Speaker and Facilitator Biographies
Alex Brown is 21 years old. He lives in Monticello Florida. He has worked for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities for the last four years. Mr. Brown is a member of the Florida Youth Council. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Ability 1st, the Center for Independent Living of North Florida.
Brooke Brown is an honors graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelors degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She is the author of the published book, The Little Butterfly Girl. For Southwest Institute, Brooke is the Content Specialist for the Yakkit Web site and the editor of the YAC-AZ newsletter. She has been a very strong advocate for youth with disabilities this past year. Brooke was recently asked to speak at a press conference on behalf of the disability community in regards to the budget costs and the related affects to youth and young adults with disabilities.
Alan Chase lives in North Carolina. He graduated from college this year. He has a degree in Special Education. He will be going to law school this fall. Alan is in charge of the National Youth Leadership Network Accessibility Committee. They focus on getting information out to people. They are working on a document about education. Alan likes helping people with disabilities be better advocates. He cares a lot about mentoring programs, disability law, and emergency preparedness. Alan is very active with the Disabled Young People's Collective. He also is on the Board of Directors for The Governor Morehead School.
Rebecca Cokley is the Project Coordinator for the National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (NCLD/Youth). NCLD/Youth is housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC. Ms. Cokley is an ardent advocate for youth-led models of leadership development. She has worked with a number of groups such as the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) and the National Council on Disability. She served as the Vice-Chair of the National Council on Disability's Youth Advisory Committee for three years. She has consulted or given expert testimony to the National Council on Independent Living, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the World Bank, the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work Advisory panel, the President's Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disability, and the committee for the U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization. Her publications include Youth Development and Youth Leadership: A Background Paper from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, articles on civic engagement for the newsletter Impact, The 411 on Disability Disclosure, Paving the Way to Work: A Guide to Career-Focused Mentoring, and various policy agendas for NYLN. Ms. Cokley received her bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2001. She is expecting to continue her education in the near future.
Morgan Counts has participated in the Oklahoma Alliance for Youth (OKAY) Project for three years. She is now employed as a Team Leader for the OKAY Project. She helps new participants and mentors. Morgan was born in 1989 and graduated from Centennial High School in 2008. She has a younger sister and brother. Morgan likes making new friends, shopping, watching TV, and being a part of the OKAY Project.
Larissa R. Crossen, M.Ed., serves as a Program Specialist at the Administration with Developmental Disabilities (ADD) working on the Projects of National Significance (PNS) team. These projects focus on the most pressing issues affecting people with developmental disabilities and their families. The purpose of PNS is to promote and increase the independence, productivity, inclusion, and integration into the community of persons with developmental disabilities and to support the development of national and state policy. As a Program Specialist, she assists with monitoring and providing technical assistance to Youth Information, Training and Resource Center Grantees. Prior to joining ADD, Ms. Crossen served for seven years as an intense case manager for persons with developmental disabilities. Her focus was to provide high quality services that would enable persons with developmental disabilities to lead meaningful and productive lives as vital members of their families, schools, workplaces, and communities.
Charles Davis, M.S.W., is the Community Liaison and Administrative Manager for the University Center of Excellence in Disabilities at Oregon Health & Science University. He has worked in disability advocacy and administration for the last 15 years. His work has included the design and implementation of a wide variety of disability-related training and technical assistance. Mr. Davis is the program coordinator for Emerging Leaders Northwest.
Sharon Delaney began her career with the Administration with Developmental Disabilities (ADD) in 1990 as a Grants Management Specialist. Ms. Delaney started with the pilot program working in a blended position with program and grants management work. Ms. Delaney currently works with the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) along with ADD's Projects of National Significance. She is responsible for ten grantees within the UCEDD networks. Ms. Delaney also serves as the GATES (Grants Administration, Tracking, and Evaluation System) Administrator.
Chelsea Durham serves on the Advisory Council for the Arkansas Youth United (AYU) Project. She graduated from high school in 2007. Ms. Durham has lived in Farmington, Arkansas her whole life. She is a Scorpio! She attends classes at the University of Arkansas through Project Launch. Ms. Durham volunteers at a senior center. Her favorite thing about her volunteer job is socializing with the seniors. She thinks the seniors are very sweet. Ms. Durham bakes in her spare time. She also enjoys researching new recipes on the Internet. In time, she would like to be a pastry chef. Ms. Durham likes to travel, listen to music, and meet new people. One thing she is proud of about herself is her ability to give speeches. She loves speaking in front of groups. Ms. Durham likes to be involved with AYU because she thinks it is fun. She gets to meet new people with disabilities and learn new things.
