Parent Advisory Board
Joani DesNoyers, R.N.
Joani is a registered nurse with a clinical focus in neurological and neurosurgical intensive care. She has worked at Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
After her daughter was diagnosed with autism in 1995, Joani became a member of the Board of Directors at the Schwartz Center for Children. She contributed her expertise to numerous committees and projects including the design and implementation of the Center's Quality Assurance program and served as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. During the construction of the Center's new 4.5M facility, Joani served on the Executive branch of the Capital Campaign Committee and chaired the building committee. Joani served as President of the Board from 1999 to 2007. She was awarded the 2006 Volunteer of the Year award. Currently she serves on the Executive Committee and heads the Autism Initiative.
Prior to her involvement with the Schwartz Center, Joani was on the Board of Directors of the Waldorf School of Cape Cod, serving as President for three years.
Currently Joani is an officer of the Board of Directors for the Gottschall Autism Center. Joani serves in a variety of capacities for the Center.
Joani lives on Cape Cod with her three children: Andrew, 21, a senior at Tufts University studying Physics and Geology; Adrienne, 18, who has autism and is a 2nd year student in a Multi Aged Learning Center; and Alex, 16, a junior at a local private day high school and plays soccer, basketball and lacrosse which earned him three varsity letters this year.
Joani is passionate about the care, treatment and education of individuals with autism. She is a strong advocate for her child and assists other parents in managing the complex lives of their children with autism.
In addition to caring for her family and volunteer work, Joani also enjoys sailing and traveling.
