MORGAN 
ALIKI 
BATHGATE
KOUMENIS

Aliki Koumenis an Autistic Self-Advocate, Certified Peer Specialist and Community 
Morgan Bathgate is a college student at Messiah University studying Psychology. She 
graduated in 2020 from Mechanicsburg Area Senior High where she also played water 
Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS). Aliki is currently the Development Assistant for the 
polo, swam competitively, played violin, maintained a 4.0 GPA and took six Advanced 
CAPS program at Mental Health partnerships, supporting team and participant growth, 
Placement (AP) classes.
providing technical assistance, and conducting outreach activities for the program. 

She was diagnosed with Autism when she was 3 years old. Morgan likes to remind people 
Previously, Aliki has been employed as a CPS and a CAPS providing direct support both 
that she may think differently, learn differently and at times struggle to focus—but she 
in the community and through online services. As an advocate for mental health and 
embraces her extraordinary abilities. She is different—but not less.
disability justice, Aliki lent her lived experience towards supporting the development of 
the novel Community Autism Peer Specialist program through her work on the steering 
Morgan describes herself as family oriented, artsy, techie, bookish, musical and 
adventurous. She loves nature, animals, video games and drawing.
committee and as a facilitator for the first two rounds of CAPS training. She is passionate 
about advancing societal attitudes and services for Autism to align with humanistic, 
person-centered, inclusive values, driven by the voices of the rich and valuable 
neurodivergent community.