Ann‑Marie Orlando, Ph.D., CCC‑SLP, is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Florida College of Medicine and serves as Director of the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD). She also is Principal Investigator for the Florida and Virgin Islands DeafBlind Collaborative, providing leadership for statewide and regional initiatives supporting individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities across the lifespan.
Dr. Orlando earned her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Florida with a focus on severe disabilities, including autism. She holds a master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of South Alabama and maintains ASHA certification in both speech‑language pathology and audiology. Her professional experience spans clinical practice, public education, higher education, and research.
Her research and programmatic focus emphasize aging in autism, literacy and communication for individuals with complex communication needs, and inclusive education. She has coordinated multiple federal‑ and state‑funded grants supporting communication, teacher preparation, and research, and has published and presented nationally and internationally. A long-time Florida resident, Dr. Orlando is married, has two adult children and two grandchildren, and enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking.