Rositta Ehrlich Kenigsberg serves as the Executive Vice President of the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center Inc., located in Hollywood, Florida.
Since 1999, Ms. Kenigsberg has served in an advisory capacity to the Education Committee of the Florida Governor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence, and in January, 2001 was named the first Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence Education Advisory Committee.
From 1983-86, Rositta E. Kenigsberg had the privilege of serving as a Second-Generation advisor to Nobel Laureate recipient Elie Wiesel, who, at that time was Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.
In 1990, Ms. Kenigsberg served on the initial North American Advisory Board of the "March of the Living", along with Shoshana Cardin, Norman Lipoff, and Elie Wiesel. That same year, she participated in the 1990 March of the Living, an extraordinary trip to Poland, a journey that led her to the concentration camps of Auschwitz, Majdanek, and Treblinka. Walking into the camps and retracing her father’s past, only made her realize more than ever, that the authentic memory of the Holocaust must be preserved, protected, and perpetuated. Her father is the sole survivor of a family of over 120 members, and Ms. Kenigsberg is named for the grandmother, Raizel, she never knew.
In 1992, Ms. Kenigsberg spearheaded, programmed, and planned, along with the Southeast Florida Center on Aging, the First National Conference on the Identification, Treatment and Care of the Aging Holocaust Survivor. This 2 ½-day conference provided the first national forum for recognizing the unique needs and concerns of the aging Holocaust Survivor. Internationally recognized experts in aging, Alzheimer and Holocaust-related issues were brought together with health care professionals, social service providers, and Holocaust Survivors from throughout the country. Selected proceedings of this conference have been published and are available to the public.
One of Rositta E. Kenigsberg’s proudest achievements came in 1994 that ultimately led to the passage of Florida Statute 233.061, “Required Public School Instruction of the History of the Holocaust.” Due to her efforts, Holocaust Education is mandated today in the State of Florida for all Florida students from kindergarten to 20.
For over a decade, Ms. Kenigsberg has been a leading advocate – nationally and internationally – for securing Long-Term Home Health Care for Holocaust survivors, and most particularly, for our Florida Survivor community. In 1998, Florida’s former Insurance Commissioner and current Senator, Bill Nelson, appointed her to serve on the Florida Steering Committee to assist the Department of Insurance in implementing the historic Holocaust Victim’s Insurance Act.
She was recently named to the American Gathering/Federation of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, as a national Vice President. Over the years some of her positions included: President of the International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, Executive Member of the American Friends of the Jewish Museum in Vienna, Austria, Member of the Advisory Committee for the U.S. Distribution of Funds from the Swiss Fund for Needy Victims of the Holocaust, and, locally as a member of the Advisory Committee of the newly developed Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Human Rights Studies for Florida Gulf Coast University.
In 1996, Ms. Kenigsberg received a 5 year term Presidential Appointment from then President Bill Clinton to serve as a Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. During her tenure, she was privileged to become a Member of the Museum’s Executive Committee. Ms. Kenigsberg also served on the Museum’s Academic, and Collections and Acquisitions Committees.
In November 1998, she was named Chair of the Museum’s Second Generation Advisory group and served as a principal organizer and planner of the Museum’s January 2000 millennium event, “The Life Reborn Project”, which featured unprecedented exhibitions, cultural events, and culminated in a major international conference with almost 2,000 participants. The “Life Reborn Project”, was the untold, little known, and remarkable story of what happened to Survivors as “displaced persons” in the aftermath of the Holocaust.
Currently, her efforts and energies are focused on the newly acquired facility at 2031 Harrison Street in Hollywood, Florida which will house the ongoing documentation and education efforts of the Center and feature the first South Florida Holocaust Museum and Reference & Research Library.
The Holocaust Documentation and Education Center has forged a Legacy of Remembrance that will forever and always bear witness to truth and history, commemorate and celebrate the values of decency, humanity, and dignity and, above all, honor our sacred pledge to those who were there – to never allow their memories, words, and silences to be denied, distorted, or forgotten.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Advisory Board Member: The Reverend Richard Stimson, The Special Gathering, Cocoa, FL
Richard O. Stimson is the Founder and Director of The Special Gathering, which is a community-based ministry to people who have cognitive disabilities.
He has directed The Special Gathering for the past 27 years. This growing ministry has eight programs in Florida and South Carolina with over 450 persons in attendance each week.
Reverend Stimson has a BA from Southeastern College in Elementary Education and
Christian Education. He received his special education training from Florida Southern
College and his Masters of Arts in Ministry from Moody Graduate School. He taught as a special education teacher for Polk County, Florida school system and served as a chaplain for Developmental Services, Inc. in Orlando, Florida.
Reverend Stimson believes that a successful ministry empowers the whole person; he has
geared his ministration to the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of people who are
developmentally disabled. An important key to his work has been to become an active part of this community. Therefore, his ministry has branched into different aspects of service to persons who have developmental disabilities, including advocacy, education, and social activities. Using a spiritual program as the basis, Reverend Stimson endeavors to meet the needs of members before those needs become chronic problems.
An active speaker at disability conferences, Reverend Stimson has spoken at the AAMR National conference and serves on the Journal on Disabilities Editorial Board.
He has served on the Christian Council of Persons with Disabilities Board of Directors, a national consortium of disability ministries, and he remains an active member of the organization.
He is past chair of the Human Rights Advocacy Committee for Children and Family Services, District 7 in Florida. Reverend Stimson has also served on The ARC Board of Directors for Brevard County and on the founding board of the Very Special Arts of Brevard.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
He has directed The Special Gathering for the past 27 years. This growing ministry has eight programs in Florida and South Carolina with over 450 persons in attendance each week.
Reverend Stimson has a BA from Southeastern College in Elementary Education and
Christian Education. He received his special education training from Florida Southern
College and his Masters of Arts in Ministry from Moody Graduate School. He taught as a special education teacher for Polk County, Florida school system and served as a chaplain for Developmental Services, Inc. in Orlando, Florida.
Reverend Stimson believes that a successful ministry empowers the whole person; he has
geared his ministration to the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of people who are
developmentally disabled. An important key to his work has been to become an active part of this community. Therefore, his ministry has branched into different aspects of service to persons who have developmental disabilities, including advocacy, education, and social activities. Using a spiritual program as the basis, Reverend Stimson endeavors to meet the needs of members before those needs become chronic problems.
An active speaker at disability conferences, Reverend Stimson has spoken at the AAMR National conference and serves on the Journal on Disabilities Editorial Board.
He has served on the Christian Council of Persons with Disabilities Board of Directors, a national consortium of disability ministries, and he remains an active member of the organization.
He is past chair of the Human Rights Advocacy Committee for Children and Family Services, District 7 in Florida. Reverend Stimson has also served on The ARC Board of Directors for Brevard County and on the founding board of the Very Special Arts of Brevard.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Advisory Board Member: Cindy Burkhour
Cindy Burkhour is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Certified Park and Recreation Professional who has consulted around the country on a variety of recreation issues.
Cindy has been consulting in the areas of inclusive recreation and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
She is assisting recreation providers to comply with the ADA and to include persons with disabilities in typical recreation programs. She has worked with many municipal, county and state agencies as well as school districts, private industries and advocacy organizations.
