2017 Attending Organizations
A O Strategies.org
A.J. Drexel Autism Institute Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth ACHIEVE / Highline College Aggies Elevated at Utah State University AHEC NYC AHRC New York City Albany Technical College Appalachian State University Scholars with Diverse Abilities Arapahoe Community College Arc of Livingston-Wyoming Arcadia University AUCD Augustana University Bridgewater State University California State University, Sacramento Cape Cod Community College CarolinaLIFE Center for Leadership in Disability Central Washington University City University of New York (CUNY) ClemsonLIFE College of Charleston College Steps Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education Community Access Program Cuny/Hunter SDMNY Dance of Partnership Early Childhood Educator/parent EXCEL at Georgia Tech George Mason University Georgia Southern University Georgia Vocational Rehab/ Transition Greenburgh North Castle UFSD Highline College ACHIEVE Howard Center, SUCCEED IHDD/Destination Dawgs IN! Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education Included Abroad Indiana University -Institute on Disability and Community Institute for Community Inclusion, UMass Boston Institute on Disabilities, Temple University IPFW Bridges to Education and Careers Program James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Jordan-Elbridge Central School District Kelberman Center Kennesaw State University Leadership and Career Studies at Temple University LifePrep@Naz, Nazareth College Lifestyles for the Disabled Lifetime Assistance, Inc. Lincoln Street Inc. / Project SEARCH at D-H Lipscomb University Main Street connect Mason LIFE Maynooth University Methow Valley/ Parent Minot State University, NDCPD Monroe Community College Montana State University MWSU National Down Syndrome Congress NDSC New York Institute of Technology Next Steps at Vanderbilt NYC Board of Ed |
Oak Hill
Ontario ARC P.A.C.E. at NLU Trisomy 21 Foundation of NNY Pathfinder Village, Inc. People Inc. Portland State University Prince George's Community College REACH Program - College of Charleston REAL Certificate- Arcadia University Rhode Island College Rosenkranz Law Firm Ruby's Rainbow Salem State University State of Vermont State of Vermont Voc Rehab SUNY Geneseo Syracuse University Taishoff Center - Syracuse University Texas Christian University Texas State University The Arc of The Triangle The College of NJ/CCS Program The Integrated Post Secondary Society of Alberta The National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion Alfred University The University of Montevallo and Shelby County Schools Think College, UMass Boston Threshold Program at Lesley University TIP: Together It's Possible TransCen Transitions U of R/Warner School of Education and Human Development UA-PTC, 3D Program UD/CDS Career and Life Studies Certificate Program UI REACH UL LIFE - University of Louisiana at Lafayette UNC GOAL University f Hawaii, Center on Disabilities Studies University of Arkansas University of Central Florida, Florida Center for Students with Unique University of Cincinnati University of Education Salzburg University of Hawaii -Center on Disability Services University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of Nevada, Reno University of North carolina University of Northern Colorado University of Rochester, Rochester Center for Community Leadership University of San Francisco University of South Carolina University of Vermont Up Side of Downs of Northeast Ohio Utica College Vanderbilt University Virginia Commonwealth University Warner School of Education University of Rochester Warner School of Education/U of R Washington Adventist University Wayfinders at Fresno State WCU's University Participant Program Westchester Institute for Human Development Westfield State University Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability |
2017 Executive planning committee
Dr. Pamela Hudson Baker, Director of George Mason University’s Division of Special Education and disAbility Research
Stanley “Bud” Buckhout, Associate Director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
Dr. Heidi Graff, Director of George Mason University’s Learning into Future Environments (LIFE) Program
Karly Grifasi, Communications Manager, Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
Diana “Dee” Katovitch, Assistant Director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
Rachel Korpan Lee, Logistics Coordinator for the 2014 State of the Art Conference at George Mason University
Stephanie Smith Lee, Chair of the Think College Accreditation Workgroup, and Senior Policy Advisor, National Down Syndrome Congress
Shail Lopez-Ortiz, Executive Director of Wayfinders at Fresno State
Sara Jo Soldovieri, Manager of Inclusive Education Programming at the National Down Syndrome Society
Dr. Linda Mason, Director of George Mason University’s Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities
Dr. Beth Myers, Executive Director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
Denise Rozell, Director of Policy Innovation at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Cate Weir, Project Coordinator at the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Sara Hart Weir, President & CEO at the National Down Syndrome Society
Madeline Will, Chief Policy Officer at the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination
Stanley “Bud” Buckhout, Associate Director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
Dr. Heidi Graff, Director of George Mason University’s Learning into Future Environments (LIFE) Program
Karly Grifasi, Communications Manager, Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
Diana “Dee” Katovitch, Assistant Director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
Rachel Korpan Lee, Logistics Coordinator for the 2014 State of the Art Conference at George Mason University
Stephanie Smith Lee, Chair of the Think College Accreditation Workgroup, and Senior Policy Advisor, National Down Syndrome Congress
Shail Lopez-Ortiz, Executive Director of Wayfinders at Fresno State
Sara Jo Soldovieri, Manager of Inclusive Education Programming at the National Down Syndrome Society
Dr. Linda Mason, Director of George Mason University’s Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities
Dr. Beth Myers, Executive Director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
Denise Rozell, Director of Policy Innovation at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Cate Weir, Project Coordinator at the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Sara Hart Weir, President & CEO at the National Down Syndrome Society
Madeline Will, Chief Policy Officer at the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination
2017 Advisory Board members
The members of our Advisory Board are instrumental to the State of the Art Conference's success. They provide input, review proposals, and offer suggestions. Many thanks go to:
- Edie Cusack, College of Charleston
- Nicci T. Dowd, Saint John Paul the Great High School
- Dr. Richard Ferrante, USC School of Medicine
- Dr. Liz Fussell, The Arc - Iberville
- Yvonne Hu-Cutto, Chesapeake Down Syndrome Parent Group
- Michelle Kogel, Iowa Lakes Community College
- Eric Marshburn, University of North Carolina Greensboro
- Dr. Cindi May, College of Charleston
- Kerry McKenna, K3 Transition Resources LLC
- Sue Moraska, Houston Community College
- Dr. Susan Onaitis, Mercer County Community College
- Donna Partin, parent
- Liz Plachta, Ruby’s Rainbow
- Jeff Ross, First Place Arizona
- Dr. Colleen Thoma, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Dr. Mike Wehmeyer, University of Kansas
- Dana Yarbrough, Virginia Commonwealth University
2017 review committees
Many thanks to our review committees:
Academic
Academic
- Dr. Cindi May (College of Charleston)
- Sue Moraska (Houston Community College)
- Edie Cusack (College of Charleston)
- Nicci T. Dowd (parent)
- Dr. Liz Fussell (The Arc - Iberville)
- Dr. Seb M. Prohn (Virginia Commonwealth University)
- Dana Yarborough (Virginia Commonwealth University)
- Eric Marshburn (University of North Carolina, Greensboro)
- Dr. Richard Ferrante (USC School of Medicine)
- Stephanie Smith Lee (National Down Syndrome Congress )
- Lisa Christian (College of Charleston)
- Tammy Day (Vanderbilt University)
- Dr. Clare Papay (Institute for Community Inclusion)
- Donna Partin (Parent)
- Dr. Susan Onaitis (Mercer County Community College)
- Jordan Knab (University of South Florida, St. Petersburg)
- Yvonne Hu-Cutto (Chesapeake Down Syndrome Parent Group)
- Charlene K. Voyce (Parent)
- Kerry McKenna (K3 Transition Resources LLC)
- Robin Moyher (George Mason University)
Bios
Michael Aldrich
Michael Aldrich is the Career Advisor for the Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth. Mike has presented at the 2016 IDEAS conference in St Simons Island about overcoming obstacles with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mike has completed his Masters at Niagara University in which obtained a School Counseling Degree. Currently Mike is working on obtaining his MBA degree at Kennesaw State University.
Marla Arquero
Marla Arquero, MSW, LCSW has 20 years of experience working with individuals with various disabilities. While working for the Department of Education, Marla has been a part time teacher in an Alternative Learning Center and a Behavioral Health Specialist. Marla has also worked in a Behavioral Health hospital providing individual and group therapy to patients. Marla has been working as a faculty member with the Postsecondary Support Project for the last four years providing supervision to educational coaches, assisting with project management, employment coaching, and crisis management and personal wellness to the students on the project.
Debbie Bain
Debbie Bain serves as program coordinator for the Career and Life Studies Certificate (CLSC), a post-secondary transition program at the University of Delaware, which employs a person-centered approach promoting increased independence, inclusion, continued education/ employment outcomes within a coaching model.
Debbie is a dynamic presenter, and a member of the teaching faculty for the Disabilities Minor. Routinely taking leadership for program development, Debbie has created several initiatives offering innovative approaches to inclusive living opportunities on campus.
Debbie’s strength lies in capacity building - identifying those win-win opportunities – establishing partnerships with key university/community members that positively impact the individuals she supports.
Joshua Baker
Josh is an Assistant Professor in special education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the current director and creator of F.O.C.U.S. Josh received his Ph.D. in 2008 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in special education with a research emphasis on accessing the general education curriculum for students with Intellectual Disability and Autism. Josh came to UNLV in 2012 and started planning the inclusive post-secondary education program in Las Vegas. Josh has always been an advocate for full inclusion and believes that all individuals should be given the opportunity to achieve their personal goals!
Pamela Hudson Baker
Dr. Pamela Hudson Baker is an associate professor of special education and director of the Division of Special Education and disAbility Research at George Mason University. She earned her doctorate in leadership studies from Bowling Green State University, and her M.Ed. and B.S. from the College of William and Mary. In addition to presentations and publications, Dr. Baker utilizes a variety of state and federal grant opportunities, with funding in excess of $10.5 million dollars, to facilitate the responsible inclusion of individuals with special needs across a variety of settings. Dr. Baker currently serves on the product review and research committees for the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE). Prior to making the move to higher education, she was the coordinator of a regional day treatment center where students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) received specialized services.
Mary Bryant
Mary Bryant founded and directs the Path to Independence (P2I) program at UN-Reno. She works for the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED), which is Nevada’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities(UCEDD). Mary is responsible for creating community partnerships, developing funding, setting policy, and evaluating outcomes for the program. She is mom to Kailin, the inspiration for the program, who graduated from P2I in May.
Stanley "Bud" Buckhout
Stanley “Bud” Buckhout is the Director of InclusiveU and Associate Director of the Taishoff Center of Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University. He has worked in education for over 20 years. He earned his Teaching Certificate, M.S. in Special Education and a C.A.S. from Le Moyne College. He has worked in exploring research and facilitation of groups to aid in the identification of student instructional needs at the collegiate, district and school level. He has implemented trainings at many educational levels to develop effective learning environments for students.
