Lawrence R. Sutton, Ph.D. I am a Deacon in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Director of the Pre-Theology Formation at St. Vincent College and Seminary.
In addition to my work at St. Vincent’s, I work as a Psychologist at the Wesley Spectrum Services in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and was the former Manager of the Western Region Office of the Bureau of Autism Services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I earned my doctoral degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 and have been licensed as a psychologist since 1983.
As a Deacon, I developed and have run a Sacramental preparation and religious education program for children/adolescents touched by autism in the Diocese of Pittsburgh since 2003 first at the Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and have been able to continue the work in my present assignment at Resurrection Parish.
I have had has numerous publications in the area of treatment of behavioral issues for teens and adults with developmental disorders, particularly those with autism and have authored two books, the first entitled, “How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and Other Special Needs: A Parish-Based Approach” (also available in Spanish) and the second entitled “Teaching Students with Autism in a Catholic Setting”, both published by Loyola Press.
I have also worked with criminal justice related issues since the 1980’s initially with alcohol and drug related problems, particularly with alcohol/drug impaired driving and then later with individuals who had either a developmental or psychiatric disorders as well as in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services as manager of psychological services. I have presented work nationally and as a Keynote Speaker in Lagos Nigeria on five occasions since 2012, in Cebu Philippines and in Bamenda Cameroon as well as has been qualified as an expert in Pennsylvania and Federal court.