Cindy has worked as a professional in the field since 1978. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Parks and Recreation Administration from Central Michigan University.
She has been the director of a community recreation department and coordinator of therapeutic recreation services for a community recreation program. Cindy has taught Therapeutic Recreation and Adapted Physical Education on the adjunct faculties of Grand Valley State University, Aquinas College and Wayne State University and as a Visiting Professor at Eastern Michigan University.
She has volunteered and consulted with a variety of sports organizations for persons with and without disabilities including the National Alliance for Youth Sports, National & Michigan Disability Sports Alliances, Paralympics and Special Olympics.
In the past Cindy has chaired several leisure and recreation related committees for state and national disability advocacy and recreation organizations including TASH, NRPA, ARC, & MRPA.
She also served on the U.S. Access Boards’ Recreation Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Regulatory Negotiation Committees on Access to Play Facilities and Access to Outdoor Developed Areas to establish the ADA compliance rules for recreation facilities.
Cindy has had many articles on the inclusion of people with disabilities in recreation and sports published by a large variety of recreation, sport and advocacy organizations.
She has also written a guide book for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to assist communities in including persons with disabilities in their programs. Cindy developed and has directed "Access Recreation: Creating Access to Community Recreation Opportunities for ALL Kids!" projects in several states including Michigan and Missouri where, through inservice training she's assisted in the development of collaborative relationships between schools, families and recreation providers to support the inclusion of students with disabilities in sports, leisure and recreation activities.
Cindy also served as Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Adaptive P.E. consultant for Jenison Public Schools providing direct service and consultation to facilitate the inclusion of children with many different disabilities in art, music, physical education, recess, and extra-curricular activities.
She is currently directing the “Access to Recreation Initiative” funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and implemented through the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Midwest Community Foundations’ Ventures. The $15 million dollar “Access to Recreation Initiative” is designed to assist local, regional and state level recreation providers to develop universal access to all recreation opportunities for all people, of all abilities, together.
She is also conducting ADA self-evaluations and developing transition plans for park and recreation facilities, programs and services to facilitate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in several communities in Michigan and Illinois.
Cindy has been active in working with persons with disabilities her entire life. She has a sibling, who has multiple physical and mental impairments and she is also the parent of a child who faces a variety of challenges after experiencing several massive strokes. She advocates professionally and personally for the rights of ALL people to be included in all aspects of community life.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Cindy has been consulting in the areas of inclusive recreation and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
She is assisting recreation providers to comply with the ADA and to include persons with disabilities in typical recreation programs. She has worked with many municipal, county and state agencies as well as school districts, private industries and advocacy organizations.
Cindy has worked as a professional in the field since 1978. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Arts Degree in Parks and Recreation Administration from Central Michigan University.
She has been the director of a community recreation department and coordinator of therapeutic recreation services for a community recreation program. Cindy has taught Therapeutic Recreation and Adapted Physical Education on the adjunct faculties of Grand Valley State University, Aquinas College and Wayne State University and as a Visiting Professor at Eastern Michigan University.
She has volunteered and consulted with a variety of sports organizations for persons with and without disabilities including the National Alliance for Youth Sports, National & Michigan Disability Sports Alliances, Paralympics and Special Olympics.
In the past Cindy has chaired several leisure and recreation related committees for state and national disability advocacy and recreation organizations including TASH, NRPA, ARC, & MRPA.
She also served on the U.S. Access Boards’ Recreation Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Regulatory Negotiation Committees on Access to Play Facilities and Access to Outdoor Developed Areas to establish the ADA compliance rules for recreation facilities.
Cindy has had many articles on the inclusion of people with disabilities in recreation and sports published by a large variety of recreation, sport and advocacy organizations.
She has also written a guide book for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to assist communities in including persons with disabilities in their programs. Cindy developed and has directed "Access Recreation: Creating Access to Community Recreation Opportunities for ALL Kids!" projects in several states including Michigan and Missouri where, through inservice training she's assisted in the development of collaborative relationships between schools, families and recreation providers to support the inclusion of students with disabilities in sports, leisure and recreation activities.
Cindy also served as Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Adaptive P.E. consultant for Jenison Public Schools providing direct service and consultation to facilitate the inclusion of children with many different disabilities in art, music, physical education, recess, and extra-curricular activities.
She is currently directing the “Access to Recreation Initiative” funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and implemented through the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Midwest Community Foundations’ Ventures. The $15 million dollar “Access to Recreation Initiative” is designed to assist local, regional and state level recreation providers to develop universal access to all recreation opportunities for all people, of all abilities, together.
She is also conducting ADA self-evaluations and developing transition plans for park and recreation facilities, programs and services to facilitate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in several communities in Michigan and Illinois.
Cindy has been active in working with persons with disabilities her entire life. She has a sibling, who has multiple physical and mental impairments and she is also the parent of a child who faces a variety of challenges after experiencing several massive strokes. She advocates professionally and personally for the rights of ALL people to be included in all aspects of community life.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Advisory Board Member: Gretchen Beesing, Human Services Coalition
Gretchen Beesing joined the Human Services Coalition in October 2007 as the Community Engagement Director. Gretchen oversees HSC’s Story Bank and the Access through Action program for civic engagement. She also collaborates on the Parent Leadership Training Institute and the Neighborhood Leadership Program.
Gretchen holds a master's degree in social work from New York University. She completed graduate internships as a psychotherapist with The World Trade Center Healing Services Program of St. Vincent's Hospital and The Pratt Institute's Health and Counseling Center. While in New York, Gretchen worked for several years with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office providing social services to crime victims.
In addition to her HSC activities, Gretchen works as a psychotherapist for Care Resource. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Miami-Dade Unit.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Gretchen holds a master's degree in social work from New York University. She completed graduate internships as a psychotherapist with The World Trade Center Healing Services Program of St. Vincent's Hospital and The Pratt Institute's Health and Counseling Center. While in New York, Gretchen worked for several years with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office providing social services to crime victims.
In addition to her HSC activities, Gretchen works as a psychotherapist for Care Resource. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Miami-Dade Unit.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Advisory Board Member: Janine Bertram Kemp
Janine Bertram Kemp is the Strategic Partner in Communications for Solutions Marketing Group, providing innovative strategies for businesses targeting consumers with disabilities.
She has written numerous articles for disability publications as well as reports and proposals for federal and state agencies. She frequently works with photo journalist, Tom Olin, documenting and archiving the disability movement.
A sampling of clients includes State of New Mexico Aging and Long Term Services, Pax TV, and the Federal Transit Administration.
She is the former Communications Director for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association and the American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD). Prior to that time, she was Chairman of the Board of Evan Kemp Associates, a durable medical equipment and accessible transportation company based in Maryland.
From 1988-1992, she served as Assistant to Evan J, Kemp, Jr., Chairman U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. Evan, her late husband, was Janine’s entree’ to the disability movement.
In the 1980’s, a group of advocates decided Evan would become a Republican and bring George Bush 1 and others in that party “on board” to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed. Evan was on the platform with George Bush on July 26, 1990, when the President signed the ADA into law.