Jaclyn Camden, M.ED.
Jaclyn is the Business Liaison at VCU's ACE-IT in College Program and the Center on Transition Innovations (CTI). She received her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Special and Sociological Education and Masters of Education in School Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. Jaclyn's previous employment includes working as a community and Project SEARCH Employment Specialist with VCU's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) and Team Leader at the Faison School for Autism. Jaclyn has a strong background working with individuals with disabilities, the community, and vocational rehabilitation agencies to develop internships and integrated competitive employment. Since joining the RRTC five years ago, Jaclyn has collaborated on several research projects that aimed to increase employment for people with disabilities in high school, post secondary education, and in local communities.
Carole Carlson
Carole provides training and technical assistance to educators and staff involved with the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative. In particular, she is working with college and school district partners on the Think College Transition Model Project - a dual-enrollment model for community-based transition services in college settings. Her experience is grounded in community-based residential and employment supports, natural supports – including peer mentorship, and advocacy work. Carole has a Master of Arts in Education with an Adult Learning focus.
Sue Carpenter
Dr. Sue Carpenter is an assistant professor within the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Kingsborough Community College, City University of New York. She has an international background in special education and arts education including teaching in the UK, USA and Australia. She is co-chair of the City University of New York’s TPSID (transitions and post-secondary education for students with intellectual disabilities) faculty committee and facilitates the faculty Interest Group at Kingsborough for faculty who are including students with intellectual disabilities in their courses.
Zack Chipman
Zack Chipman has been the ICEI program’s Career and Job Specialist at Bridgewater since November of 2014. He previously worked at the Marshfield Post-Secondary Program. Zack has created and developed internships across the college campus. He conducts monthly career workshops that cover core employment topics. Each student meets with Zack for weekly job coaching meetings which focus on detailed core employment skills and individualized career goals. Zack looks forward to going out in the local Bridgewater community to create off-campus interning opportunities this summer!
Diane Clouse
Diane Clouse is the Director of the Transition and Access Program (TAP) at the University of Cincinnati. TAP is a 4-year certificate program for students with developmental disabilities. She earned her doctorate at the University of Cincinnati in Special Education. She was an Assistant Professor at Wilmington College in the Special Education Program. Prior to that she was adjunct faculty at both Wilmington College and Sinclair Community College. She has classroom experience as in Interventionist in various K-12 settings teaching students with emotional and other disabilities. Her research interests involve supporting individuals with IDD in post-secondary education.
Joan Cornachio
Joan Cornachio has been an advocate and private consultant for students with I/DD and autism for the past 15 years in New York and Massachusetts. Ms. Cornachio has also had a long career as a program director and music educator in mainstream and segregated settings, and has directed inclusive choirs for young people in performances and showcases. She holds an MS in Education from Syracuse University with a concentration in Disability Studies. As the mother of a young adult with I/DD, she has experienced first-hand the viability of supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship.
Kayla Currier
Kayla Currier is a Doctoral Student, studying interdisciplinary transition and rehabilitation counseling at Utah State University. Kayla has a strong education in rehabilitation and has earned her bachelor's degree in rehabilitation services at the University of Maine and her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling at Utah State University. Utah State is ranked within the top ten rehabilitation counseling programs located in the United States. Her employment history includes preparing at-risk youth for employment and supporting young adults with disabilities in academia and independent living. Most recently, Kayla has provided masters level instruction in the application of counseling theory.
Bryan Dague
Dr. Bryan Dague, Ed.D., CRC has been employed at the University of Vermont-Center on Disability & Community Inclusion for the past 25 years providing training and technical assistance in the areas of supported employment and transition for people with disabilities. In 2010, the University of Vermont received a federal TPSID grant and established the Think College Vermont program at the University of Vermont and Johnson State College. Bryan is the current program director for Think College at the University of Vermont and member of the state’s post-secondary education consortium.
Sierra Debrow
Sierra Debrow is a recent graduate of the Honors College at College of Charleston, and former research associate in the Cognition, Aging, and Disability Lab. Sierra worked with Dr. May to examine the impact of media exposure on disability bias. Sierra also served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Jewish Student Union, a staff writer for The Rival, and a Resident Assistant. Sierra is now working as an Education Fellow at the Institute of Southern Life.
Nancy DeSando
Nancy DeSando, B.S.R.N, is Director of Innovations and Community Supports at Fulton County chapter of NYSARC (Lexington). She oversees community-based services to 300 families and individuals, and oversees programs related to autism supports, stress reduction groups for families and social skills groups for teens and young adults. She has over 35 years of experience supporting individuals with complex medical, cognitive and learning disabilities. Nancy is on the advisory board for Transitions, a post-secondary program for young adults with autism and learning differences who want to pursue college or careers.
Kate Doyle
Kate Doyle recently obtained her PhD from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Director of the Special Education program at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, OH. Kate serves as an educational consult ant to many greater Cincinnati schools. Her research interests include social skills interventions, language and literacy instructional strategies, and behavior interventions for individuals with low incidence disabilities.
Ibrahim Elsawy
Dr. Elsawy is Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sports Management, and Executive Director of the Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth, Kennesaw State University’s certificate program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Before taking the Academy’s leadership role in 2012. Dr. Elsawy was well-known within the International Disability Community. He lead the organizing committee for both the first Arab-American Dialogue on Disability held at KSU in 2009, and the second Arab-American Dialogue on Disability, held in Tripoli, Libya in 2010. He has organized numerous sport, camping, and recreation activities for children and youth with disabilities in his native Egypt, in Jordan, and in the United Arab Emirates. More recently, he created the first inclusive Study-Abroad program: “Creating Cultures of Achievement through Recreation and Sport”, a collaboration between the Academy and KSU’s Department of Sports Management, which returned for the third consecutive year in 2017 to the Emirate of Sharjah in the UAE.
Dr. Elsawy holds a B. S. in Physical Education, and both an MA and a PhD in Physical Education with a specialization in Sports Psychology from Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt. He served as Associate Dean, and then Interim Dean, of Alexandria University’s Faculty of Kindergarten, and supervised the university’s Early Intervention Center. Classes he has taught include Motor Education, Motor Disturbances, Motor Expression, Modern Attitudes on Motor Skills and The Psychology of Play. Dr. Elsawy recently received the Carol J. Pope Award for Distinction.
Matthew Estep
Matthew Estep is the Self-Advocacy Advisor at AHRC-NYC. He has worked with marginalized populations for ten years. His primarily focus has been on discovery and customized employment with people who have I/DD. For the past five years, at AHRC NYC, he has become involved with the self-advocacy movement. He leads self-advocacy initiatives on employment rights, co-leads self-advocacy retreats, and participates in lobbying government officials. He recently transitioned into the role of Self-Advocacy Advisor. He facilitates self-advocacy summits to determine the platforms that self-advocates want to address and co-teaches “Advocacy Unlimited” at three CUNYs colleges; a fully inclusive course through the Departments of Continuing Education.
Jennifer Feagles
Jennifer has a master’s degree in Social Work, and more than 16 years of experience in working with people with varying disabilities and mental illness. She is a wellness coach trained by the Mayo Clinic, a Personal Outcomes Measures interviewer certified through the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), and a certified instructor in the PEERS social skills program. Prior to being the Director of the Transitions Program, Jennifer was Manager of the Continuing Day Treatment Program, a Supervising MSC and a Social Worker for Lexington (Fulton County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc.)
Rich Feldman
Rich Feldman is a long time activist, retired UAW International Staff Member, author, speaker and father of disability activist, Micah Fialka-Feldman. He facilitates tours of Detroit titled, "From Growing our Economy to Growing our Souls." He co-produced the TASH award-winning documentary, Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College about his son's university experience. With his family, he conducts workshops for families with children with disabilities; is a contributing author to What Matters: Reflections on Disability, Community and Love (which chronicles Micah's fully inclusive life); participated in the ADA Legacy Tour celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act; and was awarded the Family Voices Life Time Achievement Award for Disability Advocacy.
Janice Fialka
Janice Fialka, LMSW is a nationally recognized speaker, author, mother, award-winning social worker and advocate on issues related to disability, family-professional partnerships, inclusion, and raising a child with disabilities. She has co-authored the chapter, "Student and Family Perspectives" in Think College; the book, Parents and Professionals Partnering for Children with Disabilities; and the award-winning DVD, Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College. Her most recent book (2017) chronicling her son's fully inclusive life is titled, What Matters: Reflections on Disability, Community, and Love. In 2015, Janice joined the ADA Legacy Tour celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act. She is highly sought-after presenter and was named Social Worker of the Year by NASW-Michigan Chapter.
Riley Fitzgerald
Riley is a University of Nevada, Reno graduate and is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Educational Leadership. As the project Coordinator for Path to Independence he handles the day to day operation of the program working with the students, families, support staff, and professors.
Eric Folk
Eric Folk is the principal investigator of the Postsecondary Supports Projects and the Comprehensive Service Center for People who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind based at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) Center on Disability Studies. He earned his M.Ed in Educational Psychology for his study of acculturation and cultural identity development of students from the islands of Micronesia. Eric has seven years of experience designing and demonstrating Hawai‘i’s inclusive postsecondary education TPSID model programs for the UH system. Eric’s research interests include self-determination, inclusive postsecondary education, and support provision for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Stephanie Foster
Stephanie Foster received her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, as well as her C.R.C. from Fresno State. She currently provides supports and services for those diagnosed with intellectual/developmental disabilities at Wayfinders at Fresno State as the program's University Inclusion Coordinator.
Kristin Booth Glen
Kristin Booth Glen has written and lectured widely on supported decision-making (SDM). She currently directs the Supported Decision-Making New York (SDMNY) project and serves on the New York State Bar Association’s Disability Rights Committee, while also advising the National Resource Center on SDM and the Center for Public Representation’s SDM pilot project. As Surrogate Judge of New York County, she wrote several groundbreaking decisions on guardianship and persons with I/DD. She has also been Commissioner on the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights and involved in the Uniform Law Commissioners’ revision of the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Procedures Act.
Jan Goings
Jan Goings is Director of Transition Services and Co-Director for the University of Cincinnati Transition and Access Program. She has launched and led innovative services in education, women’s health, disability services and diversity initiatives and has had a successful career in university teaching and consulting. Jan holds degrees a B.S. in Special Education, M.P.A. (Public Administration) and academic work in doctoral studies from Syracuse University in Policy and Disability.
