Inspiring Innovation: With Adversity Comes Opportunity
31
Housing Task Forces. Ms. Savage’s health Lining Solutions, a consulting firm that and Recognizing and Responding to the
care policy work focuses on Medicare and specializes in adversity/change manage- Vulnerability Trail. She is co-author of two
Medicaid and the impact of changes on ment, communication/conflict resolution, nationally distributed manuals, one entitled,
people with disabilities. During the Clinton assertiveness/empowerment, leadership/ “People with Developmental Disabilities and
Administration, as Counsel to the Assis- supervisor development, fundraising/sales the Criminal Justice System: Access Denied”
tant Attorney General for Civil Rights, she and team building. Ms. Stampahar authored and one on the Human Genome Project and
directed the Justice Department’s enforce- the inspirational, personal growth book, disability policy, “Have We Gotten Too Big for
ment of the Americans with Disabilities Act Peace, Love and Lemonade: A Recipe to Our Genes?”
(ADA), developed a nationwide ADA media- Make Your Life Sweeter, which won the 2009
tion program, served on the legal strategy IPPY Bronze Medal. She earned her degree in
DAVID TAYLOR, JR., is a 25 year old self- SPEAKER BIOGR
team for ADA Supreme Court litigation, and human resource management and gets her
advocate from North Carolina. When he first
advised Attorney General Janet Reno on inspiration from her late brother, Jeff, who
attempted to get support to open his own
disability rights issues and supervised her had intellectual disabilities.
business, he was told he should consider
ADA initiatives.
other avenues for his employment. Through
SHARRON STEPHENSON, M.S., is the Tran-
a community-based assessment, with Circle
JANICE SCHAAD, MSW, LCSW, EMDR,
sition Specialist for the Education Service
of Business Friends in place, Mr. Taylor was
Humanitarian Assistance Programs, Inc.,
Center Region 12 in Waco, Texas, serves as
able to finally open his own business. He
has been working with people with Intel-
the regional representative for the Statewide
wrote Micro-Enterprise 25 Step Business
lectual Disabilities since 1970. Initially, she
Transition Network and has over 25 years of
Plan “workbook”, a 25 step process on how
worked as direct care staff at a Neurologi-
experience in the field of special education.
to write your own business plan. The state of
cal Institute while in college, and moved
Ms. Stephenson, co-founder of the Big Blue
North Carolina has now purchased this book
APHIES
into management positions in community
D.R.E.A.M.S. entrepreneurial catering and
as a resource for other individuals wanting to
agencies serving people with disabilities.
greenhouse program at Temple High School
start a business.
For the past 25 years, Ms. Schaad has
in Temple, Texas, currently works with high
worked as a psychotherapist and as a con-
DYLAN THANER, who happens to have
schools throughout the region to develop
sultant to social service agencies, including
Down syndrome, is a student at the Univer-
entrepreneurial programs in their districts.
community agencies serving individuals
sity of Colorado, Colorado Springs and is
She serves as a board member for the Heart
with intellectual disabilities. She is a strong
a dynamic public speaker. Mr. Thaner has
of Central Texas Independent Living Center
advocate for personal success and com-
enjoyed a life of inclusion, interdependence
as well as various other community commit-
munity inclusion.
and self-direction. With humor and honesty,
tees throughout the region.
he shares his life story of inclusion.
JEANINE SCHULTZ is the Director of
MARK STRAUSS is an Associate Professor at
ACHIEVA Family Supports, has 16 years of
CHARMAINE THANER, mother of Dylan
The University of Pittsburgh, Center for Ex-
experience in the disabilities field in the ar-
Thaner, is a graduate of Partners in Policy-
cellence in Autism Research, has been a pro-
eas of advocacy and family support and has
making in Colorado and a retired special/
fessor in the Department of Psychology at
served as a board member, and volunteer in
general education teacher. Currently, she
the University since 1978 and has been both
organizations serving people with disabili-
is the Education Specialist at PEAK Parent
the Department’s Chairperson and head of
ties. She is the ACHIEVA Partnership Coor-
Center, Colorado’s Parent Training and Infor-
its Developmental Psychology Program. In
dinator, made up of 5 agencies statewide,
mation Center and adjunct special educa-
1986 he co-founded the University’s Office
which makes available training and techni-
tion instructor at the University of Colorado,
of Child Development, a center concerned
cal assistance developed and provided by
Colorado Springs. Ms. Thaner is a passionate
with policy, intervention, and evaluation is-
people with disabilities and families. Ms.
advocate for the inclusion of all people with
sues related to programs that serve children,
Schultz has conducted hundreds of train-
disabilities in all areas of life.
youth and families. Specifically, he has been
ings/workshops and has developed numer-
conducting studies on how children learn
*ERIN THOMPSON
ous presentations for families and profes-
basic information about categories and faces
sionals on disability issues. She received her
during their infancy and preschool years.
DICK THORNBURGH, whose career has
degree in Information Technology from ITT
spanned over 25 years, served as Governor
Technical Institute. SUSAN STREETER is the Director Day
of Pennsylvania, Attorney General under
and Clinical Services for the Herkimer Arc
Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush
JASON SELF has been a member of SAIL,
where she has been a staff member for over
and Under-Secretary General of the United
Self Advocates in Leadership, for two years.
30 years. In her current position, she is a
Nations, was elected Governor of Penn-
He enjoys being involved and speaking up.
catalyst for individualized supports and
sylvania in 1978 and 1982, and is currently
advocates for a system that enhances self di-
counsel to the international law firm of
CHERYL SEWELL has been the Education
rection and choice. Ms. Streeter presents and
K&L Gates LLP. As Attorney General, he
Advocate for The Arc of Fort Bend County
shares the stories of parents with disabilities
played a leading role in the enactment of the
for over 7 years. She organizes trainings,
and the supports and services provided by
Americans with Disabilities Act and he was
workshops and forums; provides informa-
HARC at statewide trade associations and,
a vigorous advocate for the UN Convention
tion and referral services; liaisons between
specifically, theYAI International Confer-
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In
various local and governmental social
ence. She is an active member and con-
2002, Mr. Thornburgh received the Wiley E.
service agencies; provides IEP advocacy
ference committee of the Association for
Branton Award of The Washington Lawyers’
assistance and organizes activities for youth
Successful Parenting.
Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
with special needs. Ms. Sewell has worked
and in 1985, his family received the “Family
in the field of MR/DD for over 20 years in DARLA STUART, Executive Director of The
of the Year” from the Pennsylvania Associa-
both community and state school settings. Arc of Aurora, oversees their focused work
tion of Retarded Citizens (now The Arc of
on impacting the issue of victimization and
NANCY STAMPAHAR is an organizational
Pennsylvania).
violence against people with developmental
development consultant, trainer and key-
disabilities through Project Illumination
note speaker. She owns and directs Silver
THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES - 2009 NATIONAL CONVENTION - PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
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