At its 2019 Awesome in Autism Awards event on October 24, the Autism Society Ventura County named UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School alumna Sarah Elizabeth Pelangka its Children Service Provider of the Year. Dr. Pelangka is the owner and operator of Know IEPs. Know IEPs offers trainings, special education services, behavior consultation services, and BCBA supervision services.
Dr. Sarah Pelangka is both a professional in the field and a sibling of a sister with autism spectrum disorder. Pelangka received her Ph.D. in Special Education and Disabilities Risk Studies from UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Education in 2011, with Dr. George Singer as her advisor. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctorate (BCBA-D) as well. Having worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), as well as special education (SPED), for 11+ years, Dr. Pelangka has come to meet hundreds of families and has attended nearly as many IEPs.
The mission of the Autism Society Ventura County (ASVC) is to improve the lives of all affected by Autism. They work to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum and their families to be fully included members of the community. AVSC achieves these goals through education, advocacy, the promotion of research, increasing public awareness, and collaboration with other agencies. Annually, ASVC celebrates those in the Ventura community who embody and put into action their mission.