Meet Our Team
Sarah Matthews
Family Supports director
Sarah Matthews is the Director of the Family Support Services Department at the North Dakota Autism Center. Sarah’s primary responsibilities include oversight of all operations of the service, quality assurance, state licensing, accreditation, hiring, and training standards. This includes active collaboration with the team to ensure the operations of the services are fully functioning and serving consumers and their families with the best quality possible. Sarah also oversees the programs Administration, Training Manager and Case Managers quality of work and evaluations, ensuring the team is utilizing best practices, consumers programs are run efficiently and effectively, while providing seamless delivery.
Sarah has been working with the North Dakota Autism Center since 2008. She received her undergrad in Psychology and Autism Spectrum Disorders Certification from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Sarah’s passion and areas of expertise include:
• Leadership Building
• Quality Assurance
• Coaching/Mentoring
• Accreditation
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
What drives Sarah is her passion for helping others find the best services for their needs and seeing the tremendous successes the team has achieved.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and children. She enjoys being outdoors and going to the lake. Sarah cherishes spending time with family and friends. She is a proud soccer mom to her daughter and gets a thrill out of cheering for her on the sidelines.
Ashley Jaso
Case Manager
Ashley Jaso is a Case Manager in the Family Support Services Department at the North Dakota Autism Center. Her responsibilities include developing, implementing, and facilitating the overall service plan process for those we serve. This includes ensuring integration of the service plan through the involvement of the individual, family, guardian, other service providers and agency staff.
Ashley has been working with the North Dakota Autism Center since 2016. She started as a Direct Support Professional working directly with our consumers in their homes. She received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from North Dakota State University. In 2020, she was promoted to case manager. Ashley’s drive to serve her community and helping those in need, along with her experience working with children with developmental disabilities has guided her to this new role in our agency.
In her spare time Ashley enjoys traveling, reading, gardening and taking care of her many pets.
Lindsey Wicklander
Case Manager
Lindsey Wicklander is a Case Manager in the Family Support Services Department at the North Dakota Autism Center. Lindsey’s responsibilities include developing, implementing, and facilitating the overall service plan process for those we serve. This includes ensuring integration of the service plan through the involvement of the individual, family, guardian, other service providers and agency staff.
Lindsey has been with the North Dakota Autism Center since 2015. She started as a Behavior Tutor in our Day Program and then transferred to our Behavior Program where she quickly moved up to Program Manager. In 2020 she transitioned to the In Home Support team to Case Manager where she is able to use her vast knowledge in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and experience in working directly with consumers and develop successful person centered plans. She received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science from North Dakota State University.
In her free time, Lindsey likes to spend time with family and friends, especially her nieces and nephews. She also loves spending time outdoors, playing games and doing puzzles.
Rachana Wright
Case Manager
Rachana Wright is a Case Manager in the Family Support Services Department at the North Dakota Autism Center. Rachana’s responsibilities include developing, implementing, and facilitating the overall service plan process for those we serve. This includes ensuring integration of the service plan through the involvement of the individual, family, guardian, other service providers and agency staff.
Rachana began working with the North Dakota Autism Center in 2018. She started as a Direct Support Professional working directly with consumers in their homes. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from North Dakota State University. Rachana’s passion for working with people with developmental disabilities has guided her to a new role and she was promoted to case manager in 2020.
In her spare time Rachana enjoys spending time with friends, play card games, and finding new recipes to try.
Rachana began working with the North Dakota Autism Center in 2018. She started as a Direct Support Professional working directly with consumers in their homes. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from North Dakota State University. Rachana’s passion for working with people with developmental disabilities has guided her to a new role and she was promoted to case manager in 2020.
In her spare time Rachana enjoys spending time with friends, play card games, and finding new recipes to try.
JACKSON LINDOM
Hiring and Training Manager
Jackson Lindom is the hiring and training manager in the Family Support Services Department at the North Dakota Autism Center. Jackson’s responsibilities include conducting interviews, onboarding new hires, and maintaining various staff certifications. This includes conducting training courses in First Aid, CPR, and other safety training.
Jackson has been with the North Dakota Autism Center since 2019. He started as a Behavior Technician in our Behavior Therapy department, and then in July of 2020, he was promoted to the role of Assistant Program Manager. In 2021, he transitioned to the In-Home Support team to become the Hiring and Training Manager where he is able to use his skills and passions to train and empower our staff to do their jobs confidently and thoroughly. He received his undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Science from North Dakota State University.
In his free time, Jackson likes to spend time with family and friends, go on adventures with his wife, cook new and diverse foods, and listen to/create music. He also enjoys playing various board games and being involved at his church.
Jennifer Nannenga
Quality Assurance Administrator
Jennifer Nannenga is the Quality Assurance Administrator for the Family Support Services Department of the North Dakota Autism Center. Jennifer’s responsibilities include: assisting the In-Home Support Team on a variety of tasks and projects, overseeing a comprehensive method to monitor the effectiveness of the structures in place to ensure basic protections of the Family Support Services program, and assuring that the quality of the program meets NDAC standards by coordinating the adhering to licensing and accreditation standards through the Council of Quality and Leadership.
Jennifer began working with the North Dakota Autism Center in 2021; she hopes to help clients and families through her work as Quality Assurance Administrator and through adaptive music classes. She received her Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Music Education from North Dakota State University, in addition, she has received certifications for adaptive music and music in early childhood from the Rowan Community Music School in Rowan, New Jersey.
Jennifer has worked with 3 other non-profits, acting in administrative positions, from Jamestown, ND. She was sad to leave the Non-profits that helped feed her passion for helping others, but is glad to be the new Quality Assurance Administrator with the NDAC. In addition to working in administrative positions; Jennifer loves to build websites, create lesson presentations for her students, craft social media posts, and teach varying levels and types of music lessons in her spare time.
Outside of teaching various music lessons and her work at the NDAC, Jennifer likes to: bake, read, spend time outdoors (especially walking/hiking), singing in her community choir, and hanging out with friends. She is excited to start her new career with NDAC, and hopes that you will stop to say “Hi” if you are ever in the Family Support Services Office!