Kirsten Fitzpatrick, M.Ed., MS.SFBC., CESP
Kirsten Fitzpatrick has over 25 years of experience working with and advocating for autistic children, teens, and adults. Fitzpatrick holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, a Master of Science in Education, a Master of Science in School and Family-Based Counseling, is an Associate Clinical Counselor with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, as well as holds a PPS credential with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Fitzpatrick is also a Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP™) with the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE). Prior to joining YIC as Deputy Director, Fitzpatrick worked in the public sector in special education and for a local state funded non-profit serving and advocating for individuals with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities.
Fitzpatrick has served in high-level, executive positions for several for-profit corporations over the last 20 years within the private sector and worked as an independent strategic consultant for several multi-million dollar corporations, providing advice and expertise to these organizations to help them improve their business performance in terms of operations, profitability, management, structure and strategy. Additionally, Fitzpatrick is CEO of Spectrum Media, Inc. and Co-Founder of Spectrum Singles, the world’s first social media dating website made by autistic people for autistic people.
Fitzpatrick is an international speaker, presenting on a variety of issues faced by the global autistic community, including education, civil rights, employment, socio-sexual and relationship issues. Fitzpatrick has been featured in a variety of media outlets, including People Magazine, Esquire Magazine, MTV, Woman’s Health Magazine, Huffington Post, HuffPost Live, PBS, Buzzfeed, DailyRX, Lioness Magazine, and Naturally Autistic Magazine. In 2016, Fitzpatrick was awarded the prestigious International Naturally Autistic People (INAP) Award by The ANCA Foundation.