Program Professionals
Diane Gould
Peers Chicago Director
LCSW
Diane is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. During her long professional career, Diane has worked for both private agencies and school systems. In her private practice, Diane works with individuals and families. She also consults to day and residential programs in addition to performing school based behavioral assessments.
Diane has worked for the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization and the Niles Township District for Special Education. She has served as a consultant and been a guest lecturer for many area school districts.
Diane was the Childhood Disability and Family Support Specialist for the Jewish Children’s Bureau for over a decade. In that capacity she created many support and education programs. Diane has published on the subject of home-based support services.
Diane has expertise in autism. She served on the Professional Advisory Board of the Autism Society of Illinois. She has provided training on autism and related topics to hundreds of teachers and therapists.
Diane’s education includes certification in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University and a Masters Degree in Social Work from The University of Illinois at Chicago in 1987. She has received additional training from The Institute for Applied Behavior Analysis in Los Angeles, California, The Center for Collaborative Problem Solving, Boston, Massachusetts and The Social Thinking Center, San José, California. Diane is also a certified PEERS® facilitator. Diane gave up here BCBA in 2023.
Sara O'Keefe
Administrative Coordinator
Lead Group Facilitator
Sara O’Keefe fell in love with nonprofit work as a teenage volunteer. Inspired by her volunteer work at a camp for children with autism, she developed a deep passion for social work and received her BSW from James Madison University and her MSW from Loyola. Sara works for Diane Gould Therapy and PDA North America. Sara has also worked with organizations globally, from London to Virginia with individuals from various backgrounds. She began with Peers®️ in 2017 and manages the administrative tasks of the program in addition to being the group facilitator.
Debra Morris
Group Co-Facilitator
Debra Morris has a passion for working with individuals with a variety of abilities. She has her BS in Inclusive Elementary Education from Syracuse University. She taught 7th and 8th grade special education for three years and decided that teaching social skills and life skills was much more rewarding for her than the classroom. She went on to get her Masters from University of Chicago in Social Service and Administration and served as a school social worker for 16 years. At the same time she worked as a camp social worker and inclusion coordinator for an over night camp in Wisconsin.
Joan Skokna
Behavioral Coach
Joan Skokna is a high school social worker who strives to provide each of her teens with the unique and individualized support they need for academic and social emotional success. She completed a Bachelor of Social Work at Saint Mary’s College in Indiana and earned a Masters of Social Work, with a concentration in schools, from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her professional passions are rooted in her desire to advocate for all students to find a voice in their education and empower them to recognize their unique strengths. Joan starting working in the PEERS program in 2019.
Mimi Yong
Behavioral Coach
Mimi Yong is an elementary school social worker who is passionate about working with individuals on developing healthy emotional expression as well as positive communication and self-concept often times through use of art, movement or tools beyond only talking. Mimi graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Theater and Drama from Indiana University in 2012 and received her Masters from University of Chicago in Social Service and Administration in 2014. She has served as a social worker in a variety of settings including therapeutic day school programs, overnight camp, and elementary and high schools. Mimi joined PEERS Chicago in 2022 and plans to facilitate a drama group for PEERS graduates.
Brittany Mussen
Behavioral Coach
Brittany Mussen works at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities and has been working with Peers Chicago since November of 2018. Her passion for working with individuals with disabilities started in high school and led to her obtaining her bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Science from Illinois State University where she planned events that benefited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In addition, she also spent a summer interning for Autism Speaks, where she assisted in the planning of a gala inspired event.