Her relationship with Evan gave Janine a “front row seat” on a little seen or discussed portion of the history of the American disability rights movement. Janine serves on the board of the Disability Rights Center and is a member of ADAPT and Mind Freedom. She lives on the west slope of Mt. Hood, Oregon.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
She has written numerous articles for disability publications as well as reports and proposals for federal and state agencies. She frequently works with photo journalist, Tom Olin, documenting and archiving the disability movement.
A sampling of clients includes State of New Mexico Aging and Long Term Services, Pax TV, and the Federal Transit Administration.
She is the former Communications Director for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association and the American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD). Prior to that time, she was Chairman of the Board of Evan Kemp Associates, a durable medical equipment and accessible transportation company based in Maryland.
From 1988-1992, she served as Assistant to Evan J, Kemp, Jr., Chairman U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. Evan, her late husband, was Janine’s entree’ to the disability movement.
In the 1980’s, a group of advocates decided Evan would become a Republican and bring George Bush 1 and others in that party “on board” to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed. Evan was on the platform with George Bush on July 26, 1990, when the President signed the ADA into law.
Her relationship with Evan gave Janine a “front row seat” on a little seen or discussed portion of the history of the American disability rights movement. Janine serves on the board of the Disability Rights Center and is a member of ADAPT and Mind Freedom. She lives on the west slope of Mt. Hood, Oregon.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Advisory Board Member: Shelley Kaplan, Southeast DBTAC
Shelley Kaplan is the Co-principle investigator and Project Director for the DBTAC: Southeast ADA Center, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute of Syracuse University. The Southeast DBTAC, funded in 1991, is one of ten regional information centers on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. Ms. Kaplan is responsible for establishing effective ADA networks across the eight southeastern states served by the project to ensure the availability of accurate ADA information and technical assistance to facilitate voluntary and effective ADA compliance efforts.
Ms. Kaplan has authored three fully accessible web-based tutorials entitled, “Welcoming Customers with Disabilities to the One Stop Center”, “ADA Basics” and “Title II for ADA Coordinators.” These courses build awareness and knowledge about the benefits of full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the rich fabric of American life. To date, over 20,000 people have taken these courses to rave reviews.
Ms. Kaplan has expertise in public policy and disability-related legislation and professional experience in developing effective systems for the delivery of information, technical assistance, and training that have resulted in successful programs designed to maximize independence and choice for people with disabilities. She has designed a premier eight-state regional Network that is operated by people with and without disabilities. This decentralized Network offers extensive expertise and resources that expand BBI’s capacity to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society by increasing access to assistive and universally designed technologies, expanding educational and employment opportunities, and promoting increased access into daily community life. Integral to this work is Ms. Kaplan’s ability to bring diverse stakeholders from across the eight-state region together in common purpose. Ms. Kaplan is a frequent speaker on the subject both nationally and regionally.
Her marketing skills have helped various programs become well known throughout the Southeast Region. Ms. Kaplan is a frequent speaker at national, regional and state conferences on wide range of topics including the ADA, AT, systems change, innovative information dissemination and technical assistance/training methods, and project management.
Ms. Kaplan has a Master’s of Science degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) and is a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech and Language Pathology from the American Association of Speech-Hearing-Language Association (ASHA). She is a native of New York, but has lived in Atlanta, Georgia for the past 26 years.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Ms. Kaplan has authored three fully accessible web-based tutorials entitled, “Welcoming Customers with Disabilities to the One Stop Center”, “ADA Basics” and “Title II for ADA Coordinators.” These courses build awareness and knowledge about the benefits of full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the rich fabric of American life. To date, over 20,000 people have taken these courses to rave reviews.
Ms. Kaplan has expertise in public policy and disability-related legislation and professional experience in developing effective systems for the delivery of information, technical assistance, and training that have resulted in successful programs designed to maximize independence and choice for people with disabilities. She has designed a premier eight-state regional Network that is operated by people with and without disabilities. This decentralized Network offers extensive expertise and resources that expand BBI’s capacity to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society by increasing access to assistive and universally designed technologies, expanding educational and employment opportunities, and promoting increased access into daily community life. Integral to this work is Ms. Kaplan’s ability to bring diverse stakeholders from across the eight-state region together in common purpose. Ms. Kaplan is a frequent speaker on the subject both nationally and regionally.
Her marketing skills have helped various programs become well known throughout the Southeast Region. Ms. Kaplan is a frequent speaker at national, regional and state conferences on wide range of topics including the ADA, AT, systems change, innovative information dissemination and technical assistance/training methods, and project management.
Ms. Kaplan has a Master’s of Science degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) and is a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech and Language Pathology from the American Association of Speech-Hearing-Language Association (ASHA). She is a native of New York, but has lived in Atlanta, Georgia for the past 26 years.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Advisory Board Member: Sharon D'Eusanio
Sharon D'Eusanio is the Assistant Director for the Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs for the Office of Attorney General, Bill McCollum.
Ms. D'Eusanio is the mother of three grown children and resides with her husband Raymond in Boca Raton, Florida. In May of 1980, she became the victim of a violent crime which nearly took her life and left her blind. With the loss of her career, newly divorced and three children to support , she began her transformation from crime victim to community activist, author and professional speaker, trainer and consultant. Her message of hope, perseverance and determination is reflected in her presentations and autobiography, FEEL THE LAUGHTER , published in 1987.
Sharon has served as a consultant for the Office for Victims of Crime, Office on Violence Against Women and serves on the Board of Directors for the Coalition for Independent Living Options, Inc., Crime Stoppers of Broward County, Florida and has served on various steering committees, focus groups and advisory boards and committees for local, state and national agencies and organizations.
She also sits as a member of the Broward County Human Trafficking Working
Group and the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Working Group. Through her membership with other community organizations, she has coordinated funding for a Community Outreach and Victim Awareness project in Broward County. Sharon has also attended the Southeastern Task Force meetings.
For her work in victim assistance and community service, she has received numerous local, state and national awards and recognitions which include, The National Crime Victim Service Award presented by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 and was selected one of the 2005 "Women of Distinction" in Broward County by the March of Dimes.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Ms. D'Eusanio is the mother of three grown children and resides with her husband Raymond in Boca Raton, Florida. In May of 1980, she became the victim of a violent crime which nearly took her life and left her blind. With the loss of her career, newly divorced and three children to support , she began her transformation from crime victim to community activist, author and professional speaker, trainer and consultant. Her message of hope, perseverance and determination is reflected in her presentations and autobiography, FEEL THE LAUGHTER , published in 1987.
Sharon has served as a consultant for the Office for Victims of Crime, Office on Violence Against Women and serves on the Board of Directors for the Coalition for Independent Living Options, Inc., Crime Stoppers of Broward County, Florida and has served on various steering committees, focus groups and advisory boards and committees for local, state and national agencies and organizations.
She also sits as a member of the Broward County Human Trafficking Working
Group and the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Working Group. Through her membership with other community organizations, she has coordinated funding for a Community Outreach and Victim Awareness project in Broward County. Sharon has also attended the Southeastern Task Force meetings.