Kira Fisher is project coordinator with Youths 4 Advocacy (Y4A) based at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Center for Development and Learning, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. Y4A serves youths with disabilities in the Occupational Course of Study in North Carolina high schools. Ms. Fisher works with the co-director and with the inclusive training team to plan, prepare, and present training workshops to youths, emerging leaders, and professionals. As an emerging leader, Ms. Fisher was the first member of AmeriCorps with a disability to serve in North Carolina. Ms. Fisher has a Bachelor of Arts and a background in teaching children with disabilities in early childhood education programs.
Julia Fonseca holds a Bachelors degree in Human Services with an emphasis in youth services and certifications in addictions counseling and non-profit management. Julia has received several awards for leadership and volunteerism. She finds her passion in assisting and empowering young adults with disabilities, which is molded by her own experience with having a visual impairment and physical disability. Julia has been able to pursue her passion through her current employment with the Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy in Topeka, Kansas. Julia sits on several boards and committees such as the State Rehabilitation Council and SILCK to name a few. Julia is currently enrolled in Graduate school at Washburn University, pursuing her master's degree in Social Work. Julia is currently the Executive Director of the Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy.
Jesse Gable is the chairman of the Youth Advisory Council for project TRIAD at the Institute for Disability Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). He also serves as the Youth Leader Representative for the Institute of Disability Studies Consumer Advisory Council. Mr. Gable attends Pearl River Community College where he is majoring in Electronic Engineering Technology. He plans to attend USM and obtain a business management degree.
Janice Goforth, M.S., is the Project Coordinator for the Center for Emerging Leadership. Janice is a distance instructor. She teaches Disability and Society at Grossmont Community College in El Cajon, California. She has an Associate of Science degree in Disability Services Management, a bachelor's degree in Vocational Education, and a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Ms. Goforth is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She holds a certificate in Rehabilitation Technology.
Glenda Harden is a Management Analyst at the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), Administration for Children and Families. Ms. Harden was the lead contact for the 2006 Working Conference on Emergency Management for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly. Ms. Harden ensures that information regarding best practices is posted to the ADD-IDEA Web site as a resource for those who are affected by the wildfires in California, flooding in Iowa, and tornadoes, windstorms, and other disasters throughout the country. Prior to working with ADD, Ms. Harden served as the Administrative Officer for the Office of Family Assistance for seven years and as a Personal Management Specialist for 20 years.
Jonathan Herring is a Youth Mentor with the Youth Empowerment and Advocacy Resource Center at Inclusion Research Institute in Washington, DC. His primary responsibility is as a youth advocate and community leader. Before beginning work with the Youth Empowerment and Advocacy Resource Center, Mr. Herring worked as an assistant Physical Therapist at the Hospital for Sick Children. He also has experience as a Youth Advocate working for Advocates for Justice and Education. Mr. Herring earned a diploma from Martha M. Washington High School in Washington, DC. Jonathan has board member affiliations with the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights, Services Advisory Committee, Male Care Givers and Parent Advocate Leader.
Spencer Hunley is the Youth Information and Referral Specialist for Youth LEAD: Leadership and Education to Achieve our Dreams. Youth LEAD is housed at the Institute for Human Development, part of the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). Spencer is an emerging leader with a developmental disability who has extensive leadership development and community employment experience. As part of the job, he develops the Youth Lead Web site, he created and facilitates an online youth discussion forum, assists in the development of youth friendly information materials, provides training and information on safe use of the internet, and provides statewide information and referral services. Aside from his duties at UMKC, Spencer currently serves on the Kansas City, Missouri Parks & Recreation Guiding Coalition Board. He previously served on Kansas City's Youth Council Advisory Commission and interned for Kansas City Councilman Bill Skaggs. He has also served on the board of directors at the Autism/Asperger Resource Center at KU Medical Center. Spencer has also completed various trainings, including the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum, Missouri Partners in Policymaking, CPR & AED Certification, and Missouri Auction School, among others. Certified with MSHSAA & NFHS, Spencer will be completing his fourth year this fall as a Football Official and his second year as a member of the Kansas City Officials' Association.
