30
Inspiring Innovation: With Adversity Comes Opportunity
JENNIFER MATHIS is Deputy Legal Direc- volunteers. Former President and CEO of with disabilities in varying capacities as a
tor at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Mount Nittany Medical Center in State Col- special education teacher, case manager,
Law and practices primarily in the areas lege, Pennsylvania, Mr. Murray spearhead- director of programs for innovative housing
of ADA and Medicaid law. Ms. Mathis uses ed efforts to position the Medical Center for programs, group homes, the Master Pooled
litigation, policy advocacy, technical as- growth as a regional leader in healthcare. Trust and other programs serving people
sistance and training to promote the rights He developed collaborative projects with with disabilities.
of individuals with mental disabilities in nearby Penn State; added specialty services;
all areas of life, including access to health began and incorporated the Medical Center
EMILY ROGERS has been involved with
care services, employment, voting, public Foundation; and launched a $12,000,000
SAIL, Self Advocates in Leadership, since its’
benefits, parental rights, educational capital campaign.
inception. She currently works for The Arc of
opportunities, housing, and community
Washington as the Self Advocacy Coordina-
living. Most notably, she was one of the
KANDACE NASIS is the Youth Activities tor and in that role is the support person for
lawyers who helped coordinate the filing of
Coordinator at Wharton County Junior SAIL.
College in Wharton, TX. She has been in
APHIES
amicus briefs in the Olmstead v. L.C. case at
*DOREEN ROSIMOS
the Supreme Court level.
education management for over 20 years.
Ms. Nasis has worked developing academic
DEB RUSSELL, Corporate Manager for
BARRY MEYER has served as the last 16 programs for people with disabilities for
Walgreen Co., has worked in the area of
years as Executive Director for The Arc the past 3 years, and works in collaboration
employment of people with disabilities for
Baton Rouge. He has over 37 years of ad- with The Arc of Fort Bend County (TX) to
over 15 years. She oversees the company’s
ministrative, direct service, advocacy, and promote secondary education options for
commitment to have one third of the work-
public policy experience with children and people with disabilities.
force in its latest and all future distribution
adults with disabilities and their families.
centers consist of qualified individuals
Mr. Meyer also participates on numerous
TAWNYA ORMSBEE has been affiliated
with disabilities. The first of these centers
local, state, and national study committees
with Seeds Educational Services since
opened in January 2007, the second opened
and task forces and has presented at state,
March of 2000. She was brought to SEEDS
as a survivor of sexual assault and now
in January 2009. Ms. Russell has advised
SPEAKER BIOGR
regional and national conferences. He is
also the incoming President of the National
works to empower others through public
and monitored the efforts in order to dis-
Conference of Executives (NCE) of The Arc.
speaking, writing and assistant teaching in
seminate lessons that are learned and she
social-sexual education classes. Inspired
also helps assist other companies who are
NANCY MINSHEW, MD, is a Professor of by personal experience, Ms. Ormsbee has
interested in exploring this approach. Ms.
Psychiatry and Neurology at the University developed a book, STAY SAFE, which is
Russell has served on the US Business Lead-
of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine. She is used by therapists, educators, and family
ership Network since 2008 and currently is
Director of one of NICHD’s Autism Center members to assist others and influence all
the Vice-Chair.
of Excellence, investigating the neuro- people to talk about abuse and to stay safe.
JUAN SANTIAGO, Director, Developmen-
biologic and genetic basis of autism. Dr.
Minshew has focused on increasing the
SUSAN L. PARISH, PHD, MSW, is associate
tally Disabled Offenders Program, has been
understanding of the cognitive and brain
professor of social work with the University
working for The Arc of New Jersey since
basis of autism for over 25 years. This work
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her re-
2002. The program served over 200 adults
has led to the conceptualization of autism
search examines the health and well-being
and juveniles with developmental disabili-
as a disorder of information processing and
of children and adults with disabilities and
ties who become involved with the criminal
brain connectivity that disproportionately
their care-giving families. Dr. Parish has
justice system, providing case management
impacts higher order abilities and circuitry.
published research on the financial well-
and identifying services in the community
being of children with disabilities and their
to help prevent recidivism.
*CONSTANCE MOHN families, family support for people with
CATE SARACEN PETERS is a graduate of
developmental disabilities and the impact
STACY MONAGHAN is the Online Advoca-
the University of Maine at Farmington with
of health policy and poverty policy on
cy Manager at The Arc of the United States.
a Bachelor of Science degree in Special
people with disabilities and their families.
Before joining The Arc, she spent five years
Education and Elementary Education. A
She also directs UNC’s Developmental Dis-
as an Online Media Buyer for the Internet
summer position at Hammer Residences
abilities Training Institute, which provides
Strategy Group (ISG) . With experience in
brought her to Minnesota and she has since
training and research to improve the North
search engine marketing, blogging and
served the Hammer organization for 28
Carolina service system for people with de-
social networks she is always on the lookout
years. Throughout that time, Ms. Peters
velopmental disabilities and their families.
for the new, up and coming technology. At
has been dedicated to Hammer’s mission of
Dr. Parish is the winner of The Arc’s 2009
The Arc, Ms. Monaghan plans, implements
providing adults and children with disabili-
Research Matters! Award.
and evaluates the online efforts and is navi-
ties the opportunity to experience life to its
gating The Arc’s new website redesign. She *ED PICCHARINI
fullest. Her focus on quality living for those
also focuses on the waiting list issue and
she serves, quality leadership development
how The Arc can effectively campaign to
LISA RIVERS currently serves as the Direc- for Hammer’s staff teams and quality com-
put an end to the problem once and for all.
tor of Development for The Arc of Texas munication with families and other profes-
where she coordinates and implements sionals have been the hallmark of her results
TOM MURRAY, Vice President, Jeffrey all fund raising activities. In addition, she oriented approach.
Byrne & Associates, has 35 years experi- serves as the Program Director for the Texas
ence successfully integrating operations, Microboard Collaboration, educating Tex-
*DONALD SAUNDERS-LITMAN
planning and fundraising development ans and providing technical assistance con-
LIZ SAVAGE, Director of Health and Hous-
within healthcare leadership positions. His cerning this innovative program for people
ing Policy for the Disability Policy Collabo-
unique perspective on the science and the with disabilities and other vulnerable
ration is a recognized leader in the disability
art of development guides his work with populations. Ms. Rivers has served people
community and co-chairs the Consortium
nonprofit executives, board members and
for Citizens with Disabilities Health and
THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES - 2009 NATIONAL CONVENTION - PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
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