For her work in victim assistance and community service, she has received numerous local, state and national awards and recognitions which include, The National Crime Victim Service Award presented by President Ronald Reagan in 1985 and was selected one of the 2005 "Women of Distinction" in Broward County by the March of Dimes.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Advisory Board Members: Laura and Greg George
Greg and Laura George created Spinal Cord Resources Network as a result of their own frustration with not being able to easily find information and resources availble to both the caregiver and new spinal cord injured patient.
In March of 2006 while Greg was coming home from the grocery story he became involved in a “hit and run” accident leaving him with a SCI at T-5 and paralysis from the stomach down. At that same moment Laura was three months pregnant with their first child. Then a year and a half later Greg had spinal cord fluid back-up which occurred 18 months later that caused partial paralysis in his right arm. Upon immediate awareness of the immense lack of education for those needing daily living items, Spinal Cord Resources Network, Inc. was created.
Our goal is to help educate and advocate the SCI community with the latest information that can help the community with daily living activities. It is very important to us to provide information that that should be and must be readily available.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
In March of 2006 while Greg was coming home from the grocery story he became involved in a “hit and run” accident leaving him with a SCI at T-5 and paralysis from the stomach down. At that same moment Laura was three months pregnant with their first child. Then a year and a half later Greg had spinal cord fluid back-up which occurred 18 months later that caused partial paralysis in his right arm. Upon immediate awareness of the immense lack of education for those needing daily living items, Spinal Cord Resources Network, Inc. was created.
Our goal is to help educate and advocate the SCI community with the latest information that can help the community with daily living activities. It is very important to us to provide information that that should be and must be readily available.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Advisory Board Member: Keri Darling, DVAS- Deaf Victims Advocacy Services, Vermont
Keri Darling is currently the director/trainer for Deaf Vermonters Advocacy Services (DVAS), in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont.
Keri has been deaf since age 2 ½ years old, growing up in rural Vermont with a hearing loss with no access to interpreters or sign language was quite a struggle. Keri attended RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) where she found the different kinds of accessibility options that are available to hard of hearing or late deafened or deaf people. It was there at RIT, Keri learned about Deaf culture and sign language and boy did this change her life! Luckily, with Keri’s background growing up in a non deaf (hearing) community and her experience during college, to this day she can be involved in the Deaf community or the non deaf community fairly well.
Keri started out in the independent living field by becoming the Manager of the Deaf Independence Program under the Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL). In this capacity, she oversaw deaf staff, and clients who needed Independent Living Skills development and accessibility awareness for deaf and hard of hearing on systems level. During her time at VCIL, she was able to develop a telecommunications distribution program in Vermont for low income Vermonters who have hearing loss, who needed telephone equipment but couldn’t afford it. She was also instrumental in setting up TTY payphones in all Rest areas in the state of Vermont.
It was during this time as the manager of the Deaf Independence Program where Keri began to notice abuse happening in the deaf community, through her clients or other people in the general community. It was then she researched and found Marilyn Smith, Executive Director of ADWAS (Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services) from Seattle, Washington, who is the pioneer of the Deaf Domestic Violence (DV) and Sexual Assault(SA) movement, as her agency was the first ever Deaf agency, run by deaf, for the deaf victims/survivors of abuse.
Keri also learned about a federal grant called VOCA (Victims Of Crime Act), applied and received money to train law enforcement officers on how to communicate with Deaf and hard of hearing victims/survivors and resources available to help serve these victims/survivors. Keri was then invited to join the National Training that ADWAS provided so that other cities or states can start their own Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault agencies. After completing that training in 1999, Keri started DVAS in 2000 and has since been involved in the Deaf DV/SA movement.
In the past 8 years, Keri has received numerous local and national awards for her work in creating awareness about accessibility for Deaf and hard of hearing victims/survivors. She has also been offering consultant work related to issues or barriers that Deaf and hard of hearing victims/survivors experience and how to break those barriers down, along with resources about technology and relay services information.
Keri has been a leading speaker on cultural accessibility: considerations when serving victims/survivors with hearing loss for many years now on the local and national level.
Keri has developed numerous training tools for law enforcement, hospitals and EMT’s when encountering Deaf people. If you would like to see more about this, please go check out our website, www.dvas.org and click on training.
Currently, she is also serving on the Advisory Board for the newly formed JDVNC (Justice for Deaf Victims National Coalition) and she and her fabulous employees will be hosting the National Conference for JDVNC members in October 2008 in Vermont.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Keri has been deaf since age 2 ½ years old, growing up in rural Vermont with a hearing loss with no access to interpreters or sign language was quite a struggle. Keri attended RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) where she found the different kinds of accessibility options that are available to hard of hearing or late deafened or deaf people. It was there at RIT, Keri learned about Deaf culture and sign language and boy did this change her life! Luckily, with Keri’s background growing up in a non deaf (hearing) community and her experience during college, to this day she can be involved in the Deaf community or the non deaf community fairly well.
Keri started out in the independent living field by becoming the Manager of the Deaf Independence Program under the Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL). In this capacity, she oversaw deaf staff, and clients who needed Independent Living Skills development and accessibility awareness for deaf and hard of hearing on systems level. During her time at VCIL, she was able to develop a telecommunications distribution program in Vermont for low income Vermonters who have hearing loss, who needed telephone equipment but couldn’t afford it. She was also instrumental in setting up TTY payphones in all Rest areas in the state of Vermont.
It was during this time as the manager of the Deaf Independence Program where Keri began to notice abuse happening in the deaf community, through her clients or other people in the general community. It was then she researched and found Marilyn Smith, Executive Director of ADWAS (Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services) from Seattle, Washington, who is the pioneer of the Deaf Domestic Violence (DV) and Sexual Assault(SA) movement, as her agency was the first ever Deaf agency, run by deaf, for the deaf victims/survivors of abuse.
Keri also learned about a federal grant called VOCA (Victims Of Crime Act), applied and received money to train law enforcement officers on how to communicate with Deaf and hard of hearing victims/survivors and resources available to help serve these victims/survivors. Keri was then invited to join the National Training that ADWAS provided so that other cities or states can start their own Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault agencies. After completing that training in 1999, Keri started DVAS in 2000 and has since been involved in the Deaf DV/SA movement.
In the past 8 years, Keri has received numerous local and national awards for her work in creating awareness about accessibility for Deaf and hard of hearing victims/survivors. She has also been offering consultant work related to issues or barriers that Deaf and hard of hearing victims/survivors experience and how to break those barriers down, along with resources about technology and relay services information.
Keri has been a leading speaker on cultural accessibility: considerations when serving victims/survivors with hearing loss for many years now on the local and national level.
Keri has developed numerous training tools for law enforcement, hospitals and EMT’s when encountering Deaf people. If you would like to see more about this, please go check out our website, www.dvas.org and click on training.
Currently, she is also serving on the Advisory Board for the newly formed JDVNC (Justice for Deaf Victims National Coalition) and she and her fabulous employees will be hosting the National Conference for JDVNC members in October 2008 in Vermont.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Advisory Board Member: Reid Jaffe
Reid Jaffe is currently a Grants Coordinator in the Office of Emergency Operations, Florida Department of Health. His main responsibilities include writing and reviewing public health preparedness plans, and assisting others in their specific federally funded preparedness projects. He also staffs an ad hoc Florida Department of Health Disability Task Force, created to improve the ability of Florida’s hospitals to properly serve Florida’s disabled population, meeting more of their needs, in the aftermath of a catastrophic event, as well as in normal times. This entails ensuring that the needs of Florida’s disabled populations are integrated into statewide and regional hospital response plans, pre-hospital EMS response plans, and disaster behavioral health plans. The Task Force also educates and encourages persons with disabilities to be better prepared for emergency situations, and to work with their local emergency managers to better take the needs of persons with disabilities into their planning and response efforts.