Carleda Johnson is the Independent Living Skills Coordinator for Access Living. Carleda facilitates the youth group Advance Youth Leadership Power and its statewide collaboration efforts. She recently started a new independent living skills group, Reaching Our Dreams. Carleda is an emerging leader and disability rights advocate, and a graduate of the National ADAPT Youth Summit.
Peter Kangas is 22 years old. Peter home schooled all through high school and graduated in 2006. His junior year in high school he took a ceramics class at Mascenic High School. He participated in the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) group in Concord, New Hampshire. Peter takes classes at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Massachusetts. He is employed part time at Ojala Farm making grade stakes. Mountain biking and weight training are his favorite activities.
Faith McCormick worked closely with State legislators as the Department's liaison to the National Conference of State Legislators before joining the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). She has worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for most of her public service career, during which she has worked in the Office of the Inspector General, Office of the Secretary and the Social Security Administration. She has also worked for the U.S. House of Representatives on Capitol Hill assisting in legislative affairs.
Faith started her tenure at ADD as the Executive Assistant to the Commissioner in October 2001, and in 2003 became the Director, Office of Programs, overseeing formula grants and staff involved with the Developmental Disabilities Councils, Protection and Advocacy agencies, and the Help America Vote Act.
During the transition to President Obama's Administration and until the President appoints a new Commissioner, Faith is serving as the Acting Commissioner for ADD.
Early in her career, she had the privilege of being a respite provider for four years for a young lady with an intellectual disability. Faith holds a Masters of Arts in Public Administration.
Ophelia McLain is a Supervisory Program Specialist at the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), Administration for Children and Families. ADD's mission is to improve and increase services to and assure that individuals with developmental disabilities have opportunities to make their own choices, contribute to society, have supports to live independently, and are free of abuse, neglect, financial and sexual exploitation, and violations of their legal and human rights. She manages the Project of National Significance (PNS) program, and provides guidance to the PNS team, ensuring that the Data Collection Cooperative Agreements, Family Support 360 Centers, and the Youth Information, Training and Resource Centers function as expected. She also participates in collaborative efforts with other Federal partners such as the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Social Security Administration, along with external partners. She holds a masters degree in health services administration from Central Michigan University, and a Key Executive Leadership Certificate from American University.
Stacey Milbern is president of the National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN). She lives in North Carolina. She is studying Political Science. Stacey worked with others to host the first Youth Leadership Forum in her state this summer. She is proud to say it was 100% youth-run. Stacey is passionate about independent media, radical youth organizing, and social justice. In addition to serving as NYLN president, she is a blogger, a poet, and a community organizer. Stacey is disabled and proud.
McGinn Morgan has been a Peer Mentor with the Center for Emerging Leadership for more than a year. She is an effective self-advocate, living independently with assistance from a supported living agency. McGinn has taken several courses at the community college level. Her long-term goal is to become a teacher's assistant.
Stephanie Murdock is a Project Manager of the Youth Empowerment and Advocacy Resource Center at Inclusion Research Institute (IRI) in Washington, DC. She is primarily responsible for project management and internal coordination and planning. Before coming to IRI, Ms. Murdock was employed by the Maryland Department of Disabilities. She also has experience at the Board of Child Care as a service provider to children with special needs in a group home setting. Ms. Murdock earned a bachelors degree from Towson University in Political Science and Communications. She earned her Masters in Political Management at George Washington University. Stephanie is the President and founder of a non-profit organization in Maryland dedicated to building a public concrete recreation facility for skateboarding.
Sara Newell is a Program Specialist for the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). She provides training and technical assistance to State Councils on Developmental Disabilities in their pursuit of capacity building, advocacy promotion, and systemic change. Prior to joining ADD in 2006, Ms. Newell was a service liaison for the Arc in New York State and a lay advocate in the District of Columbia. Her hope is that one day each person will be looked at and respected for their unique abilities and that barriers to achieving the American dream will become something of the past.
Priscilla Perkins serves as the Project Manager for the Set Yourself Free Project. She is responsible for oversight and coordination of grant activities. She supervises and mentors the Project Youth Coordinator for the information and training parts of the grant. Priscilla also runs a life skills program. This program focuses on participatory action research. The program works with youth with disabilities through a state grant. Priscilla has a strong interest and involvement in the non-profit organization. She enjoys providing services to the youth with disabilities community through Southwest Institute for Families and Children. Southwest Institute for Families and Children is dedicated to bettering peoples' lives.
