Thursday, April 23rd 7:00-8:30 pm.

Title: How to Create an Autism Friendly Congregation

Presented by CARD- USF

(The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF)

Christina Spencer, M.Ed., MAJs

CARD Consultant

Center for Autism & Related Disabilities

Department of Children & Family Studies

College of Behavioral and Community Sciences

University of South Florida

christinaspencer@usf.edu | 813-974-8939

13301 Bruce B Downs MHC 2113A

Tampa, FL 33612

MHC 1515 (office)

Please reserve April 23, 2026 at 7:00pm at Temple Emanuel to hear the presentation:

“A Place for Everyone: Making Your Congregation Autism‑Inclusive”

The talk will be presented by:

Rabbi Chaya (Christina) Spencer is a native Floridian who was born in Sarasota, grew up in Tallahassee and went to college in Jupiter. She graduated from the Honors College of Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences and a concentration in Psychology. She then attended the American Jewish University (Los Angeles, CA) where she was ordained as a rabbi and earned two Masters’ Degrees, a MA in Jewish Studies and a MA in Education. Before coming to CARD-USF, Christina spent 15 years working in education as a Director of Education for a congregation in El Paso, TX, a pre-K teacher for Community Action Project, a HeadStart program in Tulsa, OK, and as a Kindergarten teacher in Pasco County. Christina is a reading endorsed certified teacher for grades Pre-K3 through 6 and a 2013 Teach for America alumna (Tulsa).