College of Nursing and Health Sciences
2006 Distinguished Alumnus: Janet G. Mora
Ms. Mora received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary Education and Speech
Correction from Southeastern in 1972. In 1976, she received a Masters of Arts degree
in speech-language pathology from Tulane University. She spent many years in the public
schools as a speech-language pathologist and pupil appraisal coordinator. She also
worked at Southeastern as the coordinator for a personnel preparation grant for special
education early interventionists. Currently, Janet is the Education Program Consultant
for Autism for the Louisiana State Department of Education. She is responsible for
the provision of professional development and technical assistance on educational
services to Louisiana students with autism.
Previous to her present position with the state, Janet was the founding Director of
the Chartwell Center in New Orleans. Chartwell is a non-profit school for children
with autism and sensory processing difficulties. In addition, Chartwell is a training
center for students and professionals who work with children with autism. Southeastern
students enrolled in CSD 626, Autism Spectrum Disorders, routinely visit Chartwell
Center. Janet personally arranges the visits so the students get to experience every
aspect of the center.
Having a niece diagnosed with autism was the initial impetus for Janet’s quest to
learn as much as she could about the disorder. Over the years, she has developed training
materials, teaching techniques, and delivered in-service training programs on the
topic. She has also translated training materials into Spanish and presented in-service
training to professionals in El Salvador. She has co-authored an instructional text
which is in its second edition and also co-authored a number of articles about autism
and sensory integration which have been published in professional journals.
Janet has given many presentations at the local, state, national and international
levels. She often returns to Southeastern as a guest lecturer and to address members
of the National Student-Language-Hearing Association. Janet’s knowledge and empathy
for individuals and families of individuals with autism is well recognized and her
advice and counsel is often sought and given willingly and freely.