Alexis Petri serves as Project Director for Youth LEAD: Leadership and Education to Achieve our Dreams. Youth LEAD is housed at the Institute for Human Development, part of the University of Missouri Kansas City. Alexis comes to Youth LEAD with eight years of experience as director of service-learning at Rockhurst University and program director of Students in the City at UMKC. Prior to working in higher education, Alexis worked at the Mid-America Regional Council on early childhood professional development/career development initiatives. Alexis has a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters degree in English Literature with an emphasis in composition and rhetoric. Alexis is currently working on a doctorate in higher education administration and educational policy.
Iris Pettigrew, R.N., M.S., Sc.D., C.P.H.Q., is a registered nurse with Doctor of Science in Public Health as well as a Masters and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Prior to entering the doctoral program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and Hygiene, Iris was a Robert Wood Johnson nurse faculty fellow. Currently, Ms. Pettigrew is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. She has held several administrative positions and as an independent consultant has interacted on a regular basis with management and all staff levels within an organization.
Her experiences include review, analysis/research/evaluation and provision of recommendations concerning organizational management, governance, education, performance improvement, and project outcomes. Iris has performed tasks that involved analytical writing, research, and oral and written communication of results to varied audiences. She has experience in both the government and private arenas on projects that have broadened her knowledge base and ability to assist others in applying and understanding research and evaluation methods to improve their program.
Iris's 20-year-plus experience in government contracting has afforded her opportunity to participate in various types of program evaluation and population-based research activities in health and social services areas on a small and large scale. The methods she uses for program evaluation have included epidemiologic, survey, quasi-experimental, the logic model, and quality improvement models.
Julie Petty is the Co-Director of the Arkansas Youth United project, implemented by the Human Service Research Institute. She is a self-advocate and a parent of two young children. She is a well-known national speaker. Ms. Petty provides technical assistance on self-advocacy issues to state self-advocacy organizations, disability organizations, and others around the country. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in journalism. Ms. Petty served as State Coordinator of People First of Arkansas from 1998 to 2007. Most recently, she served as Chairperson of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE). SABE is a national coalition of self-advocacy groups.
Shadetra S. Robinson, M.Ed., is a Program Specialist with the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). She has been in this position for two and half years. Ms. Robinson works with the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education Research, & Service (UCEDD) along with the Projects of National Significance (PNS) Data Collection projects. She is responsible for 15 grantees and 2 National Training Initiatives on Critical and Emerging Needs within the UCEDD networks. Ms. Robinson monitors four contracts for the PNS program under ADD. She also is the ADD Resource Center lead, where she is responsible for providing oversight of the UCEDD Resource Center.
Ms. Robinson has been in the disability and mental health field for over ten years specializing in youth services. She worked for the District of Columbia for three years in the Department of Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Administration where she was an Intake Case Manager. She also taught Special Education in the Maryland school system where she found wide-ranging needs for better service for students with developmental disabilities. Ms. Robinson received her Masters in Educational Psychology from Howard University.
Vanessa Saucedo is from Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Vanessa attended Santa Teresa High School and graduated on May 2002. She is a self-advocate and advocates for the disability community on transportation issues. Vanessa has spoken at the State Capitol for additional funding for the Developmental Disabilities Waiver. She is a member of the Sub-committee on Transportation for the Advisory Council on Quality Supports (ACQ) at the Developmental Disabilities Support Division. Vanessa is participating at the local level for the Regional Transit District (RTD). She is working as a Project Intern and is the Chair of the El Poder de los Jovenes Advisory Committee and a Co-Chair for the Statewide People First Steering Committee. She is also a member of the New Mexico Center for Self Advocacy. For fun, she likes to make greeting cards and sell Avon.
Nathan Say is Project Coordinator with the "My Voice, My Choice" Project at the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii. He has a Bachelors Degree in History from Brigham Young University-Hawaii. He is currently chair of "Abled Hawaii Artists," Hawaii's only celebration of the American with Disabilities Act. He is also Board Chair of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii and one of nine Regional Representatives on the National Statewide Independent Living Council Congress.
Amy Sharer is a Research Assistant at the Regional Research Training Center at Oregon Health & Sciences University. She serves on the Youth Advisory Group for the Oregon Center for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs. She is also an Emerging Leader for Emerging Leaders Northwest. Miss Shearer is a strong advocate for accessible public transportation.
