Nicole Aptekar

Board Vice President

Nicole Aptekar is a special education advocate, author, and longtime advocate for individuals with Autism and their families. She wrote the children’s book Ava the Autism Advocate and previously served as President of the Autism Society of Inland Empire Board of Directors. Nicole is passionate about empowering children and youth to advocate for themselves and others. She created a disability awareness assembly for her children’s school district to promote understanding, inclusion, and acceptance of individuals with disabilities. Her advocacy is also deeply personal. As the parent of an autistic daughter, Nicole understands the challenges families face and has made it a priority to help her daughter develop her own voice and become a self-advocate. With a background in communications, marketing, nonprofit leadership, and community advocacy, Nicole brings a unique combination of professional experience and personal perspective to her board service. She is committed to supporting individuals with Autism, empowering families, and advancing greater awareness, acceptance, and inclusion throughout the community. Nicole holds an M.B.A. in Marketing from the University of La Verne and a B.A. in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. She lives in Chino Hills, California, with her husband, Jeff, and their triplets. She is honored to serve on the Autism Society of Inland Empire Board of Directors and looks forward to continuing to support its mission and the families it serves.