Carole Gothelf
Dr. Carole Gothelf is the Director of Individualized Supports for AHRC-New York City. For over thirty years, Dr. Gothelf has provided individualized, person centered services for people with intellectual/ developmental disabilities. She is focused on Person-Centered Planning, the transition from school to adult life, the development of individualized housing options, opportunities for inclusive higher education, the promotion of the self-advocacy agenda, as well as leadership training for staff. Additionally, she is currently co-principal investigator of the federally funded TPSID grant, a partnership between The University of Rochester, AHRC NYC and the City University of New York.
Heidi Graff
Dr. Heidi Graff has personal and professional experience in working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Along with being a parent of a young adult with autism, she is the director of the Learning into Future Environments program and an assistant professor of special education at George Mason University. Dr. Graff’s commitment to the development of programs and strategies for individual with intellectual disabilities is reflected in her research line of parent readiness, independent living skills, and standardizing the application process for students with low incidence disabilities applying to institutes of higher education.
Karly Grifasi
Karly Grifasi is a producer, events manager and communications professional who works with the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education to develop marketing initiatives, events, websites, videos and anything else to help further the mission of the Center. Her 15 years of experience in television production, working for Saturday Night Live and NBC’s TODAY Show, combined with several years in the global non-profit world, have given her an innate ability to find creative solutions for any challenge.
Meg Grigal
Meg Grigal is the Co-Director of Think College, a national organization focused on research, policy and practice in higher education for people with intellectual disability. Meg serves as a PI on a variety of research grants including the Think College Transition Model Project, the National Coordinating Center for the TPSID model demonstration projects and the Future Quest Island Stepping Up to Technology project. She has authored many other book chapters, journal articles, and research briefs. Dr. Grigal’s work has led to expansion of higher education options for students with intellectual disabilities throughout the US and internationally.
Teresa Grossi
Teresa Grossi, Ph.D., the Director of Strategic Developments, at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, the Indiana’s University Center for Excellence (UCE) at Indiana University. Teresa is leading a 5-year research grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research. Teresa is currently serving as the external evaluator for the National Coordinating Center for the Transition to Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, and has served as external evaluator for the National Secondary Transition and Technical Assistance Center, State Employment Leadership Network. She has provided evaluation for a variety of programs and schools districts across the country.
Sandi Gruberg
Sandi Gruberg is the Assistant Director of Central Washington University's Learning Support Services and a student in the inaugural run of the Accessibility Studies Program. As an instructor, tutor, and curriculum designer, Sandi works to help students of various learning abilities in the University Writing and Math Center. She is also the mother of a young adult with an intellectual disability and has been advocating for her daughter’s educational and community inclusion over the last 15 years.
Gary Hagy
Gary Hagy received his master’s degree in Experimental Psychology. He currently provides supports and services for those diagnosed with intellectual/developmental disabilities at Wayfinders at Fresno State as the program's Systems Coordinator.
Ali Hale
Ali Hale is a 2016 Western Carolina University UP graduate. At WCU she took several education and early childhood courses. Her interests include listening to country music, coloring in her coloring books, and hanging out with friends. Ali was WCU’s 2014 Homecoming Queen. Ali is currently living in her own house with a roommate in Hickory. She works three part time jobs and likes to stay busy. Ali is a preschool teacher at First United Methodist Church. She also helps out at her dad’s business and helps teach Stretch N Grow dance classes for 3 and 4 year olds.
Katie Hanley
Katie Hanley, LMSW, has worked with youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 15 years, and has developed and led disability-focused programs and initiatives at a variety of organizations. Katie has been with Oak Hill’s Center for Relationship and Sexuality Education for six years. Now the director of this program, Katie has witnessed firsthand the immense need for accurate information about health relationships, the body, and sexual mistakes in the intellectual and developmental disability population.
Ty Hanson
Ty Hanson is an Inclusive Higher Education Specialist for Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Ty has over 20 years of experience working with students with disabilities in inclusive secondary and postsecondary education as a teacher, administrator, and specialist. Since 2004, Ty has coordinated federal and state grants designed to create access to college. Prior to joining the ICI, she coordinated an inclusive dual enrollment program for students with intellectual disabilities at Holyoke Community College.
Edlynne Harrell-Sanchez
Ms. Harrell-Sanchez is a student at Honolulu Community College for the past 4 years. She will complete her Associates in Early Education in the Spring 2019. Ms. Harrell-Sanchez receives coaching support from the PSP Project. She currently is a full time student and works part time for the YMCA as an aide in the afterschool program at an Elementary school in Hawaii.
Marnie Harris
Marnie Harris is a graduate of Georgia Tech who was on the original student advisory board that helped found Excel. She has since developed the Excel Peer Support Network, which now has over 60 members from the Georgia Tech community. Marnie co-founded Best Buddies at Georgia Tech and helped establish a peer mentorship program for Georgia Tech students with autism. She is also a Georgia LEND fellow. As the Excel Mentor Coordinator, Marnie recruits and trains members of the Peer Support Network. She ensures the supports are in place to build self-determination among Excel students throughout college and beyond.
Debra Hart
Debra Hart is the Director of the Education and Transition Team for the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She serves as the Principal Investigator for the Future Quest Island project, and Co-Principal Investigator of the Think College National Coordinating Center and the Think College Transition Project. Debra has over 25 years of experience working with youth and adults with disabilities, their families, faculty, and professionals that support youth in becoming contributing valued members of their community via participation in inclusive secondary and postsecondary education, and competitive employment.
Rebecca Jewell
Rebecca is a 2017 graduate of University of Delaware. She majored in Human Services with a minor in Disabilities Studies. She has worked part-time in the Career and Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) Program since 2015. In addition, she was a surveyor for National Core Indicators (NCI) Adult Consumer Survey Project for two years and was the co-founder and director of Unified Theater, an inclusive acting experience for individuals with/ without disabilities, at UD. As a Summer Scholar, Rebecca took a leadership role in crafting the design for the residence pilot for CLSC students that launched in the fall of 2016.
Friggita Johnson
Friggita Johnson is currently a doctoral student at Clemson University and teaches with Clemson LIFE (learning is for Everyone) a post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Mary Judge
Mary Judge, M.S., is the Assistant Director for the Institute for Innovative Transition. She brings over 20 years of experience working with people with disabilities and their families in the greater Rochester community. Mary is the Project Coordinator for the NYC TPSID Consortium and facilitates a number of the Institute initiatives including the coordination of partnerships and development of trainings. Mary is committed to individuals with disabilities having opportunities to further their education after high school, self-advocacy, policy and systems change. She has conducted lobbying and legislative advocacy at the state and federal level.
Kelly R. Kelley
Dr. Kelly R. Kelley received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Since 2010, she has served as the University Participant (UP) Program Coordinator, Consultant, and Co-Director. She is also an Associate Professor at Western Carolina University. For the past three years, she directed the NCCDD Learning and Earning Grant Project working with several NC school districts. Dr. Kelley has published 26 book chapters and articles. She has presented at 134 international, national, and state conferences. Her research interests include secondary transition related to assistive technology, independent living, and inclusive postsecondary opportunities for individuals with intellectual disability.
Susan S. Kizer
Susan S. Kizer joined KSU Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth in January 2014 and joined the GVRA staff in 2015 as an Academic Transition Teacher. Her educational background includes BS from North Georgia College and State University, MED from Georgia State, and Specialist in Administration and Leadership from Lincoln Memorial. Sue was employed with Cobb County Public Schools where she spent 30 years teaching middle and high school and held the position of Behavior Autism Support Specialist from 2006-2013. Sue and her husband Bert reside in Woodstock and have two beautiful daughters. During her free time she enjoys traveling with her husband and daughters to all parts of the world, including going on African safaris, fly fishing in Montana and New Mexico, and deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys.
Rachel Korpan Lee
Combining her excitement to be in the forefront of such a growing field with her apparent ability to juggle spinning plates, Rachel Korpan Lee has been the Logistics Coordinator for the State of the Art Conference since 2011. Rachel’s second “conference baby” came along last year (making three total, although sometimes she loses track), and Princess Wiggles has leant her unique distractions to planning this year’s conference. It has been an honor to see the conference grow in size and scope, and Rachel’s favorite part about her job is educating people about the possibilities of PSE for students with ID/DD. Utilizing her MA in History, she is also a USA Today bestselling novelist under the name Caroline Lee, with her 25th book coming out next week.
Rebecca Lazo
Rebecca Lazo has over 20 years of experience in academic publishing, specializing in the fields of inclusive education and access and rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She worked with Debra Hart, Meg Grigal, and others to develop and produce the book Think College: Postsecondary Education Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities. In her role at the National Coordinating Center, Rebecca coordinates the dissemination of information through the website, social media, publications, and training events.
Stephanie Smith Lee
Stephanie Smith Lee is a nationally recognized disability expert with over thirty years of experience, including senior Congressional staff positions and Director of the Office of Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education. Since her daughter, Laura, was born with Down syndrome in 1982, she has led many successful disability advocacy efforts. Ms. Lee led a successful effort to amend the Higher Education Act to authorize federal financial aid and model demos for students with ID. She is the Interim Policy Director of the National Down Syndrome Congress and Chair of the Think College Accreditation Workgroup.
Kaitlyn Martin
Kaitlyn Martin is the graduate assistant of the Next Steps at Vanderbilt program in Nashville, TN. She is currently working to obtain a master’s degree in Severe Disabilities in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Prior to attending Vanderbilt, Kaitlyn earned Bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Special Education at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating in December, Kaitlyn hopes to obtain a full-time teaching position as a special educator.
Jennie Masterson
Jennie Masterson is the Supported Employment Program Coordinator and Quality Assurance Reviewer for Vermont's Developmental Disabilities Services Division where she works with the Vermont provider network to expand the capacity for integrated employment and post-secondary education for youth and adults. Jennie has been integral in expanding post-secondary education throughout Vermont and serves on the state Post-Secondary Education Consortium.
Cindi May
Dr. Cindi May is a Professor of Psychology at the College of Charleston and advocate for inclusive education. Her research examines the outcomes of inclusive experiences for people with and without disabilities, as well as the factors that promote positive attitude change about disability. Dr. May has facilitated the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities at the elementary, high school, and college levels through program development and teacher training. She is also a regular contributor to Scientific American Mind Matters and the APS Observer.
Ed McNulty
Mr.McNulty is Instructional and Student Support with the Post-Secondary Support project He works at both Honolulu and Windward Community Colleges. Mr. McNulty has a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MA in Educational Communication and Technology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After retiring from a career in television in 2007, Mr. McNulty has devoted his time to working with students with disabilities
Martha Mock
Martha Mock, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Rochester. In addition, she is the director of the Institute for Innovative Transition, and the director of the inclusive teacher education program. Mock has worked alongside and on behalf of individuals with disabilities and their families as a teacher, professor and advocate for over two decades. Mock and the Institute team are committed to expanding high quality transition options for students with IDD throughout New York State; they are currently working with City University of New York AHRC NYC, and NYC Department of Education to expand college options for students with IDD. She has conducted lobbying and legislative advocacy at the state and federal level.