Jeff Sheen, M.S.W., is a Training and Development Specialist at the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. He has worked there since August 2001. A social worker by training, Jeff has a particular interest in community development. He has been involved in directing and evaluating a number of projects designed to improve community resources for individuals with disabilities and their families. Jeff and his family love living in Northern Utah. They enjoy mountain biking, disc golf, canoeing, hiking, and all sorts of outdoor activities.
Marcel Smith is an emerging leader with the Youths 4 Advocacy (Y4A) Advisory Committee. He has presented about communication to the Y4A group. Mr. Smith received many awards in high school, including the Spotlight on Students Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Lamplighters' Dr. Leroy Walker Youth Scholarship Award. He graduated from Partners in Policymaking. Mr. Smith likes traveling, listening to music, swimming, volunteering, going to the gym, working, learning new things, watching the Weather Channel, watching Star Trek, going to Sunday school, playing and watching basketball, eating, hanging out with Grandma, talking with his Uncle Percell, and learning to be a great self-advocate.
Amber Smock is the Acting Youth Team Leader and Youth Leadership Coordinator for Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago. She facilitates the Y.I.E.L.D.D. the Power! workshops. Amber is a youth and feminist disability rights organizer. Since 2005, she has been part of the Chicago disability community. In 2008, Amber received the Chicago Foundation for Women Founder's Award, which enabled her to take a trip around the world to work on women's disability rights. She is this year's Grand Marshal for the 2009 Chicago Disability Pride Parade.
Kaysie Solomon is a member of the Becoming Leaders for Tomorrow (BLT) Project's Advisory Committee. She helped with the making of the BLT's Youth Leadership Advocacy Toolkit. Ms. Solomon is an expert at using the Utah Transit Authority's public transportation system. She has helped others use the system. She loves to travel and dreams of being a travel agent so she can go to different countries and learn about other people.
Carla R. Thomas is a Management Analyst for the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, within the U.S. Department of Health of Human Services (DHHS). Her duties include analyzing reports, compiling information on recommendations, and following up on actions needed, problem resolution, and compliance issues. She has been a Federal government employee for 29 years working at several agencies, but most of her tenure has been with DHHS. From 2000 to 2006, Carla was a reading mentor for the Everybody Wins Power Lunch Program at Anthony Bowen Elementary School in Washington, DC. She was the executive director for the Glenarden Boys and Girls Club in Glenarden, Maryland, where she had oversight responsibilities for day-to-day operations, including monitoring the progress of major activities and projects; ensuring that task accomplishment dates were met and identified, and assigning tasks to appropriate operational entities. At her church Carla volunteers with the Willing Workers, a program that reaches out to various organizations, families, and individuals by providing clothing, food, toys, spiritual nourishment, and a helping hand to love ones in and out of the community. When she has time outside of her commitments, Carla enjoys traveling and bowling. An important aspect of her life is spending time with family and friends. She has a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.
Kathleen Vaughan is a self-advocate and the Assistant Director of the Center for Self-Advocacy Leadership (CSAL) at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has a background in communications and public service. She has a Masters degree in Public Policy. Throughout her life, Kathleen has advocated for human rights and equal representation for those whose voices have not been acknowledged. Her work with CSAL promotes self-determination for youth and self-advocates as leaders individually and corporately both in public and private life.
Melvenia Wright is a Program Specialist in the Administration for Developmental Disabilities. In this position, Melvenia serves as the staff contact for the 55 states and territories that utilize funds through the Help America Vote Act program. She has worked in the special education/disability arena for more than 13 years. Melvenia takes pride in working with programs that serve individuals with developmental delays and disabilities. She has a Bachelors degree in Psychology, a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology, and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education with a field concentration of Program Administration.
Tera Yoder works for the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She is involved in projects that provide excellent practices, training, and technical assistance in approaches that promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of community life. Her interests include working with projects that foster collaborative relationships among individuals, family members, and the systems that provide supports and services.
Deborah Zuver is a co-director of Youths 4 Advocacy (Y4A). Y4A serves youths with disabilities in the Occupational Course of Study in North Carolina high schools. For more than 20 years, Ms. Zuver has worked in the disability field with adults and children in educational and clinical settings. As director of Project STIR (Steps Toward Independence and Responsibility), Ms. Zuver manages a range of projects to empower individuals and families, with a focus on interactive and drama-based training. Project STIR is a program of the University of North Carolina Center for Development and Learning, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. Ms. Zuver holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy. She is licensed as a family therapist.