Mr. Jaffe previously worked as the primary staff for the Medicaid AIDS Waiver program, then for the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver program for persons with Developmental Disabilities, and the Medicaid Targeted Case Management programs.
Mr. Jaffe has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a master’s degree in health planning and health administration, both from the University of Cincinnati.
A 30 year veteran of the Army and Army Reserve, Colonel Jaffe is a graduate of the Army War College, and a veteran of Vietnam, Panama, and Bosnia.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Mr. Jaffe previously worked as the primary staff for the Medicaid AIDS Waiver program, then for the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver program for persons with Developmental Disabilities, and the Medicaid Targeted Case Management programs.
Mr. Jaffe has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a master’s degree in health planning and health administration, both from the University of Cincinnati.
A 30 year veteran of the Army and Army Reserve, Colonel Jaffe is a graduate of the Army War College, and a veteran of Vietnam, Panama, and Bosnia.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Advisory Board Member: Dale J. Dangremond, BSW, MBA
Since 1990, Dale Dangremond has worked nationally as an expert consultant on the topics of abuse and neglect, critical incident investigations, and incident/quality management in the disability, eldercare, and juvenile justice fields with federal, state, and local governments, as well as with private organizations through her company, Dangremond Consulting.
Dale has over 28 years of experience working in the disability field in organizations providing supports to individuals, as an advocate, administrator, consultant, systems change agent, and parent of children with neurological disorders.
Her expertise includes consulting and training on conducting abuse/neglect investigations, assessing incident management and investigation process in organizations and systems, and the design and implementation of processes to prevent harm in human service organizations along with competency-based assessment tools for investigation and incident management process. She also works as an expert witness and monitor of incident management and critical incident investigation systems in connection with court orders and litigation settlements.
Dale has worked as a consultant with the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services on protection from harm issues in the Medicaid Waiver Program and on the “look behind” contract assessing ICF/MRs. She has also worked as an expert with the US Department of Justice, Special Litigation Section/Civil Rights Division on CRIPA investigations. She has extensive experience in developing and implementing regulation and policy involving protection from harm/incident management, and accessibility/rights issues for individuals with hearing loss.
Dale’s other professional experience includes work for community-based organizations (including independent living centers) supporting children and adults with disabilities in mid- and executive management positions in states like New York, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. She has extensive experience in the field of deafness developing and managing specialized support programs, and has worked as a professional sign language interpreter and faculty in interpreter training programs.
Dale moved to Wellington, FL, three years ago from Washington, D.C. with her husband, Bill, and two sons, Zack and Will.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Dale has over 28 years of experience working in the disability field in organizations providing supports to individuals, as an advocate, administrator, consultant, systems change agent, and parent of children with neurological disorders.
Her expertise includes consulting and training on conducting abuse/neglect investigations, assessing incident management and investigation process in organizations and systems, and the design and implementation of processes to prevent harm in human service organizations along with competency-based assessment tools for investigation and incident management process. She also works as an expert witness and monitor of incident management and critical incident investigation systems in connection with court orders and litigation settlements.
Dale has worked as a consultant with the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services on protection from harm issues in the Medicaid Waiver Program and on the “look behind” contract assessing ICF/MRs. She has also worked as an expert with the US Department of Justice, Special Litigation Section/Civil Rights Division on CRIPA investigations. She has extensive experience in developing and implementing regulation and policy involving protection from harm/incident management, and accessibility/rights issues for individuals with hearing loss.
Dale’s other professional experience includes work for community-based organizations (including independent living centers) supporting children and adults with disabilities in mid- and executive management positions in states like New York, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. She has extensive experience in the field of deafness developing and managing specialized support programs, and has worked as a professional sign language interpreter and faculty in interpreter training programs.
Dale moved to Wellington, FL, three years ago from Washington, D.C. with her husband, Bill, and two sons, Zack and Will.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Advisory Board Member: Ken Nakata, Esq.
Ken Nakata is a lawyer and consultant who leads the Seattle office of BayFirst Solutions LLC, a Washington, DC consulting firm. Ken brings a balanced perspective as a technologist, disability rights expert, and former government attorney. In his current work, he helps both public and private sector clients comply with accessibility requirements and regulations while fostering innovation that improves the lives of people with disabilities.
Throughout his career, he has brought a balanced perspective towards disability rights. From 1992 through 2004, he worked as a trial attorney in the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, where he helped develop the Department’s policies concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Where violations were clear, he vigorously enforced these disability laws; where violations were less clear, he helped shape proactive policies and helped state and local governments and private businesses reach amicable settlements.
In 1998, Ken spearheaded the Department’s role under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. In this role, he helped balance the competing needs of people with disabilities, private industry, and the Federal government by shaping policies and helping people understand how different laws and regulations work together.
As a consultant, Ken now brings this knowledge to help his clients. He helps Federal agencies develop compliance programs to avoid costly complaints while simultaneously planning for and achieving best practices. He helps his clients understand how different disability laws fit together and how they apply in specific factual contexts. He also helps his private sector clients understand disability rights laws and regulations, win buy-in with management and stakeholders, and plan for the future.
Ken brings a “real world” understanding of how to make technology accessible and how to get results. He helped develop the technical assistance material used by the Federal government for achieving web and software accessibility and has conducted one-on-one workshops with developers, helping them write the programming code to achieve accessibility.
His consulting work continues this focus on technical leadership in accessibility. He has helped major companies shape their products for accessibility. He has led his team to develop previously undocumented accessibility solutions in mainstream products, to empower his clients to convince major software companies to make market-wide accessibility revisions, and to take on a leadership role in working groups and standards organizations.
The marketplace has rewarded Ken for his leadership role in the area of IT accessibility. Since starting in late 2004, his work has grown to over $2 million annually. He leads his Seattle team with the belief that innovation must be inspired and not demanded. Since 1998, he has been a leading speaker on IT accessibility at over 100 conferences and symposia in the United States and abroad.
Ken is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., 1988) and the Johns Hopkins University (B.A. Mathematics, 1984). He is admitted to the bars of New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania and has recently applied for admission to the Washington state bar. He has a working knowledge of SQL, HTML, XML, and JavaScript and has been certified by Sun Microsystems as a Programmer for the Java 2 Platform. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife Laura Ruby.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Throughout his career, he has brought a balanced perspective towards disability rights. From 1992 through 2004, he worked as a trial attorney in the Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, where he helped develop the Department’s policies concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Where violations were clear, he vigorously enforced these disability laws; where violations were less clear, he helped shape proactive policies and helped state and local governments and private businesses reach amicable settlements.
In 1998, Ken spearheaded the Department’s role under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. In this role, he helped balance the competing needs of people with disabilities, private industry, and the Federal government by shaping policies and helping people understand how different laws and regulations work together.
