The Greater Expectations Teaching and Advocacy Center (GETAC) is the consequence of two parents’ journey to identify and access equitable services for their son who was identified as autistic when he was 21 months old. As school personnel (LaChan an English teacher, Michael a school counselor) with several years of experience serving students and parents, they still met a number of challenges with finding consistent and appropriate care for their son and family in the months following the diagnosis.
OUR STORY
This birthed a vision in LaChan to take what she and her family were learning in the process of advocating for their son and leveraging her knowledge to be a resource to others with similar lived experiences. In 2007, GETAC was established to support parents and caregivers on their family’s autism journey and has evolved into an organization committed to identifying and removing barriers to care to optimize families’ quality of life.
The vision of the Greater Expectations Teaching and Advocacy Center is for educational institutions, community organizations, and health systems to equitably, justly, and sustainably engage parents and caregivers of all children, regardless of ability status or identities.
OUR Vision
About Dr. LaChan Hannon
Hi, I’m LaChan Hannon,
co-founder of the Greater Expectations Teaching and Advocacy Center.
LaChan V. Hannon, Ph.D., is an educator, researcher, and national thought leader in culturally responsive education and autism advocacy. She currently serves as Director of Teacher Preparation & Innovation in the Department of Urban Education at Rutgers–Newark.
A former high school and early intervention educator, Dr. Hannon’s scholarly work explores the intersection of race, disability, and parent engagement, with a focus on equipping educators and school leaders to build equitable partnerships with families. She holds a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Teacher Development from Montclair State University and specialized graduate certifications in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State.
Dr. Hannon is co-founder of the Greater Expectations Teaching and Advocacy Center (GETAC), where she works to support families of children with developmental differences while partnering with schools and community organizations to strengthen culturally responsive, justice-centered practices.
She is the author of multiple academic publications and the speaker behind the TEDx talk Young, Gifted & Black with Autism.
About Dr. MICHAEL Hannon
Hi, I’m Michael Hannon,
co-founder of the Greater Expectations Teaching and Advocacy Center.
Michael Hannon, Ph.D., is a counselor, professor, author, and nationally recognized advocate for Black fathers and father figures, particularly fathers of autistic children. His work bridges scholarship, clinical practice, and community engagement to advance the mental health and wellbeing of Black men and families.
He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling at Montclair State University, where he prepares future counselors to serve clients in educational and community settings. A licensed professional counselor in New Jersey and National Certified Counselor, Dr. Hannon also provides telemental health services through his private practice, MDH Counseling & Consulting.
Dr. Hannon’s research on Black fathers’ wellness has been widely cited and featured by outlets including National Public Radio, The New York Times, Autism Speaks, and Black Enterprise. He is the editor of Black Fathering and Mental Health and the author of the forthcoming book Protect, Provide, Prepare: Black Fatherhood Code in Family and Community.
Through GETAC, Dr. Hannon brings his lived experience, clinical expertise, and research to strengthen families, equip institutions, and advocate for sustainable, culturally responsive systems of care.
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ORGANIZATION COLLABORATIONS
