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Inspiring Innovation: With Adversity Comes Opportunity
JOHN DICKERSON has served as Executive developing and implementing a number of MARTY FORD is the Director of Legal
Director for The Arc of Indiana since 1983. family support and self-advocacy initia- Advocacy for The Arc and UCP Disability
His work with The Arc began at The Arc tives. As a side venture, she and two friends Policy Collaboration. She has 25 years of
of South Dakota, following his graduation (one a parent of a child with a disability experience in federal public policy issues
from college. After one year, Mr. Dicker- and the other a professional self-advocate) affecting people with disabilities. Ms. Ford
son came to Indiana, where he served as teamed up to provide training to self- represents both The Arc of the United
Assistant Director of Local Unit Affairs advocates and direct support staff in the States and United Cerebral Palsy on Capitol
from 1974 to 1978. From 1978 to 1983, he area of communication and leadership skill Hill and in the federal agencies on issues
worked at The Arc of the United States in building. affecting people with disabilities, includ-
the areas of Chapter Support and Member- ing long term services and supports, the
ship. He is recognized throughout Indiana
STACY EVERSON, RN, C.F.L.E., C.D.D.N.,
Supplemental Security Income program,
and the nation as a leader in the disability
began as a Registered Nurse and in
and Social Security disability issues. Ms.
community, serving as an effective voice
1987 focused her career as a Family Life
Ford is in her third year as Chairperson of
for self-advocates, parents, volunteers and
Consultant/Educator for people with
the Consortium for Citizens with Disabili-
APHIES
professionals.
intellectual disabilities. She is a consultant
ties (CCD), a coalition of over 110 national
throughout San Diego and an international
organizations working on federal disability
JILL EGLE is the Co-Executive Director of speaker on topics such as socialization,
policy issues.
The Arc of Northern Virginia. She also over- sexuality, and abuse in the field of cognitive
sees the chapter’s People First group. Ms. disabilities. Ms. Everson strongly believes in KATHERINE FOX is a graduate of West
Egle is also an self-advocate intern with The empowering people with cognitive delays Chester University (PA) with an MA level
Arc of the United States. She is an outspo- through education so they can advocate certification in Special Education. She
ken advocate for people with intellectual for themselves. She conducts private and currently works as the Autism Specialist at
and developmental disabilities. group classes, consults with agencies, and The Arc of Chester County and has 23 years
holds trainings on personal safety topics. of experience working with children, and
JON ERICKSON is a founder of Parlerai
more recently adults with autism. Ms. Fox
Inc.—the world’s first Augmentative Col- CELIA FEINSTEIN is the Associate Director
offers trainings to both families and profes-
SPEAKER BIOGR
laboration™ service. Having a daughter of Training and Technical Assistance at the
sionals. The trainings for families have been
with special needs, Jon and his wife, Kristin, Institute on Disabilities, directing the Insti-
refined to more fully enable parents to learn
decided to apply next-generation technol- tute’s Leadership Development activities.
strategies to support their child with autism
ogy and service and created this much- In addition, Ms. Feinstein directs The Penn-
in the home and the community.
needed capability for families and children sylvania Training and Technical Assistance
with special needs. Parlerai provides Partnership for People with Disabilities and SUSAN GLOR-SCHIEB, PH.D., is a Profes-
online collaboration and social network- Families, as well as evaluation activities sor in the Special Education and Clinical
ing services for families with children with such as Independent Monitoring for Qual- Services Department at Indiana University
special needs. Prior to Parlerai, Jon gained ity, Montgomery County monitoring and of Pennsylvania. Throughout her 39-year
almost 20 years of technology experience at evaluating family support services. career, Ms. Glor-Schieb has worked with
Fidelity Investments. During this time, Jon and on behalf of children with develop-
held several top-level technology positions
BRIAN FINN is an Assistant Vice President
mental and learning disabilities, behavior
where he was responsible for the strategy
at MetLife, and has been with MetLife
disorders, and their families. For 15 years
and technology of the Fidelity’s enterprise
since 1991. He is responsible for MetLife’s
as an educator, she has worked with young
network.
Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids,
children, middle school students, and
(MetDESK
®
). MetDESK
®
focuses on the
high school students in public schools,
KRISTIN ERICKSON is Founder and CEO financial concerns of families who have
private schools, and a psychiatric hospital.
of Parlerai Inc. – the world’s first Augmen- children and other dependents with special
She enjoys a balance of course work and
tative Collaboration™ service. Having a needs. Mr. Finn has first hand experience in
student teaching supervision along with
daughter with special needs, Kristin and the special needs community; as a parent
advocacy work through The Arc and the
her husband, Jon, decided to apply next- to three children with special needs he has
PA Governor’s Committee on People with
generation technology and services to cre- a unique perspective on the challenges that
Disabilities.
ate this much-needed service for families other families with similar needs encounter.
and children with special needs. Parlerai *DARYL GRAY
provides online collaboration, augmenta-
MAUREEN FITZGERALD is the Direc-
tive communication and social networking
tor, Disability Rights, Technology, Family SUSAN HARTLEY is the Executive Direc-
services for families with children with
Supports, and Emergency Management for tor of Life Plan Trust, a North Carolina
special needs. Prior to founding Parlerai,
DPC. Prior to coming to DPC, she was the non-profit organization providing trust
Kristin gained over 20 years experience in
Director of the Kentucky Protection and management and future planning services
sales and underwriting in the insurance in-
Advocacy (P & A) Program for ten years. Ms. to families of individuals with disabilities.
dustry. Kristin currently serves on the Board
Fitzgerald was a special education advocate During her 26 years working on behalf of
of Directors as Treasurer for the Scituate
with the P&A, taught special education in individuals with disabilities Ms. Hartley has
C.O.R.S.E. Foundation and the Scituate
rural Kentucky, was a social services super- served as a group home manager, direc-
Education Alliance.
visor for a private child caring facility, and tor of a one to one volunteer program for
spent two years in Costa Rica as a Peace individuals with disabilities, and as Lead
LAURIE ERTZ is Special Projects Manager Corps volunteer. Guardianship Specialist for The Arc of
for The Arc of the United States. She was North Carolina before partnering with The
previously the Executive Director of The Arc, the Autism Society of North Carolina,
Arc of Story County in Ames, IA. Ms. Ertz NAMI North Carolina, and Easter Seals UCP
has extensive experience working with of North Carolina to develop the Life Plan
people with intellectual and developmental Trust program.
disabilities and their families, including
THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES - 2009 NATIONAL CONVENTION - PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
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