Georgia Backus is a nationally recognized leader in autism education and advocacy. She served as Executive Director of the The Rich Center for Autism from 1994 to 2013, leading one of Ohio’s premier educational programs for children with autism.

A former gubernatorial appointee to Ohio autism task forces, Georgia was instrumental in the establishment of the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program and helped advance autism services throughout the state. Her leadership contributed to the center receiving recognition as an Ohio Department of Education Center of Excellence.

Georgia brings decades of expertise in special education, program development, and autism advocacy to her board service.