As a consultant, Ken now brings this knowledge to help his clients. He helps Federal agencies develop compliance programs to avoid costly complaints while simultaneously planning for and achieving best practices. He helps his clients understand how different disability laws fit together and how they apply in specific factual contexts. He also helps his private sector clients understand disability rights laws and regulations, win buy-in with management and stakeholders, and plan for the future.
Ken brings a “real world” understanding of how to make technology accessible and how to get results. He helped develop the technical assistance material used by the Federal government for achieving web and software accessibility and has conducted one-on-one workshops with developers, helping them write the programming code to achieve accessibility.
His consulting work continues this focus on technical leadership in accessibility. He has helped major companies shape their products for accessibility. He has led his team to develop previously undocumented accessibility solutions in mainstream products, to empower his clients to convince major software companies to make market-wide accessibility revisions, and to take on a leadership role in working groups and standards organizations.
The marketplace has rewarded Ken for his leadership role in the area of IT accessibility. Since starting in late 2004, his work has grown to over $2 million annually. He leads his Seattle team with the belief that innovation must be inspired and not demanded. Since 1998, he has been a leading speaker on IT accessibility at over 100 conferences and symposia in the United States and abroad.
Ken is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., 1988) and the Johns Hopkins University (B.A. Mathematics, 1984). He is admitted to the bars of New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania and has recently applied for admission to the Washington state bar. He has a working knowledge of SQL, HTML, XML, and JavaScript and has been certified by Sun Microsystems as a Programmer for the Java 2 Platform. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife Laura Ruby.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Advisory Board Member: Elly du Pré
Elly du Pré is currently the Executive Director of Lighthouse of Broward, an agency that teaches skills to people who are blind or visually impaired, from babies to seniors.
She also has been associate executive director and program manager as well as developer of technology services for blind and visually impaired consumers at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.
She has served on board of directors of South Florida Center for Independent Living and the Dade County Commission for the Advancement of the Physically Handicapped.
She recently was elected vice president of the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, a statewide consortium of private not-for-profit direct service providers. She has been active as a teacher, program developer, administrator and community advocate for over 30 years.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
She also has been associate executive director and program manager as well as developer of technology services for blind and visually impaired consumers at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.
She has served on board of directors of South Florida Center for Independent Living and the Dade County Commission for the Advancement of the Physically Handicapped.
She recently was elected vice president of the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, a statewide consortium of private not-for-profit direct service providers. She has been active as a teacher, program developer, administrator and community advocate for over 30 years.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Advisory Board Member: Hilary Styron
Hilary Styron currently serves as Director for the National Organization on Disability’s Emergency Preparedness Initiative.
She was recently appointed to the FEMA National Advisory Council.
In September 2005 she led the Special Needs Assessment 4 Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) Teams to the Gulf Region in response to Hurricane Katrina. Results from this report are being used to increase emergency preparedness for people with disabilities across the country and in new legislation currently before the U.S. Congress.
At the request of the City of New Orleans, Ms. Styron was also deployed to the Emergency Operations Center to assist in managing issues surrounding special needs populations.
She also serves as a Lead Systems Integrator for the Department of Defense Joint Project Management Guardian Installation Protection Program where she conducts command-post and full-scale exercises, evaluating levels of readiness of incident commanders at military installations located within the United State and abroad.
Ms. Styron has extensive experience in all-hazards emergency management, emergency medical services, and implementation of long-range strategic planning. She participates in the preparedness and planning efforts undertaken across the country and coordinates the development of standard operational procedures, performance measures, protocols, and implementation and administration of programs related to emergency preparedness, continuity of operations, preparedness for people with disabilities, and other substantive mission-oriented programs.
In 1991, she began developing disaster-related plans for training, exercises, and operational procedures, and conducted studies related to emergency preparedness for Local, State, and Federal agencies. As a first responder, Ms. Styron worked with personnel from hospitals, assisted living centers, and nursing homes to provide appropriate access to the 9-1-1 system, as well as basic emergency preparedness information for these facilities and for their residents.
In the summer of 2005 Ms. Styron testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration regarding the emergency plans on Capitol Hill as they related to special needs populations. In March 2006 she provided testimony to the FCC Katrina Investigation Panel on communications access for the disabled population during Hurricane Katrina, and is frequently called on to testify or brief Members of Congress on special needs preparedness issues.
Ms. Styron serves as a member of the: Interagency Coordination Council Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities National Citizen Corps Council Subcommittee; Emergency Alerts National Advisory Board; West Virginia University Project Safe EVAC Advisory Board; Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Emergency Preparedness Task Force; International Association of Emergency Managers Special Needs Committee; and was recently appointed to: the FCC Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee; International Codes Council Disability Task Force; the American National Standards Institute Homeland Security Steering Committee; the Serve DC Advisory Board; and the National Fire Protection Association Disability Task Force. She serves on many other disability preparedness-related task forces and working groups. She is an advisor to the American Red Cross, FEMA, DHS, DOD, and emergency managers at the state and local government levels.
After September 11, 2001, she relocated to Washington, DC where she has been actively engaged in the preparedness planning for the National Capital Region, as well as performing high-level program activities at agencies such as the U.S. Senate Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness, Executive Office of the President/Office of Administration, U.S. Library of Congress Office of Emergency Management; World Bank; U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Department of Defense Director of Research and Engineering; United States Fire Administration; Miami-Dade Urban Area Security Initiative; U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Federal Emergency Management Agency – U.S. Fire Administration; and City of New York Fire Department.
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Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
She was recently appointed to the FEMA National Advisory Council.
In September 2005 she led the Special Needs Assessment 4 Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) Teams to the Gulf Region in response to Hurricane Katrina. Results from this report are being used to increase emergency preparedness for people with disabilities across the country and in new legislation currently before the U.S. Congress.
At the request of the City of New Orleans, Ms. Styron was also deployed to the Emergency Operations Center to assist in managing issues surrounding special needs populations.
She also serves as a Lead Systems Integrator for the Department of Defense Joint Project Management Guardian Installation Protection Program where she conducts command-post and full-scale exercises, evaluating levels of readiness of incident commanders at military installations located within the United State and abroad.
Ms. Styron has extensive experience in all-hazards emergency management, emergency medical services, and implementation of long-range strategic planning. She participates in the preparedness and planning efforts undertaken across the country and coordinates the development of standard operational procedures, performance measures, protocols, and implementation and administration of programs related to emergency preparedness, continuity of operations, preparedness for people with disabilities, and other substantive mission-oriented programs.
In 1991, she began developing disaster-related plans for training, exercises, and operational procedures, and conducted studies related to emergency preparedness for Local, State, and Federal agencies. As a first responder, Ms. Styron worked with personnel from hospitals, assisted living centers, and nursing homes to provide appropriate access to the 9-1-1 system, as well as basic emergency preparedness information for these facilities and for their residents.
In the summer of 2005 Ms. Styron testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration regarding the emergency plans on Capitol Hill as they related to special needs populations. In March 2006 she provided testimony to the FCC Katrina Investigation Panel on communications access for the disabled population during Hurricane Katrina, and is frequently called on to testify or brief Members of Congress on special needs preparedness issues.