Sue Moraska
Sue Moraska has over 30 years of experience as an educator and advocate for students with disabilities. Her education includes a M.Ed. from Houston Baptist University and a B.S. in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University. Sue is the Program Director of the Houston Community College-VAST Academy, a comprehensive transition program serving students with intellectual disabilities who have a broad-range of “abilities;” a program she created and has nurtured for over 25 years and is now, offered at three college locations. VAST Academy offers meaningful workforce and career readiness credentials that lead to employment and further independence for it’s graduates.
Robin Moyher
Robin Moyher is the Assistant Director at the Mason LIFE Program. She brings twenty years’ experience with working with students from preschool to adulthood with disabilities in the K-12 setting, University setting, and private practice. Her research interests include sex education and daily living skills.
Beth Myers
Beth Myers, Ed.D. is the Executive Director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University. She is also a Research Assistant Professor in the Teaching and Leadership Department of the School of Education, teaching in the Inclusive Elementary and Special Education Program and leading graduate students in a Special Education Consultant internship program. Beth holds degrees in elementary education, special education, and literacy from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Lyndsey Nunes
Lyndsey Nunes, Ph.D., BCBA , has served as the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative Program at Westfield State University for 4 years. Lyndsey has 9 years of experience working with students with disabilities ages 8-22 in a variety of settings such as public schools, private schools, home consultations, and inclusive postsecondary education. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst focusing her dissertation research on the development and enhancement of self-determination skills of students in inclusive postsecondary education programs in Massachusetts. She has presented at local and national conferences on stimulus equivalence, computer-assisted instruction, and inclusive postsecondary education.
Katrina Nunn
Katrina Nunn is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and the Career Development Director at Next Steps at Vanderbilt. She is responsible for developing, coordinating, supporting, and evaluating off-campus internships for students at Next Steps at Vanderbilt. She develops paid employment experiences for graduating students and develops relationships with other agencies to support her students. Katrina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Western Kentucky University and graduated with a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Auburn University in 2015. Prior to and during graduate school, Katrina worked for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in Kentucky as a Rehabilitation Counselor.
Maria Paiewonsky
Maria Paiewonsky is the PAR Coordinator for Think College, a national coordinating center that supports students with I/DD to participate in inclusive post-secondary education. She uses a number of inclusive research methods with students with IDD, transition staff and college personnel to evaluate postsecondary education initiatives and to develop training and technical assistance materials for Think College. These methods include innovative methods such as photovoice, participatory action research, and locomotion (walking and talking) interviews, as well as using more traditional methods including focus groups and survey research. Most recently, she has been exploring the use of digital mapping and geography applications with students with ID enrolled in the college through the federally-funded Think College Transition Project.
Clare Papay
Clare Papay, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Associate at Think College, UMass Boston, where she conducts research on inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disability. Prior to joining Think College, she was assistant professor and director of inclusive special education programs at Arcadia University. At Arcadia University, she co-founded and directed the Raising Expectations for Academic Learning (REAL) Certificate, a two-year program for students with intellectual disability that focuses on academic coursework, employment, and social inclusion in college life. Clare is also the Northeast Regional Representative to the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Career Development and Transition (CEC-DCDT).
Naomi Jeffery Petersen
Naomi Jeffery Petersen (“NJP”) is a Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Supervision, and Educational Leadership. She is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University (BA/Ed), Chapman University (MA/Counseling Psychology), and Seattle Pacific University (EdD/Curriculum) where her dissertation was a psychometric investigation of teacher beliefs. As a teacher educator, her instruction and consultation work have been in assessment and professional dispositions. NJP is the originator of the Accessibility Studies Programs and teaches most of its classes.
Wolfgang Plaute
Dr. Wolfgang Plaute is Vice-Rector at the Pädagogische Hochschule Salzburg Stefan Zweig in Salzburg, Austria. He received his Magister and Doctoral degrees in Educational Science at the University of Salzburg. In addition to his current position Dr. Plaute is a lecturer at the University of Salzburg, a consultant in sexuality education for persons with disabilities, and the Director of the Austrian Federal Center for Sexuality Education. His prior experiences include 20 years at Lebenshilfe Salzburg and 10 years at Katholische Jugendfürsorge in Munich, Germany. Dr. Plaute was a Fulbright Research Scholar at Florida State University in 1991.
Mary Price
Mary Price has been with Bridgewater State University as the Director for the Center for Pre K – 12 Educational Outreach and for twelve years. Mary’s primary focus is working with public school districts throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands where she delivers professional development programs for educators. She is also active in working with high needs school districts in writing grant proposals to increase teacher knowledge in the Math and Science areas. Mary’s most recent achievement is her role as Director of the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (ICEI) Program at Bridgewater State University. This program allows students with intellectual disabilities to audit a college level course participate in Education Coaching sessions, Career Workshops and experience extra-curricular activities on campus. Mary has extensive background in grant writing, special education and higher education. Prior to coming on board at BSU, Mary was an educator for middle and high school in the public sector.
Seb Prohn
Dr. Seb Prohn is a Career and Education Associate at the VCU RRTC and he serves as the academic coordinator for VCU’s ACE-IT in College Program. His research with individuals with intellectual disabilities has spanned topical areas such as transition, social inclusion, study abroad, and sexual health training. Recently he has examined college participation for student veterans with disabilities, transition outcomes for high school graduates with disabilities, and conscientiously designed environments for older adults with autism. In 2017 he produced four educational videos on college transition for students with ASD, and he assists students with supports and services access in college.
Tina Raeke
Tina Raeke, M.Ed., is the Coordinator of the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative at Bridgewater State University. Tina has over 17 years of experience as a special educator, working with students with disabilities in both substantially separate settings, as well as inclusive settings. During her two years at Bridgewater, Tina has focused her efforts on creating additional inclusive campus opportunities for ICEI student by building collaborative relationships with several BSU departments. In addition, Tina has strengthened district partnerships by instituting professional development workshops for district Educational Coaches and Liaisons. In her free time, Tina enjoys spending time with her husband, four children, and her dog Bailey!
Sue Reeves
Sue Reeves is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and the Career Success Coordinator at Aggies Elevated at Utah State University. She teaches Career Exploration classes, provides career counseling, coordinates internships, develops relationships with campus and community partners, and provides individual and group counseling interventions to students to reduce individual barriers to employment. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from South Dakota State University and a Master’s of Rehabilitation Counseling degree from Utah State University.
Gina Riley
Gina Riley, Ph.D. is an educational psychologist and Clinical Professor and Co-Coordinator of the Adolescent Special Education at CUNY- Hunter College. Dr. Riley has over fifteen years’ experience working with teens and young adults with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disorders. She is also a seasoned academic, with years of teaching, research, and supervisory experience within the fields of special education, psychology, school psychology, and mental health counseling. Dr. Riley’s research interests include intrinsic motivation, Self Determination Theory, Cognitive Evaluation Theory, Supported Decision Making, online/distance learning in higher education, and homeschooling, unschooling, and other alternative learning environments.
Sean Roy
Sean Roy is a Training Associate with TransCen Inc. He works to provide training and technical assistance, leading to improved success for youth with disabilities who are transitioning from school into their communities. Roy is an experienced presenter, often being asked to speak to professionals and families about issues of employment, accessing postsecondary education, and promoting family involvement in transition planning. Mr. Roy holds a Master’s Degree in Human Service Planning and Administration, and draws from previous experience as Co-Director of PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment, as well as being a sibling of an adult with autism.
Denise Rozell
Denise Rozell is the Policy Strategist at AUCD working primarily on issues affecting youth in post-secondary education, employment and independent living. Denise has twenty-five years of experience in disability policy at the federal and state level working on almost all issues and legislation affecting individuals with disabilities beginning with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Before joining AUCD, Denise spent 15 years as the Assistant Vice President for State Government Relations at Easter Seals as the primary resource to Easter Seals 75 affiliates in building capacity to increase awareness of and support for disability issues in state government. Denise also developed expertise on issues of state policy and systems change including autism, Medicaid managed care, ACA implementation and health delivery system reform. Denise holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a juris doctorate from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California in Berkeley.
Joe Ryan
Dr. Joe Ryan is the Sue Stanzione Distinguished Professor of special education at Clemson University. He has taught students with disabilities from grades K through 12 across a variety of educational settings, including resource and self-contained classrooms, special day schools, and a residential treatment center. He is the founder and Executive Director of Clemson LIFE (Learning is for Everyone) a post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities, as well as several adaptive sports programs. Dr. Ryan has over 70 publications, and is a two term Editor of the journal Beyond Behavior.
Brigitte Sison
Brigitte Sison is a graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Human Services with a minor in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has a huge passion for people and especially loves being able to work with the young adult and college age population. Brigitte first became involved with Project FOCUS as an undergraduate in 2015, and has been on the FOCUS team full time since 2016 as the project coordinator.
Stephanie Spruit
Stephanie Spruit is pursuing her Master's degree in the Severe Disabilities program at Vanderbilt University. During high school and as an undergraduate student, she was a peer mentor for young adults with autism spectrum disorder. These experiences prompted her interest in studying the social relationships of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Kristin Thatcher
In 2013 Kristin Thatcher graduated from the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program (MRHEP) at the College of Staten Island (CSI). She always wanted to be a teacher and had internships and took courses to pursue this dream. A long-time self-advocate, she co-taught a course on self-advocacy at CSI through the Department of Continuing Education. It was through these experiences that she decided to pursue employment helping other people with disabilities as a Direct Support Professional. She is passionate about helping people with disabilities lobby government and make positive change in their communities.
Cody Thompson
Cody Thompson is a 2017 Western Carolina University UP graduate. At WCU he took several courses in natural resource management and geology. His interests include playing video games, comic books, and hanging out with friends. Cody is currently living in his own apartment near Cullowhee with a roommate. Cody is the first UP student to have a full time job with benefits at B.H. Grading Landscaping. He has been successfully living on his own and employed in this job since graduation. Cody obtained his driver’s license while in college so he is currently saving for his own car.
Lauri Tuten
Lauri Tuten is the Director of Transition for the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Program. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Augusta College and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Alabama. Lauri has an extensive background in working with at-risk students and youth. She began work with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Program as a Vocational Counselor in 1997 and obtained Certified Rehabilitation Counselor credentials in October 2002. She served in management for several years and was promoted to Assistant Director of Transition. In this role, she has developed strong collaborative relationships with the GaDOE and other state and national organizations and agencies. She was responsible for implementing and managing a $5 million Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities demonstration grant, known as E3: Explore, Engage, Employ as a model for statewide transition services. She was promoted to her current position in February 2017.
