Jonathan Alderson is the founder of a private educational consulting practice devoted to helping children with autism.
Mr. Alderson specializes in merging educational and biomedical treatments for autism using an integrated model he developed called Intensive Multi-Treatment Intervention - combining physical, behavioural and family-based therapies.
"My program is unique in that it combines a variety of other strategies and current thinking on autism into one cohesive approach tailored to each individual child," Mr. Alderson said.
"Most treatments are what I call 'uni-focused'- they offer families and the children just one method - like the government's behavioural programs, for example," he added.
Previously, Mr. Alderson worked at a U.S. treatment centre directing therapist training programs, instructing more than 3,000 families and special needs children around the world.
Mr. Alderson serves on the board of directors at The Lane Montessori School for Autism, and as chair of the board of Drum Artz Canada, a charity devoted to making music and the arts accessible to everyone, regardless age or physical ability. Mr. Alderson is also a member of the Autism Society of Ontario.
Nominator: Nazmin Gupta, Toronto