CAC Board of Directors
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Glori Gray, PsyD, MSW
Dr. Gray is a psychologist with 25 years of experience working with autistic individuals across the lifespan. She is passionate about fostering self-compassion, raising awareness of autistic strengths, and connecting people to resources. As the founder of the CAC, she works to promote strengths-based approaches and autism identification tools.
Beginning her career under the mentorship of Dr. Gary Mesibov, co-founder of UNC TEACCH, Dr. Gray recognized the importance of collaboration and coordinated care among diverse providers. This foundation continues to inspire her therapeutic and strengths-focused approach to assessment and intervention.
As Executive Director and Director of Collaboration and Community Engagement, Dr. Gray drives partnerships among members, supervises visitor liaison activities, and curates resources to support autism identification and strengths-based practices. She oversees social media strategies and community updates to ensure consistent messaging.
Her compassionate approach, clinical expertise, and dedication to advocacy empower individuals to thrive while supporting meaningful community connections.
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Jillianne Grayson, MD
Dr. Jillianne Grayson provides psychiatric care, including medication management, therapy, and group sessions, to children, adolescents, and young adults. She takes an integrative approach, celebrating neurodiversity and affirming identities. Her first outpatient during fellowship was an autistic teen, and she found it deeply fulfilling to support her in navigating challenges and leveraging strengths. Dr. Grayson views neurodivergence as a positive characteristic and is grateful for the opportunity to see the world through her patients' unique perspectives.
As Director of Learning and Professional Development at CAC, Dr. Grayson oversees educational events, webinars, and professional learning initiatives that support interdisciplinary collaboration and growth among CAC members. She manages meeting planning, logistics, technical needs, and nonprofit compliance. Additionally, Dr. Grayson fosters collaboration with external educators and professionals to enhance engagement across disciplines.
Her dedication to fostering learning, combined with her clinical expertise and affirming approach to care, empowers individuals to embrace their neurodivergent identities through wellness.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR OF NEURODIVERSE OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP
Rachel Durban, OTR/L, MSOT, CAS
Rachel, an Occupational Therapist with an MS in Occupational Therapy and a background in Psychology and Sociology, has worked primarily in schools and home health. Her passion for addressing the unmet needs of autistic adults and teens led her to start Autistic Adult & Teen Consulting. She specializes in sensory systems, self-regulation, executive functioning, and emerging autism research.
As Director of Learning and Professional Development, Rachel leads initiatives to empower neurodiverse individuals and families. She fosters inclusion by building community partnerships and advocating for equitable access to services. Rachel organizes workshops tailored to neurodiverse individuals and families, oversees blog creation, and ensures efficient collaboration with the Website Organizer. She is committed to addressing gaps in autism knowledge and services, particularly for underserved populations, and advocates for neurodiverse representation across all CAC programs.
Rachel’s dedication to inclusion, along with her clinical expertise, helps build stronger, more connected communities where neurodiverse individuals can thrive.
Sarah Smead, LPA, NCSP
Sarah is a psychologist with over 14 years of experience as a nationally certified school psychologist and Licensed Psychological Associate. She provides support across clinical and school settings for individuals of all ages.
A University of Kentucky graduate, Sarah has served as a clinical instructor and autism specialist at the UNC TEACCH Autism Program, where she remains affiliated. She co-led the Charlotte T-STEP Program, supporting adolescents and young adults.
Sarah specializes in diagnostic evaluations and collaborates with families, community professionals, and multidisciplinary teams. Her focus is helping adolescents with disabilities successfully navigate post-secondary transitions. Her background as a high school-based psychologist enables her to offer tailored strategies for growth.
In addition to her clinical work, Sarah serves as Director of Operations and Communications for the CAC, where she coordinates workshops, manages membership processes, and develops communication strategies to engage members and support organizational objectives.
Her compassionate, strengths-based approach empowers clients to build confidence and overcome challenges.
“Neurodiversity may be the birthplace of some of humanity’s greatest minds.”