Mike Voron
Mr. Voron works in public education as a special education program developer and currently runs the Pleasantville Lab School at Westchester Community College in Westchester County, NY, a unique program that provides a college experience for 18-21 year old students with developmental and cognitive disabilities. Prior to opening the Lab School, Michael was the Program Coordinator for the Individualized Support Program at Pleasantville High School since 2009. In addition to overseeing the Lab School, Michael works as a special education consultant for families and children with special needs.
Mark S. Walden
Dr. Mark S. Walden is a Partner Consultant with A O Strategies whose mission is is dedicated to helping disability organizations -including nonprofits, state systems, corporations – re-imagine, renew, and revitalize what they do, how they do it, and how to resource these efforts. We specialize in organizations that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at local, state, and national levels. ao is about innovation, transforming with other social movements, and thinking AND acting differently.
As a consultant to government and non-profit agencies, Dr. Walden has provided research and program development support to relevant agencies such as Think College / University of Mass; Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health; Washington DC Department of Children and Family; DC Child and Family Service Agency; The Association for Successful Parenting; The ARC of San Francisco; and the San Francisco Department of Behavioral Health.
Dr. Walden has a master’s degree in School Psychology and a doctorate in Clinical psychology with a professional focus of working with children, adolescents, and young adults with IDD.
Cate Weir
Cate is the program director for Think College and the National Coordinating Center for Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Previously, she served as project coordinator higher education-related projects at the Institute on Disability at the University of NH. She also has experience as a disability support coordinator and faculty member for the NH Community College System. Cate’s expertise includes the provision of individual supports for postsecondary education for people with intellectual disabilities, person-centered planning and strategic planning for organizations.
K. Ryan Wennerlind
Ryan currently works as the Co-Director of Project F.O.C.U.S. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Before the transition to his role at UNLV, Ryan taught students with intellectual/developmental disability or autism in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ryan has a Master’s Degree in special education and is currently a doctoral student at UNLV. His research interests are transition from school to college/work, access to general education curriculum, and inclusion in general education for individuals with I/DD.
David L. Westling
Dr. David L. Westling is the Adelaide Worth Daniels Distinguished Professor of Special Education at Western Carolina University. He has more than 60 refereed publications in a number of areas, particularly in the areas of severe disabilities, teacher education and practices, and postsecondary education; and is the author or co-author of several textbooks in special education. He was a co-founder of the UP Program and has served as the program co-director since its inception in 2007. His current research includes inclusive postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities and its impact on campus life.
Ross Whiting
From 2008-2012, Dr. Whiting taught music at a high school in Philadelphia where he increased inclusion in his classroom through co-teaching partnerships. In 2012, Ross entered a Ph.D. program in urban education at Temple University while working as a research assistant at the Institute on Disabilities where he conducted research and evaluated practices in a two-year post-secondary program for adults with intellectual disabilities. Over the last year, Ross worked as the Inclusive Education Project Manager to expand that program from a two- to four-year experience. Ross is currently engaged in research, evaluation, and curriculum design ensuring high-quality inclusive higher education.
Deborah Zuver
As Education Consultant at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Ms. Zuver is active in efforts to expand inclusive PSE options for students with intellectual disability. She facilitates the NC PSE Alliance that she cofounded in 2009 and is involved with PSE program evaluation activities. Ms. Zuver leads the steering committee for HEELS UP (Higher Education, Employment, Living Success-University Participant), a new inclusive PSE to launch at UNC Fall 2018. She also focuses on statewide self-advocacy initiatives. She holds an MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University West and is licensed as a family therapist.
Michael Aldrich is the Career Advisor for the Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth. Mike has presented at the 2016 IDEAS conference in St Simons Island about overcoming obstacles with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mike has completed his Masters at Niagara University in which obtained a School Counseling Degree. Currently Mike is working on obtaining his MBA degree at Kennesaw State University.
Marla Arquero
Marla Arquero, MSW, LCSW has 20 years of experience working with individuals with various disabilities. While working for the Department of Education, Marla has been a part time teacher in an Alternative Learning Center and a Behavioral Health Specialist. Marla has also worked in a Behavioral Health hospital providing individual and group therapy to patients. Marla has been working as a faculty member with the Postsecondary Support Project for the last four years providing supervision to educational coaches, assisting with project management, employment coaching, and crisis management and personal wellness to the students on the project.
Debbie Bain
Debbie Bain serves as program coordinator for the Career and Life Studies Certificate (CLSC), a post-secondary transition program at the University of Delaware, which employs a person-centered approach promoting increased independence, inclusion, continued education/ employment outcomes within a coaching model.
Debbie is a dynamic presenter, and a member of the teaching faculty for the Disabilities Minor. Routinely taking leadership for program development, Debbie has created several initiatives offering innovative approaches to inclusive living opportunities on campus.
Debbie’s strength lies in capacity building - identifying those win-win opportunities – establishing partnerships with key university/community members that positively impact the individuals she supports.
Joshua Baker
Josh is an Assistant Professor in special education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the current director and creator of F.O.C.U.S. Josh received his Ph.D. in 2008 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in special education with a research emphasis on accessing the general education curriculum for students with Intellectual Disability and Autism. Josh came to UNLV in 2012 and started planning the inclusive post-secondary education program in Las Vegas. Josh has always been an advocate for full inclusion and believes that all individuals should be given the opportunity to achieve their personal goals!
Pamela Hudson Baker
Dr. Pamela Hudson Baker is an associate professor of special education and director of the Division of Special Education and disAbility Research at George Mason University. She earned her doctorate in leadership studies from Bowling Green State University, and her M.Ed. and B.S. from the College of William and Mary. In addition to presentations and publications, Dr. Baker utilizes a variety of state and federal grant opportunities, with funding in excess of $10.5 million dollars, to facilitate the responsible inclusion of individuals with special needs across a variety of settings. Dr. Baker currently serves on the product review and research committees for the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE). Prior to making the move to higher education, she was the coordinator of a regional day treatment center where students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) received specialized services.
Mary Bryant
Mary Bryant founded and directs the Path to Independence (P2I) program at UN-Reno. She works for the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities (NCED), which is Nevada’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities(UCEDD). Mary is responsible for creating community partnerships, developing funding, setting policy, and evaluating outcomes for the program. She is mom to Kailin, the inspiration for the program, who graduated from P2I in May.
Stanley "Bud" Buckhout
Stanley “Bud” Buckhout is the Director of InclusiveU and Associate Director of the Taishoff Center of Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University. He has worked in education for over 20 years. He earned his Teaching Certificate, M.S. in Special Education and a C.A.S. from Le Moyne College. He has worked in exploring research and facilitation of groups to aid in the identification of student instructional needs at the collegiate, district and school level. He has implemented trainings at many educational levels to develop effective learning environments for students.
Jaclyn Camden, M.ED.
Jaclyn is the Business Liaison at VCU's ACE-IT in College Program and the Center on Transition Innovations (CTI). She received her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Special and Sociological Education and Masters of Education in School Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. Jaclyn's previous employment includes working as a community and Project SEARCH Employment Specialist with VCU's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) and Team Leader at the Faison School for Autism. Jaclyn has a strong background working with individuals with disabilities, the community, and vocational rehabilitation agencies to develop internships and integrated competitive employment. Since joining the RRTC five years ago, Jaclyn has collaborated on several research projects that aimed to increase employment for people with disabilities in high school, post secondary education, and in local communities.
Carole Carlson
Carole provides training and technical assistance to educators and staff involved with the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative. In particular, she is working with college and school district partners on the Think College Transition Model Project - a dual-enrollment model for community-based transition services in college settings. Her experience is grounded in community-based residential and employment supports, natural supports – including peer mentorship, and advocacy work. Carole has a Master of Arts in Education with an Adult Learning focus.
Sue Carpenter
Dr. Sue Carpenter is an assistant professor within the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Kingsborough Community College, City University of New York. She has an international background in special education and arts education including teaching in the UK, USA and Australia. She is co-chair of the City University of New York’s TPSID (transitions and post-secondary education for students with intellectual disabilities) faculty committee and facilitates the faculty Interest Group at Kingsborough for faculty who are including students with intellectual disabilities in their courses.
Zack Chipman
Zack Chipman has been the ICEI program’s Career and Job Specialist at Bridgewater since November of 2014. He previously worked at the Marshfield Post-Secondary Program. Zack has created and developed internships across the college campus. He conducts monthly career workshops that cover core employment topics. Each student meets with Zack for weekly job coaching meetings which focus on detailed core employment skills and individualized career goals. Zack looks forward to going out in the local Bridgewater community to create off-campus interning opportunities this summer!
Diane Clouse
Diane Clouse is the Director of the Transition and Access Program (TAP) at the University of Cincinnati. TAP is a 4-year certificate program for students with developmental disabilities. She earned her doctorate at the University of Cincinnati in Special Education. She was an Assistant Professor at Wilmington College in the Special Education Program. Prior to that she was adjunct faculty at both Wilmington College and Sinclair Community College. She has classroom experience as in Interventionist in various K-12 settings teaching students with emotional and other disabilities. Her research interests involve supporting individuals with IDD in post-secondary education.
Joan Cornachio
Joan Cornachio has been an advocate and private consultant for students with I/DD and autism for the past 15 years in New York and Massachusetts. Ms. Cornachio has also had a long career as a program director and music educator in mainstream and segregated settings, and has directed inclusive choirs for young people in performances and showcases. She holds an MS in Education from Syracuse University with a concentration in Disability Studies. As the mother of a young adult with I/DD, she has experienced first-hand the viability of supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship.
Kayla Currier
Kayla Currier is a Doctoral Student, studying interdisciplinary transition and rehabilitation counseling at Utah State University. Kayla has a strong education in rehabilitation and has earned her bachelor's degree in rehabilitation services at the University of Maine and her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling at Utah State University. Utah State is ranked within the top ten rehabilitation counseling programs located in the United States. Her employment history includes preparing at-risk youth for employment and supporting young adults with disabilities in academia and independent living. Most recently, Kayla has provided masters level instruction in the application of counseling theory.
Bryan Dague
Dr. Bryan Dague, Ed.D., CRC has been employed at the University of Vermont-Center on Disability & Community Inclusion for the past 25 years providing training and technical assistance in the areas of supported employment and transition for people with disabilities. In 2010, the University of Vermont received a federal TPSID grant and established the Think College Vermont program at the University of Vermont and Johnson State College. Bryan is the current program director for Think College at the University of Vermont and member of the state’s post-secondary education consortium.
