The ASCV’s impact grows each year thanks to the help of community members like you. As the need for our programs and services grow, we are grateful for our committed volunteer leadership. The ASCV Junior Board is comprised of talented and generous young professionals from the Richmond area and beyond. Some of them have direct links to our mission as professionals, others are motivated to join us because of their loved ones impacted by autism, and all are excited to support the ASCV and our community.
Keep reading to get to know our newest Junior Board members, who will serve 2024-2026. To see all of our Junior Board and Board of Directors members click here.
Amanda Hunt
Amanda has been in the medical field for over 10 years. Her passion has always been pediatrics, and she currently works as a Registered Nurse in the NICU at VCU. Her personal journey with autism began in August 2023, when her three year old daughter was diagnosed. She is excited to help support and empower our local autism community by promoting awareness, acceptance, and neurodiversity. Amanda was born and raised in Richmond. She lives in Amelia with her husband, Peter, and their children, Evan and Harper, along with their two dachshunds and two cats.
Sarah Larkin
Sarah is a BCBA Clinical Supervisor at RCG and has been working in the field since 2016 when she lucked into finding ABA through a study abroad opportunity. She has always been passionate about finding ways to connect with the autism community and help others reach their full potential. Sarah is looking forward to connecting with others who share the same passions. When she’s not working, she spends most of her time with her golden retriever who is her pride and joy and is working on becoming a therapy dog. Whenever she’s at work, she makes sure that her dog is completely fine thanks to services like the WoofConnect dog boarding.
Elizabeth Clutton
Hannah is excited and honored to serve as a member of the 2024 ASCV Junior Board. Hannah is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has been working in the field of Autism since 2011. She graduated with her BA in Psychology and Child Development in 2010 and MA in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2018. Hannah currently works as a BCBA with Autism Behavioral Institute and is very passionate about connecting with and empowering Autistic individuals and their families. Hannah and her husband became foster parents in Virginia in 2021 and have welcomed many children into their home since then. Hannah has volunteered and participated in a variety of ASCV events throughout the years but is looking forward to becoming even more involved and giving back to a community that she loves so much!
Tori Defazio
Tori is extremely excited to be joining the ASCV’s Junior Board. Tori is passionate about inclusion and creating leisure spaces that are accessible to those with autism and other needs. As a recreational therapist, Tori has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and believes that recreation and leisure are vital to an individual’s overall health and wellness. Tori loves utilizing humor to assist with advocating for others! When she is not working, she can usually be found with a cup of coffee, a good book, and her rescue rabbit, Carl.
AJ McCage
AJ is a seasoned recreation professional and has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) for ten years. She graduated from Radford University with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Clemson University with a Master’s in Youth Development and Leadership. She currently works for Henrico Recreation and Parks as the Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator. AJ provides adaptive programs for individuals with disabilities and oversees inclusion services for all general programs. Her passion lies in creating inclusive programming opportunities and engaging others in discussions about disability awareness and leisure education. Joining the JR Board would provide direct access to different learning opportunities and provide ASCV members more information about community resources offered through Henrico Recreation and Parks
Chelsea Longbottom
Chelsea is excited to become the newest member of the Junior Board of ASCV. She brings with her more than 15 years of childcare and preschool teaching experience, 10 years of ministry experience, 8 years of home education experience and many years of abundant motherhood.
White holding a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Social Science from Radford University (‘12) is one of her major accomplishments; being a stay at home mom has afforded her the endless opportunities to dedicate her time to her family, event planning, children’s activities and programs, and community volunteering/involvement.
She found her passion for children and families living with Autism, through serving in the special needs ministry at her church, The Heights Baptist Church (one of only 2 respite night locations currently). She hopes to bring her love of people and zest for life to the people and families who deserve it most. She can’t wait to dive into all that the ASCV has to offer, and hopes to leave a lasting imprint for years to come.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family; and making memories with her husband, 4 children and their golden-doodle named Bailey.
Noah Jenkins
Noah is a Virginia native, born and raised in Mechanicsville. He has always known that the Autism community held a special place in his heart and it has always been his goal to support and work with this community. Noah received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Special Education from Longwood University. He is an Autism Specialist at Mechanicsville High School and has served in this role for the past 3 years. He is excited to serve on the Junior Board and become even more involved with the Autism Society of Central Virginia.
Elizabeth Weber
Elizabeth Weber is a 2011 graduate of Virginia Tech, with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Information Systems. Elizabeth is currently a Compliance Program Manager at Dominion Energy, responsible for the tools and technology supporting compliance. She joined Dominion Energy in 2020, holding positions in IT Project Management and Data Analytics. Previously, Elizabeth held numerous finance roles in her 6 years at Altria and began her professional career at Ernst & Young as an auditor.
Elizabeth serves on the leadership team of Dominion Energy’s Employee Resource Group, DiverseAbility, whose mission is to recruit, support and retain employees with disabilities. She is also a member of the Community Engagement Board of Community Brain Injury Services, helping to build awareness and partnerships for the local nonprofit. Elizabeth is excited to become a Junior Board member of the Autism Society of Central Virginia and continue her passion to create an inclusive environment for everyone.
Cassidy Brown
Cassidy joined the ASCV junior board in 2023. She is an architectural designer and researcher fascinated by inclusive design, especially for neurodiversity. Cassidy has a brother with autism and has volunteered with Special Olympics Florida, and other adult vocational programs for over 10 years. In her board position, she hopes to advocate for adults with autism and build strong communities, as she understands firsthand the impact of spaces on individuals with autism and diverse sensory needs.
Outside of work, Cassidy enjoys downtime with her dog, hiking in nature, and staying grounded with hot yoga. These activities not only bring joy but also highlight the importance of balance and well-being.
Jessica Ohree
Jessica is a Richmond native with a heart for the local community. She has always led with a curiosity and empathy for others, and continually seeks greater connection to her community, through volunteer efforts with several organizations throughout the region. Jessica holds her Bachelors of Political Science and Masters of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. Professionally, Jessica is the current Director, Product Delivery and Quality, at Allianz Partners.
Terry Stevens
I first became involved with the Autism Society in 2022 when both of my twin boys were diagnosed with autism. Since then, our family has tried to attend every ASCV event we can! I am passionate about raising autism awareness within our community, and I love connecting with other parents who have recently had a child diagnosed with autism. In my “free time”, I enjoy walking with friends, going to barre, and spending time outside with my family at local Richmond events.
I completed my undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech and then received a Masters degree in education at the University of Richmond. I spent 8 years teaching in Henrico County in both elementary and middle school before transitioning to Capital One, where I’m a consultant in Learning and Development.
View a full list of the ASCV Junior Board and Board of Directors.
Proof of Membership: All ASCV Members receive a yearly confirmation email when their membership has been renewed – this email can be used as proof of membership. You can also show your quarterly Membership Benefits Program email.
Please email us at [email protected] to verify your membership status, request a copy of proof of membership, or would like any assistance accessing your member benefits!