Ms. Styron serves as a member of the: Interagency Coordination Council Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities National Citizen Corps Council Subcommittee; Emergency Alerts National Advisory Board; West Virginia University Project Safe EVAC Advisory Board; Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Emergency Preparedness Task Force; International Association of Emergency Managers Special Needs Committee; and was recently appointed to: the FCC Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee; International Codes Council Disability Task Force; the American National Standards Institute Homeland Security Steering Committee; the Serve DC Advisory Board; and the National Fire Protection Association Disability Task Force. She serves on many other disability preparedness-related task forces and working groups. She is an advisor to the American Red Cross, FEMA, DHS, DOD, and emergency managers at the state and local government levels.
After September 11, 2001, she relocated to Washington, DC where she has been actively engaged in the preparedness planning for the National Capital Region, as well as performing high-level program activities at agencies such as the U.S. Senate Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness, Executive Office of the President/Office of Administration, U.S. Library of Congress Office of Emergency Management; World Bank; U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Department of Defense Director of Research and Engineering; United States Fire Administration; Miami-Dade Urban Area Security Initiative; U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Federal Emergency Management Agency – U.S. Fire Administration; and City of New York Fire Department.
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Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Advisory Board Member: Gwen Gillenwater
Gwen Gillenwater serves as Director of the disAbility Resource Center in Charleston, S.C. , and has been engaged in disability rights for over 20 years.
Her efforts in advocacy for systems change and in policy-making have been at the local, state and national levels. She was director of a center for independent living in rural Virginia, executive director of a statewide disability coalition in Illinois, director of public policy and advocacy for the National Council on Independent Living, and senior director for public policy, advocacy and outreach for the American Association for People with Disabilities in Washington, D.C.
She served on the board of directors for APRIL (Association of Programs in Rural Independent Living) for five years and is currently an advisor to the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Measurement and Interdependence in Community Living (RRTC/MICL).
In August 2005, she was appointed as a voting commissioner to the US Medicaid Commission by Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Her minority report representing concerns of the disability community was noted in a report to Congress in December, 2006. In September 2007, Ms. Gillenwater became Director of the disAbility Resource Center in Charleston, S.C.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Her efforts in advocacy for systems change and in policy-making have been at the local, state and national levels. She was director of a center for independent living in rural Virginia, executive director of a statewide disability coalition in Illinois, director of public policy and advocacy for the National Council on Independent Living, and senior director for public policy, advocacy and outreach for the American Association for People with Disabilities in Washington, D.C.
She served on the board of directors for APRIL (Association of Programs in Rural Independent Living) for five years and is currently an advisor to the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Measurement and Interdependence in Community Living (RRTC/MICL).
In August 2005, she was appointed as a voting commissioner to the US Medicaid Commission by Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Her minority report representing concerns of the disability community was noted in a report to Congress in December, 2006. In September 2007, Ms. Gillenwater became Director of the disAbility Resource Center in Charleston, S.C.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Contact us at mdubin@pobox.com.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Advisory Board Member: Ben Burton
Ben Burton has been the Executive Director of the Miami Coalition for the Homeless, Inc for the last 6 years. The Miami Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. focuses on homeless prevention, advocacy, and resource coordination.
Mr. Burton was Assistant Executive Director of Community Friendship, Inc., a psychosocial rehabilitation agency, and held administrative positions from 1989-1999. He was founding Board President of Georgia Rehabilitation Outreach from 1999-2005, a psychiatric housing and services organization. He was founding Secretary of the Living Room, which is an HIV/AIDS housing and services agency from 1998-2000.
More recently, he was the Clinical Director of Carrfour Supportive Housing from 2000-2001, a Co-Chair of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Providers Forum from 2001-2002, he has been a Co-Chair of the Community Coalition for a Living wage from 2001-present, he is an active member of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust’s Housing and Service Development Committees, he was the Homeless Cluster Representative to the Alliance for Human Services from 2003-2007. He is currently also a member of the Miami-Dade County Community Action Agency Board 2007-Present.
Mr. Burton has over twenty years of experience working with people experiencing homelessness and extensive experience implementing programs for varied populations including the most difficult to serve homeless and mentally ill residents. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, completed a Health Professions Program at Harvard University, and has a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Mr. Burton is licensed as a Professional Counselor and a Mental Health Counselor in several states. He is also nationally certified as a Counselor and internationally certified as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Professional.
Quotes: Philosophy “Everyone has the right to safe and decent housing” “ I have a specific interest in seeing that those who have the most difficulty living in the community receive needed housing and services.”
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Mr. Burton was Assistant Executive Director of Community Friendship, Inc., a psychosocial rehabilitation agency, and held administrative positions from 1989-1999. He was founding Board President of Georgia Rehabilitation Outreach from 1999-2005, a psychiatric housing and services organization. He was founding Secretary of the Living Room, which is an HIV/AIDS housing and services agency from 1998-2000.
More recently, he was the Clinical Director of Carrfour Supportive Housing from 2000-2001, a Co-Chair of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Providers Forum from 2001-2002, he has been a Co-Chair of the Community Coalition for a Living wage from 2001-present, he is an active member of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust’s Housing and Service Development Committees, he was the Homeless Cluster Representative to the Alliance for Human Services from 2003-2007. He is currently also a member of the Miami-Dade County Community Action Agency Board 2007-Present.
Mr. Burton has over twenty years of experience working with people experiencing homelessness and extensive experience implementing programs for varied populations including the most difficult to serve homeless and mentally ill residents. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, completed a Health Professions Program at Harvard University, and has a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Mr. Burton is licensed as a Professional Counselor and a Mental Health Counselor in several states. He is also nationally certified as a Counselor and internationally certified as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Professional.
Quotes: Philosophy “Everyone has the right to safe and decent housing” “ I have a specific interest in seeing that those who have the most difficulty living in the community receive needed housing and services.”
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Advisory Board Chair: Marc Dubin, Esq.
Marc Dubin, Esq., serves as Director of Advocacy at the Center for Independent Living of South Florida. He is a former prosecutor, and for over 12 years served as a Senior Trial Attorney at the Justice Department, in the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division, in Washington, D.C. In that capacity, he was responsible for nationwide enforcement of the ADA on behalf of the United States, and for developing and training about technical assistance concerning the ADA, giving speeches throughout the United States.
In addition to his expertise in the ADA, Marc also has extensive expertise in criminal justice matters, having served as a prosecutor for over a decade, and having served as Special Counsel to the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women. In that capacity, he advised Attorney General Reno and Director Bonnie Campbell about implementation of the federal Violence Against Women Act, and traveled throughout the United States providing education about the Act.
Marc founded and serves as Executive Director of CAVNET (Communities Against Violence Network), a nationwide nonprofit addressing crime victims with disabilities and violence against women. CAVNET’s extensive online database is located at http://www.cavnet.org/. CAVNET is a recipient of a Ms. Foundation for Women grant and is a partner with Lifetime Television’s “End Violence Against Women” Campaign.
In a voluntary capacity, Marc also served as President of the Legal Process and Advocacy Division at the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) for two years, after a national election to the position. In that capacity, he helped in developing advocacy positions on behalf of people with cognitive disabilities.