Sierra Debrow
Sierra Debrow is a recent graduate of the Honors College at College of Charleston, and former research associate in the Cognition, Aging, and Disability Lab. Sierra worked with Dr. May to examine the impact of media exposure on disability bias. Sierra also served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Jewish Student Union, a staff writer for The Rival, and a Resident Assistant. Sierra is now working as an Education Fellow at the Institute of Southern Life.
Nancy DeSando
Nancy DeSando, B.S.R.N, is Director of Innovations and Community Supports at Fulton County chapter of NYSARC (Lexington). She oversees community-based services to 300 families and individuals, and oversees programs related to autism supports, stress reduction groups for families and social skills groups for teens and young adults. She has over 35 years of experience supporting individuals with complex medical, cognitive and learning disabilities. Nancy is on the advisory board for Transitions, a post-secondary program for young adults with autism and learning differences who want to pursue college or careers.
Kate Doyle
Kate Doyle recently obtained her PhD from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Director of the Special Education program at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, OH. Kate serves as an educational consult ant to many greater Cincinnati schools. Her research interests include social skills interventions, language and literacy instructional strategies, and behavior interventions for individuals with low incidence disabilities.
Ibrahim Elsawy
Dr. Elsawy is Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Sports Management, and Executive Director of the Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth, Kennesaw State University’s certificate program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Before taking the Academy’s leadership role in 2012. Dr. Elsawy was well-known within the International Disability Community. He lead the organizing committee for both the first Arab-American Dialogue on Disability held at KSU in 2009, and the second Arab-American Dialogue on Disability, held in Tripoli, Libya in 2010. He has organized numerous sport, camping, and recreation activities for children and youth with disabilities in his native Egypt, in Jordan, and in the United Arab Emirates. More recently, he created the first inclusive Study-Abroad program: “Creating Cultures of Achievement through Recreation and Sport”, a collaboration between the Academy and KSU’s Department of Sports Management, which returned for the third consecutive year in 2017 to the Emirate of Sharjah in the UAE.
Dr. Elsawy holds a B. S. in Physical Education, and both an MA and a PhD in Physical Education with a specialization in Sports Psychology from Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt. He served as Associate Dean, and then Interim Dean, of Alexandria University’s Faculty of Kindergarten, and supervised the university’s Early Intervention Center. Classes he has taught include Motor Education, Motor Disturbances, Motor Expression, Modern Attitudes on Motor Skills and The Psychology of Play. Dr. Elsawy recently received the Carol J. Pope Award for Distinction.
Matthew Estep
Matthew Estep is the Self-Advocacy Advisor at AHRC-NYC. He has worked with marginalized populations for ten years. His primarily focus has been on discovery and customized employment with people who have I/DD. For the past five years, at AHRC NYC, he has become involved with the self-advocacy movement. He leads self-advocacy initiatives on employment rights, co-leads self-advocacy retreats, and participates in lobbying government officials. He recently transitioned into the role of Self-Advocacy Advisor. He facilitates self-advocacy summits to determine the platforms that self-advocates want to address and co-teaches “Advocacy Unlimited” at three CUNYs colleges; a fully inclusive course through the Departments of Continuing Education.
Jennifer Feagles
Jennifer has a master’s degree in Social Work, and more than 16 years of experience in working with people with varying disabilities and mental illness. She is a wellness coach trained by the Mayo Clinic, a Personal Outcomes Measures interviewer certified through the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), and a certified instructor in the PEERS social skills program. Prior to being the Director of the Transitions Program, Jennifer was Manager of the Continuing Day Treatment Program, a Supervising MSC and a Social Worker for Lexington (Fulton County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc.)
Rich Feldman
Rich Feldman is a long time activist, retired UAW International Staff Member, author, speaker and father of disability activist, Micah Fialka-Feldman. He facilitates tours of Detroit titled, "From Growing our Economy to Growing our Souls." He co-produced the TASH award-winning documentary, Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College about his son's university experience. With his family, he conducts workshops for families with children with disabilities; is a contributing author to What Matters: Reflections on Disability, Community and Love (which chronicles Micah's fully inclusive life); participated in the ADA Legacy Tour celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act; and was awarded the Family Voices Life Time Achievement Award for Disability Advocacy.
Janice Fialka
Janice Fialka, LMSW is a nationally recognized speaker, author, mother, award-winning social worker and advocate on issues related to disability, family-professional partnerships, inclusion, and raising a child with disabilities. She has co-authored the chapter, "Student and Family Perspectives" in Think College; the book, Parents and Professionals Partnering for Children with Disabilities; and the award-winning DVD, Through the Same Door: Inclusion Includes College. Her most recent book (2017) chronicling her son's fully inclusive life is titled, What Matters: Reflections on Disability, Community, and Love. In 2015, Janice joined the ADA Legacy Tour celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act. She is highly sought-after presenter and was named Social Worker of the Year by NASW-Michigan Chapter.
Riley Fitzgerald
Riley is a University of Nevada, Reno graduate and is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Educational Leadership. As the project Coordinator for Path to Independence he handles the day to day operation of the program working with the students, families, support staff, and professors.
Eric Folk
Eric Folk is the principal investigator of the Postsecondary Supports Projects and the Comprehensive Service Center for People who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Deaf-Blind based at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) Center on Disability Studies. He earned his M.Ed in Educational Psychology for his study of acculturation and cultural identity development of students from the islands of Micronesia. Eric has seven years of experience designing and demonstrating Hawai‘i’s inclusive postsecondary education TPSID model programs for the UH system. Eric’s research interests include self-determination, inclusive postsecondary education, and support provision for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Stephanie Foster
Stephanie Foster received her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, as well as her C.R.C. from Fresno State. She currently provides supports and services for those diagnosed with intellectual/developmental disabilities at Wayfinders at Fresno State as the program's University Inclusion Coordinator.
Kristin Booth Glen
Kristin Booth Glen has written and lectured widely on supported decision-making (SDM). She currently directs the Supported Decision-Making New York (SDMNY) project and serves on the New York State Bar Association’s Disability Rights Committee, while also advising the National Resource Center on SDM and the Center for Public Representation’s SDM pilot project. As Surrogate Judge of New York County, she wrote several groundbreaking decisions on guardianship and persons with I/DD. She has also been Commissioner on the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights and involved in the Uniform Law Commissioners’ revision of the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Procedures Act.
Jan Goings
Jan Goings is Director of Transition Services and Co-Director for the University of Cincinnati Transition and Access Program. She has launched and led innovative services in education, women’s health, disability services and diversity initiatives and has had a successful career in university teaching and consulting. Jan holds degrees a B.S. in Special Education, M.P.A. (Public Administration) and academic work in doctoral studies from Syracuse University in Policy and Disability.
Carole Gothelf
Dr. Carole Gothelf is the Director of Individualized Supports for AHRC-New York City. For over thirty years, Dr. Gothelf has provided individualized, person centered services for people with intellectual/ developmental disabilities. She is focused on Person-Centered Planning, the transition from school to adult life, the development of individualized housing options, opportunities for inclusive higher education, the promotion of the self-advocacy agenda, as well as leadership training for staff. Additionally, she is currently co-principal investigator of the federally funded TPSID grant, a partnership between The University of Rochester, AHRC NYC and the City University of New York.
Heidi Graff
Dr. Heidi Graff has personal and professional experience in working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Along with being a parent of a young adult with autism, she is the director of the Learning into Future Environments program and an assistant professor of special education at George Mason University. Dr. Graff’s commitment to the development of programs and strategies for individual with intellectual disabilities is reflected in her research line of parent readiness, independent living skills, and standardizing the application process for students with low incidence disabilities applying to institutes of higher education.
Karly Grifasi
Karly Grifasi is a producer, events manager and communications professional who works with the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education to develop marketing initiatives, events, websites, videos and anything else to help further the mission of the Center. Her 15 years of experience in television production, working for Saturday Night Live and NBC’s TODAY Show, combined with several years in the global non-profit world, have given her an innate ability to find creative solutions for any challenge.
Meg Grigal
Meg Grigal is the Co-Director of Think College, a national organization focused on research, policy and practice in higher education for people with intellectual disability. Meg serves as a PI on a variety of research grants including the Think College Transition Model Project, the National Coordinating Center for the TPSID model demonstration projects and the Future Quest Island Stepping Up to Technology project. She has authored many other book chapters, journal articles, and research briefs. Dr. Grigal’s work has led to expansion of higher education options for students with intellectual disabilities throughout the US and internationally.
Teresa Grossi
Teresa Grossi, Ph.D., the Director of Strategic Developments, at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, the Indiana’s University Center for Excellence (UCE) at Indiana University. Teresa is leading a 5-year research grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research. Teresa is currently serving as the external evaluator for the National Coordinating Center for the Transition to Postsecondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, and has served as external evaluator for the National Secondary Transition and Technical Assistance Center, State Employment Leadership Network. She has provided evaluation for a variety of programs and schools districts across the country.
Sandi Gruberg
Sandi Gruberg is the Assistant Director of Central Washington University's Learning Support Services and a student in the inaugural run of the Accessibility Studies Program. As an instructor, tutor, and curriculum designer, Sandi works to help students of various learning abilities in the University Writing and Math Center. She is also the mother of a young adult with an intellectual disability and has been advocating for her daughter’s educational and community inclusion over the last 15 years.
Gary Hagy
Gary Hagy received his master’s degree in Experimental Psychology. He currently provides supports and services for those diagnosed with intellectual/developmental disabilities at Wayfinders at Fresno State as the program's Systems Coordinator.
Ali Hale
Ali Hale is a 2016 Western Carolina University UP graduate. At WCU she took several education and early childhood courses. Her interests include listening to country music, coloring in her coloring books, and hanging out with friends. Ali was WCU’s 2014 Homecoming Queen. Ali is currently living in her own house with a roommate in Hickory. She works three part time jobs and likes to stay busy. Ali is a preschool teacher at First United Methodist Church. She also helps out at her dad’s business and helps teach Stretch N Grow dance classes for 3 and 4 year olds.
Katie Hanley
Katie Hanley, LMSW, has worked with youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 15 years, and has developed and led disability-focused programs and initiatives at a variety of organizations. Katie has been with Oak Hill’s Center for Relationship and Sexuality Education for six years. Now the director of this program, Katie has witnessed firsthand the immense need for accurate information about health relationships, the body, and sexual mistakes in the intellectual and developmental disability population.
Ty Hanson
Ty Hanson is an Inclusive Higher Education Specialist for Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Ty has over 20 years of experience working with students with disabilities in inclusive secondary and postsecondary education as a teacher, administrator, and specialist. Since 2004, Ty has coordinated federal and state grants designed to create access to college. Prior to joining the ICI, she coordinated an inclusive dual enrollment program for students with intellectual disabilities at Holyoke Community College.
