The team
Founders
Morinda Nelson Cottam
Founder and Executive Director
As an educator with experience in both High School and College English classes, Morinda knows the power that creative community-building can have and the difference it can make. When she saw her autistic son and others like him, struggling to find their place in the world, The Motley Squad was born.
Zoë Hart-Wagstaff
Co-founder
Watching her autistic brother struggle to thrive after high school, Zoë saw first-hand the challenges this population faces. A talented graphic designer with a passion for bringing ideas to life, she co-founded The Motley Squad.
Staff
Grace Rejali
Program Coordinator
Grace believes that community-building should not require masking or performance. Through thoughtful planning and coordination, she helps create spaces where people can show up as themselves. Grace holds a degree in Gender Studies and Disability Studies and brings a lived experience as a neurodivergent person to her work.
Board
Our board brings pediatric, psychology and behavior-analysis experience, and several members are neurodivergent or parents of neurodivergent kids and adults.
Dr. Lisa Palmieri-Stevens, MD
Board President
Dr. Douglas Goldsmith
Board Member
James Howell, Ph.D.
Board Member
Barbara Thornton
Board Member
Monica Allred
Board Member
Gretchen Selcho
Board Member
Kreg Delaney
Board Treasurer