Jackie Kancir, Executive Director
Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, Jackie Kancir brings an uncompromising voice for change to her roles as Executive Director of the National Council on Severe Autism and Patient Advocacy Director for the SynGAP Research Fund. Guided by Dr. Caroline Leaf's principle that "purpose is not the thing you do, but the thing that happens in others when you do what you do," Jackie mobilizes communities to transform systemic barriers into actionable change. A brain tumor survivor and mother to an adult daughter with profound autism and SynGAP1-related disorder, she advances evidence-based solutions through policy innovation and strategic partnerships. Her transformative work includes spearheading emergency department stabilization protocols for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, now implemented through crisis support systems nationwide. A passionate advocate known for combining data-driven insights with authentic storytelling, Jackie drives systemic change from grassroots to grasstops, focusing on family caregiver support and resolving unmet needs in healthcare, housing, and support services for those with severe autism, intellectual disabilities, and complex medical needs.
Cyndi Wall, Digital Content Coordinator
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Mark Kendall, Public Relations Coordinator
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