Edlynne Harrell-Sanchez
Ms. Harrell-Sanchez is a student at Honolulu Community College for the past 4 years. She will complete her Associates in Early Education in the Spring 2019. Ms. Harrell-Sanchez receives coaching support from the PSP Project. She currently is a full time student and works part time for the YMCA as an aide in the afterschool program at an Elementary school in Hawaii.
Marnie Harris
Marnie Harris is a graduate of Georgia Tech who was on the original student advisory board that helped found Excel. She has since developed the Excel Peer Support Network, which now has over 60 members from the Georgia Tech community. Marnie co-founded Best Buddies at Georgia Tech and helped establish a peer mentorship program for Georgia Tech students with autism. She is also a Georgia LEND fellow. As the Excel Mentor Coordinator, Marnie recruits and trains members of the Peer Support Network. She ensures the supports are in place to build self-determination among Excel students throughout college and beyond.
Debra Hart
Debra Hart is the Director of the Education and Transition Team for the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She serves as the Principal Investigator for the Future Quest Island project, and Co-Principal Investigator of the Think College National Coordinating Center and the Think College Transition Project. Debra has over 25 years of experience working with youth and adults with disabilities, their families, faculty, and professionals that support youth in becoming contributing valued members of their community via participation in inclusive secondary and postsecondary education, and competitive employment.
Rebecca Jewell
Rebecca is a 2017 graduate of University of Delaware. She majored in Human Services with a minor in Disabilities Studies. She has worked part-time in the Career and Life Studies Certificate (CLSC) Program since 2015. In addition, she was a surveyor for National Core Indicators (NCI) Adult Consumer Survey Project for two years and was the co-founder and director of Unified Theater, an inclusive acting experience for individuals with/ without disabilities, at UD. As a Summer Scholar, Rebecca took a leadership role in crafting the design for the residence pilot for CLSC students that launched in the fall of 2016.
Friggita Johnson
Friggita Johnson is currently a doctoral student at Clemson University and teaches with Clemson LIFE (learning is for Everyone) a post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Mary Judge
Mary Judge, M.S., is the Assistant Director for the Institute for Innovative Transition. She brings over 20 years of experience working with people with disabilities and their families in the greater Rochester community. Mary is the Project Coordinator for the NYC TPSID Consortium and facilitates a number of the Institute initiatives including the coordination of partnerships and development of trainings. Mary is committed to individuals with disabilities having opportunities to further their education after high school, self-advocacy, policy and systems change. She has conducted lobbying and legislative advocacy at the state and federal level.
Kelly R. Kelley
Dr. Kelly R. Kelley received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Since 2010, she has served as the University Participant (UP) Program Coordinator, Consultant, and Co-Director. She is also an Associate Professor at Western Carolina University. For the past three years, she directed the NCCDD Learning and Earning Grant Project working with several NC school districts. Dr. Kelley has published 26 book chapters and articles. She has presented at 134 international, national, and state conferences. Her research interests include secondary transition related to assistive technology, independent living, and inclusive postsecondary opportunities for individuals with intellectual disability.
Susan S. Kizer
Susan S. Kizer joined KSU Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth in January 2014 and joined the GVRA staff in 2015 as an Academic Transition Teacher. Her educational background includes BS from North Georgia College and State University, MED from Georgia State, and Specialist in Administration and Leadership from Lincoln Memorial. Sue was employed with Cobb County Public Schools where she spent 30 years teaching middle and high school and held the position of Behavior Autism Support Specialist from 2006-2013. Sue and her husband Bert reside in Woodstock and have two beautiful daughters. During her free time she enjoys traveling with her husband and daughters to all parts of the world, including going on African safaris, fly fishing in Montana and New Mexico, and deep sea fishing in the Florida Keys.
Rachel Korpan Lee
Combining her excitement to be in the forefront of such a growing field with her apparent ability to juggle spinning plates, Rachel Korpan Lee has been the Logistics Coordinator for the State of the Art Conference since 2011. Rachel’s second “conference baby” came along last year (making three total, although sometimes she loses track), and Princess Wiggles has leant her unique distractions to planning this year’s conference. It has been an honor to see the conference grow in size and scope, and Rachel’s favorite part about her job is educating people about the possibilities of PSE for students with ID/DD. Utilizing her MA in History, she is also a USA Today bestselling novelist under the name Caroline Lee, with her 25th book coming out next week.
Rebecca Lazo
Rebecca Lazo has over 20 years of experience in academic publishing, specializing in the fields of inclusive education and access and rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She worked with Debra Hart, Meg Grigal, and others to develop and produce the book Think College: Postsecondary Education Options for Students with Intellectual Disabilities. In her role at the National Coordinating Center, Rebecca coordinates the dissemination of information through the website, social media, publications, and training events.
Stephanie Smith Lee
Stephanie Smith Lee is a nationally recognized disability expert with over thirty years of experience, including senior Congressional staff positions and Director of the Office of Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education. Since her daughter, Laura, was born with Down syndrome in 1982, she has led many successful disability advocacy efforts. Ms. Lee led a successful effort to amend the Higher Education Act to authorize federal financial aid and model demos for students with ID. She is the Interim Policy Director of the National Down Syndrome Congress and Chair of the Think College Accreditation Workgroup.
Kaitlyn Martin
Kaitlyn Martin is the graduate assistant of the Next Steps at Vanderbilt program in Nashville, TN. She is currently working to obtain a master’s degree in Severe Disabilities in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Prior to attending Vanderbilt, Kaitlyn earned Bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Special Education at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating in December, Kaitlyn hopes to obtain a full-time teaching position as a special educator.
Jennie Masterson
Jennie Masterson is the Supported Employment Program Coordinator and Quality Assurance Reviewer for Vermont's Developmental Disabilities Services Division where she works with the Vermont provider network to expand the capacity for integrated employment and post-secondary education for youth and adults. Jennie has been integral in expanding post-secondary education throughout Vermont and serves on the state Post-Secondary Education Consortium.
Cindi May
Dr. Cindi May is a Professor of Psychology at the College of Charleston and advocate for inclusive education. Her research examines the outcomes of inclusive experiences for people with and without disabilities, as well as the factors that promote positive attitude change about disability. Dr. May has facilitated the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities at the elementary, high school, and college levels through program development and teacher training. She is also a regular contributor to Scientific American Mind Matters and the APS Observer.
Ed McNulty
Mr.McNulty is Instructional and Student Support with the Post-Secondary Support project He works at both Honolulu and Windward Community Colleges. Mr. McNulty has a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MA in Educational Communication and Technology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After retiring from a career in television in 2007, Mr. McNulty has devoted his time to working with students with disabilities
Martha Mock
Martha Mock, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Rochester. In addition, she is the director of the Institute for Innovative Transition, and the director of the inclusive teacher education program. Mock has worked alongside and on behalf of individuals with disabilities and their families as a teacher, professor and advocate for over two decades. Mock and the Institute team are committed to expanding high quality transition options for students with IDD throughout New York State; they are currently working with City University of New York AHRC NYC, and NYC Department of Education to expand college options for students with IDD. She has conducted lobbying and legislative advocacy at the state and federal level.
Sue Moraska
Sue Moraska has over 30 years of experience as an educator and advocate for students with disabilities. Her education includes a M.Ed. from Houston Baptist University and a B.S. in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University. Sue is the Program Director of the Houston Community College-VAST Academy, a comprehensive transition program serving students with intellectual disabilities who have a broad-range of “abilities;” a program she created and has nurtured for over 25 years and is now, offered at three college locations. VAST Academy offers meaningful workforce and career readiness credentials that lead to employment and further independence for it’s graduates.
Robin Moyher
Robin Moyher is the Assistant Director at the Mason LIFE Program. She brings twenty years’ experience with working with students from preschool to adulthood with disabilities in the K-12 setting, University setting, and private practice. Her research interests include sex education and daily living skills.
Beth Myers
Beth Myers, Ed.D. is the Executive Director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University. She is also a Research Assistant Professor in the Teaching and Leadership Department of the School of Education, teaching in the Inclusive Elementary and Special Education Program and leading graduate students in a Special Education Consultant internship program. Beth holds degrees in elementary education, special education, and literacy from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
Lyndsey Nunes
Lyndsey Nunes, Ph.D., BCBA , has served as the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative Program at Westfield State University for 4 years. Lyndsey has 9 years of experience working with students with disabilities ages 8-22 in a variety of settings such as public schools, private schools, home consultations, and inclusive postsecondary education. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst focusing her dissertation research on the development and enhancement of self-determination skills of students in inclusive postsecondary education programs in Massachusetts. She has presented at local and national conferences on stimulus equivalence, computer-assisted instruction, and inclusive postsecondary education.
Katrina Nunn
Katrina Nunn is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and the Career Development Director at Next Steps at Vanderbilt. She is responsible for developing, coordinating, supporting, and evaluating off-campus internships for students at Next Steps at Vanderbilt. She develops paid employment experiences for graduating students and develops relationships with other agencies to support her students. Katrina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Western Kentucky University and graduated with a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Auburn University in 2015. Prior to and during graduate school, Katrina worked for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in Kentucky as a Rehabilitation Counselor.
Maria Paiewonsky
Maria Paiewonsky is the PAR Coordinator for Think College, a national coordinating center that supports students with I/DD to participate in inclusive post-secondary education. She uses a number of inclusive research methods with students with IDD, transition staff and college personnel to evaluate postsecondary education initiatives and to develop training and technical assistance materials for Think College. These methods include innovative methods such as photovoice, participatory action research, and locomotion (walking and talking) interviews, as well as using more traditional methods including focus groups and survey research. Most recently, she has been exploring the use of digital mapping and geography applications with students with ID enrolled in the college through the federally-funded Think College Transition Project.
Clare Papay
Clare Papay, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Associate at Think College, UMass Boston, where she conducts research on inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disability. Prior to joining Think College, she was assistant professor and director of inclusive special education programs at Arcadia University. At Arcadia University, she co-founded and directed the Raising Expectations for Academic Learning (REAL) Certificate, a two-year program for students with intellectual disability that focuses on academic coursework, employment, and social inclusion in college life. Clare is also the Northeast Regional Representative to the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Career Development and Transition (CEC-DCDT).
Naomi Jeffery Petersen
Naomi Jeffery Petersen (“NJP”) is a Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Supervision, and Educational Leadership. She is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University (BA/Ed), Chapman University (MA/Counseling Psychology), and Seattle Pacific University (EdD/Curriculum) where her dissertation was a psychometric investigation of teacher beliefs. As a teacher educator, her instruction and consultation work have been in assessment and professional dispositions. NJP is the originator of the Accessibility Studies Programs and teaches most of its classes.
