, a Full Stack Web Developer and Administrative Assistant with experience in WordPress, customer service, and office support. I enjoy combining creativity, organization, and technical skills to support efficient teamwork and smooth daily operations.
Content Writer – Asal Abbasian
Asal serves as ACT’s content writer, providing support across social media management, strategic communications, and administrative coordination. In this role, she helps plan and develop engaging content, manage key communication initiatives, and contribute to a wide range of projects that strengthen organizational goals and outreach. Ultimately, Asal is passionate about supporting ACT’s mission through creativity, intentional communication, and strategic execution.
Volunteers
Nancy Y.
Nancy has a background in business and computer science. She is also a parent of a child on the autism spectrum and understands the challenges of navigating support and resources for individuals with a disability. She joined the ACT team in order to utilize her administrative skills and lived experiences to assist other families in the autism community.
Sophie Wang
Sophie holds a BA degree in Economics from UNBC. She has worked in financial services, sales, administration, and branch compliance. Sophie also received a certificate from UBC on Autism and Neurodiversity in the Workplace. As a parent of an autistic child, she is a passionate advocate for autism awareness and inclusivity. She is excited to volunteer to foster understanding and support for the autism community.
Sujung Kim
Sujung Kim, originally from Seoul, Korea, is an accomplished educator and speech therapist with a Bachelor’s degree in English Education from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Ewha Women’s University, both located in Seoul. With a diverse background, she initially spent two years teaching high school English in Seoul before transitioning to speech-language pathology, where she worked for another two years. Sujung has extensive experience teaching and supporting autistic children both in school and private settings. Currently residing in Vancouver, she is active in the community, caring for her child and sharing her passion for music as a member of the VSO Camerata, drawing from fifteen years of violin experience.
Richard Huang
My name is Richard Huang, and I am 14 years old. I have extensive experience, including prior volunteer engagements. I also have a diverse background in supporting autistic children in growing alongside the community.