About Us

Becky McGee-Hudson is the mother of an adult daughter diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. Becky’s educational background is in special education and school administration. She began her career as a special education teacher with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, working in collaboration with the TEACCH program. She retired from the University of Chapel Hill TEACCH Autism Program in November 2018, where she worked as an Autism Specialist for over 30 years. Becky has served on a variety of local boards and advisory committees focused on the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. Becky, her husband Stuart and daughter Abbey live in Wilmington.

Betsy McCormick is a TEACCH Certified Advanced Consultant who worked as an Autism Specialist for the Wilmington TEACCH Center from 1984 to 2018. She holds a BA in Education and prior to coming to work at the Wilmington Center was a teacher in TEACCH affiliated primary and adolescent classrooms. As an Autism Specialist, Betsy worked with individuals of all ages across the autism spectrum. Her experiences include diagnostic evaluations and work with parents, children, and adults on Structured TEACCHing strategies and skill building. She has facilitated parent support groups, consulted to programs serving individuals with autism, and led early intervention groups and social skills groups for older individuals. Since leaving the Wilmington Center in 2018, Betsy continues her work with TEACCH through educational training for parents and professionals both nationally and internationally.

Kerri Hartman is the mother of three children, two of whom are young adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kerri spends much of her day supporting her adult children’s day-to-day activities. Kerri is a past board member on the New Hanover County Schools Advisory Council for Exceptional Children. Kerri is an avid quilter and loves the mountains. She and her husband Judd participate in family support groups and also support Surfers Healing of Wilmington, the local chapter of a non-profit organization that conducts surf camps for individuals with autism at beaches throughout the United States, including Wrightsville Beach.

Retired from Coastal Rehabilitation Hospital where she worked as a physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Currently roommate and support staff with her adult daughter Ellen who loves to attend CFEP activities.

Marilyn Ward retired from the public school system after spending 30+ years as a Speech Therapist and a teacher of the Deaf. During the past few years, she has worked in various settings with children and adults with special needs. However, most of her time is devoted to her son Brian Stephens. Marilyn’s children are her greatest blessing. Brian is 33 years old, has Down syndrome and currently lives at home. Marilyn’s daughter, Erin Long, is her greatest supporter and the two of them team up to help Brian reach his fullest potential.

Darien Brooks was diagnosed with autism in 1971. He soon was enrolled with TEACCH at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, enabling him to accomplish many endeavors including graduation from high school in 1985, attend UNC-Wilmington, play second violin with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra for 17 years, obtain salaried employment as a mail file clerk. He is employed at Clark Environmental Services in Wilmington part-time, plus volunteers with Wilmington TEACCH, the Children’s Developmental Services Agency. Darien plays violin, writes fiction and poetry, takes part in the CFEP Coffee Club, inspires many people with his example of living life with autism.