Wolfgang Plaute
Dr. Wolfgang Plaute is Vice-Rector at the Pädagogische Hochschule Salzburg Stefan Zweig in Salzburg, Austria. He received his Magister and Doctoral degrees in Educational Science at the University of Salzburg. In addition to his current position Dr. Plaute is a lecturer at the University of Salzburg, a consultant in sexuality education for persons with disabilities, and the Director of the Austrian Federal Center for Sexuality Education. His prior experiences include 20 years at Lebenshilfe Salzburg and 10 years at Katholische Jugendfürsorge in Munich, Germany. Dr. Plaute was a Fulbright Research Scholar at Florida State University in 1991.
Mary Price
Mary Price has been with Bridgewater State University as the Director for the Center for Pre K – 12 Educational Outreach and for twelve years. Mary’s primary focus is working with public school districts throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands where she delivers professional development programs for educators. She is also active in working with high needs school districts in writing grant proposals to increase teacher knowledge in the Math and Science areas. Mary’s most recent achievement is her role as Director of the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (ICEI) Program at Bridgewater State University. This program allows students with intellectual disabilities to audit a college level course participate in Education Coaching sessions, Career Workshops and experience extra-curricular activities on campus. Mary has extensive background in grant writing, special education and higher education. Prior to coming on board at BSU, Mary was an educator for middle and high school in the public sector.
Seb Prohn
Dr. Seb Prohn is a Career and Education Associate at the VCU RRTC and he serves as the academic coordinator for VCU’s ACE-IT in College Program. His research with individuals with intellectual disabilities has spanned topical areas such as transition, social inclusion, study abroad, and sexual health training. Recently he has examined college participation for student veterans with disabilities, transition outcomes for high school graduates with disabilities, and conscientiously designed environments for older adults with autism. In 2017 he produced four educational videos on college transition for students with ASD, and he assists students with supports and services access in college.
Tina Raeke
Tina Raeke, M.Ed., is the Coordinator of the Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative at Bridgewater State University. Tina has over 17 years of experience as a special educator, working with students with disabilities in both substantially separate settings, as well as inclusive settings. During her two years at Bridgewater, Tina has focused her efforts on creating additional inclusive campus opportunities for ICEI student by building collaborative relationships with several BSU departments. In addition, Tina has strengthened district partnerships by instituting professional development workshops for district Educational Coaches and Liaisons. In her free time, Tina enjoys spending time with her husband, four children, and her dog Bailey!
Sue Reeves
Sue Reeves is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and the Career Success Coordinator at Aggies Elevated at Utah State University. She teaches Career Exploration classes, provides career counseling, coordinates internships, develops relationships with campus and community partners, and provides individual and group counseling interventions to students to reduce individual barriers to employment. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from South Dakota State University and a Master’s of Rehabilitation Counseling degree from Utah State University.
Gina Riley
Gina Riley, Ph.D. is an educational psychologist and Clinical Professor and Co-Coordinator of the Adolescent Special Education at CUNY- Hunter College. Dr. Riley has over fifteen years’ experience working with teens and young adults with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and emotional/behavioral disorders. She is also a seasoned academic, with years of teaching, research, and supervisory experience within the fields of special education, psychology, school psychology, and mental health counseling. Dr. Riley’s research interests include intrinsic motivation, Self Determination Theory, Cognitive Evaluation Theory, Supported Decision Making, online/distance learning in higher education, and homeschooling, unschooling, and other alternative learning environments.
Sean Roy
Sean Roy is a Training Associate with TransCen Inc. He works to provide training and technical assistance, leading to improved success for youth with disabilities who are transitioning from school into their communities. Roy is an experienced presenter, often being asked to speak to professionals and families about issues of employment, accessing postsecondary education, and promoting family involvement in transition planning. Mr. Roy holds a Master’s Degree in Human Service Planning and Administration, and draws from previous experience as Co-Director of PACER’s National Parent Center on Transition and Employment, as well as being a sibling of an adult with autism.
Denise Rozell
Denise Rozell is the Policy Strategist at AUCD working primarily on issues affecting youth in post-secondary education, employment and independent living. Denise has twenty-five years of experience in disability policy at the federal and state level working on almost all issues and legislation affecting individuals with disabilities beginning with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Before joining AUCD, Denise spent 15 years as the Assistant Vice President for State Government Relations at Easter Seals as the primary resource to Easter Seals 75 affiliates in building capacity to increase awareness of and support for disability issues in state government. Denise also developed expertise on issues of state policy and systems change including autism, Medicaid managed care, ACA implementation and health delivery system reform. Denise holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a juris doctorate from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California in Berkeley.
Joe Ryan
Dr. Joe Ryan is the Sue Stanzione Distinguished Professor of special education at Clemson University. He has taught students with disabilities from grades K through 12 across a variety of educational settings, including resource and self-contained classrooms, special day schools, and a residential treatment center. He is the founder and Executive Director of Clemson LIFE (Learning is for Everyone) a post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities, as well as several adaptive sports programs. Dr. Ryan has over 70 publications, and is a two term Editor of the journal Beyond Behavior.
Brigitte Sison
Brigitte Sison is a graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Human Services with a minor in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has a huge passion for people and especially loves being able to work with the young adult and college age population. Brigitte first became involved with Project FOCUS as an undergraduate in 2015, and has been on the FOCUS team full time since 2016 as the project coordinator.
Stephanie Spruit
Stephanie Spruit is pursuing her Master's degree in the Severe Disabilities program at Vanderbilt University. During high school and as an undergraduate student, she was a peer mentor for young adults with autism spectrum disorder. These experiences prompted her interest in studying the social relationships of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Kristin Thatcher
In 2013 Kristin Thatcher graduated from the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program (MRHEP) at the College of Staten Island (CSI). She always wanted to be a teacher and had internships and took courses to pursue this dream. A long-time self-advocate, she co-taught a course on self-advocacy at CSI through the Department of Continuing Education. It was through these experiences that she decided to pursue employment helping other people with disabilities as a Direct Support Professional. She is passionate about helping people with disabilities lobby government and make positive change in their communities.
Cody Thompson
Cody Thompson is a 2017 Western Carolina University UP graduate. At WCU he took several courses in natural resource management and geology. His interests include playing video games, comic books, and hanging out with friends. Cody is currently living in his own apartment near Cullowhee with a roommate. Cody is the first UP student to have a full time job with benefits at B.H. Grading Landscaping. He has been successfully living on his own and employed in this job since graduation. Cody obtained his driver’s license while in college so he is currently saving for his own car.
Lauri Tuten
Lauri Tuten is the Director of Transition for the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Program. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Augusta College and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Alabama. Lauri has an extensive background in working with at-risk students and youth. She began work with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Program as a Vocational Counselor in 1997 and obtained Certified Rehabilitation Counselor credentials in October 2002. She served in management for several years and was promoted to Assistant Director of Transition. In this role, she has developed strong collaborative relationships with the GaDOE and other state and national organizations and agencies. She was responsible for implementing and managing a $5 million Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities demonstration grant, known as E3: Explore, Engage, Employ as a model for statewide transition services. She was promoted to her current position in February 2017.
Mike Voron
Mr. Voron works in public education as a special education program developer and currently runs the Pleasantville Lab School at Westchester Community College in Westchester County, NY, a unique program that provides a college experience for 18-21 year old students with developmental and cognitive disabilities. Prior to opening the Lab School, Michael was the Program Coordinator for the Individualized Support Program at Pleasantville High School since 2009. In addition to overseeing the Lab School, Michael works as a special education consultant for families and children with special needs.
Mark S. Walden
Dr. Mark S. Walden is a Partner Consultant with A O Strategies whose mission is is dedicated to helping disability organizations -including nonprofits, state systems, corporations – re-imagine, renew, and revitalize what they do, how they do it, and how to resource these efforts. We specialize in organizations that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at local, state, and national levels. ao is about innovation, transforming with other social movements, and thinking AND acting differently.
As a consultant to government and non-profit agencies, Dr. Walden has provided research and program development support to relevant agencies such as Think College / University of Mass; Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health; Washington DC Department of Children and Family; DC Child and Family Service Agency; The Association for Successful Parenting; The ARC of San Francisco; and the San Francisco Department of Behavioral Health.
Dr. Walden has a master’s degree in School Psychology and a doctorate in Clinical psychology with a professional focus of working with children, adolescents, and young adults with IDD.
Cate Weir
Cate is the program director for Think College and the National Coordinating Center for Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Previously, she served as project coordinator higher education-related projects at the Institute on Disability at the University of NH. She also has experience as a disability support coordinator and faculty member for the NH Community College System. Cate’s expertise includes the provision of individual supports for postsecondary education for people with intellectual disabilities, person-centered planning and strategic planning for organizations.
K. Ryan Wennerlind
Ryan currently works as the Co-Director of Project F.O.C.U.S. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Before the transition to his role at UNLV, Ryan taught students with intellectual/developmental disability or autism in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ryan has a Master’s Degree in special education and is currently a doctoral student at UNLV. His research interests are transition from school to college/work, access to general education curriculum, and inclusion in general education for individuals with I/DD.
David L. Westling
Dr. David L. Westling is the Adelaide Worth Daniels Distinguished Professor of Special Education at Western Carolina University. He has more than 60 refereed publications in a number of areas, particularly in the areas of severe disabilities, teacher education and practices, and postsecondary education; and is the author or co-author of several textbooks in special education. He was a co-founder of the UP Program and has served as the program co-director since its inception in 2007. His current research includes inclusive postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities and its impact on campus life.
Ross Whiting
From 2008-2012, Dr. Whiting taught music at a high school in Philadelphia where he increased inclusion in his classroom through co-teaching partnerships. In 2012, Ross entered a Ph.D. program in urban education at Temple University while working as a research assistant at the Institute on Disabilities where he conducted research and evaluated practices in a two-year post-secondary program for adults with intellectual disabilities. Over the last year, Ross worked as the Inclusive Education Project Manager to expand that program from a two- to four-year experience. Ross is currently engaged in research, evaluation, and curriculum design ensuring high-quality inclusive higher education.
Deborah Zuver
As Education Consultant at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Ms. Zuver is active in efforts to expand inclusive PSE options for students with intellectual disability. She facilitates the NC PSE Alliance that she cofounded in 2009 and is involved with PSE program evaluation activities. Ms. Zuver leads the steering committee for HEELS UP (Higher Education, Employment, Living Success-University Participant), a new inclusive PSE to launch at UNC Fall 2018. She also focuses on statewide self-advocacy initiatives. She holds an MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University West and is licensed as a family therapist.