Marc currently serves as Co-Chair of the Florida Bar’s Disability Law Committee (http://www.disabilitylawcommittee.com/), and as Chair of the Hotel Emergency Preparedness and Accommodations Work Group, a Project of the Florida Department of Health’s Emergency Preparedness Disability Task Force. He is also co-founder of the Medicaid Reform Advocacy Coalition (MRAC).
Marc also serves as Chair of the CIL of South Florida Advocacy Program Advisory Board, a Board comprised of experts, advocates, and people with disabilities from all over the world.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
In addition to his expertise in the ADA, Marc also has extensive expertise in criminal justice matters, having served as a prosecutor for over a decade, and having served as Special Counsel to the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women. In that capacity, he advised Attorney General Reno and Director Bonnie Campbell about implementation of the federal Violence Against Women Act, and traveled throughout the United States providing education about the Act.
Marc founded and serves as Executive Director of CAVNET (Communities Against Violence Network), a nationwide nonprofit addressing crime victims with disabilities and violence against women. CAVNET’s extensive online database is located at http://www.cavnet.org/. CAVNET is a recipient of a Ms. Foundation for Women grant and is a partner with Lifetime Television’s “End Violence Against Women” Campaign.
In a voluntary capacity, Marc also served as President of the Legal Process and Advocacy Division at the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) for two years, after a national election to the position. In that capacity, he helped in developing advocacy positions on behalf of people with cognitive disabilities.
Marc currently serves as Co-Chair of the Florida Bar’s Disability Law Committee (http://www.disabilitylawcommittee.com/), and as Chair of the Hotel Emergency Preparedness and Accommodations Work Group, a Project of the Florida Department of Health’s Emergency Preparedness Disability Task Force. He is also co-founder of the Medicaid Reform Advocacy Coalition (MRAC).
Marc also serves as Chair of the CIL of South Florida Advocacy Program Advisory Board, a Board comprised of experts, advocates, and people with disabilities from all over the world.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Advisory Board Member: Dick Sobsey, Ph.D
Dick Sobsey is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. He is currently the Director of the JP Das Developemntal Disabilities Centre and the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre. He has worked with children and adults with disabilities since 1968. His research considers the relationship between disability and violence and the values and ethics that influence social behavior related to disability. He is considered one of the world's foremost researchers and experts on violence against people with disabilities.
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Advisory Board Member: Susan Duncan, R.N.
Susan has more than 30 years of experience as a registered nurse, with a clinical specialty in infection control. She also has training and expertise in disability-related civil rights, including the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, the federal Fair Housing Act, and the Air Carrier Access Act, and expertise in service animal issues.
Susan formerly served as the Director of Delta Society National Service Dog Center and now is owner of Duncan Consulting. Duncan Consulting is based in the state of the state of Washington, but consults all over the world.
Ms. Duncan provides policy, practices and accessibility solutions to the public and private sectors via consultations, project work, and expert witness services. She has held assignments as adjunct faculty for healthcare and public policy at U.S. and foreign universities, and her published works include technical support, articles in peer reviewed professional journals, textbooks chapters, employee education curricula, federal petition for rulemaking, and guidance documents issued by local, state and federal departments.
Clients include the US Departments of Justice, Transportation, Education, and Housing & Urban Development; the National Council on Disability; the Veterans Administration; National Institutes for Health; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Transportation Security Administration; the Smithsonian Institutions and National Zoo; the Kennedy Center; DBTACs; New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission; state Centers for Independent Living; Universal Studios; Microsoft; and the governments of Japan, Spain, and Canada.
Ms. Duncan sits on national and international advisory committees focused on healthcare, accessibility, and service animal training and use.
She has multiple sclerosis and has trained her own service dogs for mobility and guide work
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Susan formerly served as the Director of Delta Society National Service Dog Center and now is owner of Duncan Consulting. Duncan Consulting is based in the state of the state of Washington, but consults all over the world.
Ms. Duncan provides policy, practices and accessibility solutions to the public and private sectors via consultations, project work, and expert witness services. She has held assignments as adjunct faculty for healthcare and public policy at U.S. and foreign universities, and her published works include technical support, articles in peer reviewed professional journals, textbooks chapters, employee education curricula, federal petition for rulemaking, and guidance documents issued by local, state and federal departments.
Clients include the US Departments of Justice, Transportation, Education, and Housing & Urban Development; the National Council on Disability; the Veterans Administration; National Institutes for Health; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Transportation Security Administration; the Smithsonian Institutions and National Zoo; the Kennedy Center; DBTACs; New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission; state Centers for Independent Living; Universal Studios; Microsoft; and the governments of Japan, Spain, and Canada.
Ms. Duncan sits on national and international advisory committees focused on healthcare, accessibility, and service animal training and use.
She has multiple sclerosis and has trained her own service dogs for mobility and guide work
Please visit http://www.cilsflablog.org/
Advisory Board Member: Olga Golik, Esq.
Olga Golik, Esq. is the Director of Housing and Advocacy, at Citrus Health Network, Inc. She holds a Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. She is currently one of the leaders of a statewide initiative to amend Florida Medicaid law to allow persons with disabilities to keep their Medicaid when they go back to work. Ms. Golik has over fifteen years experience in the area of mental health services. Ms. Golik serves on the Board of the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition and the Miami Coalition for the Homeless actively advocating for policy and legislative changes that impact persons who are homeless and persons with disabilities. She has led the statewide “30/30 Housing” advocacy initiative to achieve deeper income targeting in publicly-funded affordable housing developments.
At Citrus Health Network, she provides in-house counsel and assists in housing development, advocacy and other legal issues. Citrus Health Network, Inc. is a non-profit organization accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, that provides behavioral and primary care health services, as well as supportive housing programs for dependent children, youth aging out of foster care, homeless adults and families, and persons who have disabilities due to a mental illness. Citrus is a designated Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and a Federally Qualified Health Center.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
At Citrus Health Network, she provides in-house counsel and assists in housing development, advocacy and other legal issues. Citrus Health Network, Inc. is a non-profit organization accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, that provides behavioral and primary care health services, as well as supportive housing programs for dependent children, youth aging out of foster care, homeless adults and families, and persons who have disabilities due to a mental illness. Citrus is a designated Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and a Federally Qualified Health Center.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
Advisory Board Member:Don Dawkins
I am a T-3 forty-year spinal cord injury survivor. I am currently the Advocacy Coordinator for the Florida Independent Living Council and work throughout our state; this experience covers the nineteen years I have been in Florida. I have also been a wheelchair athlete for twenty years as a Wheelchair Basketball player, Road racer, Scuba diver, Snow skier and Coach and manager of a Quad Rugby team.
My professional experience includes working in the medical model as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Therapist, Department Manager, Rehabilitation and Peer Counselor, Case Manager and Spinal Cord Injury Program Manager at the Rehabilitation Institute of Sarasota and HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota. I was also the Executive Director and Director of Outreach Services for the Florida Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center at Tampa General Hospital.
I received ADA training through the Department of Justice in Washington D.C., Florida’s Americans with Disabilities Working Group and the National Council for Independent Living in Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida. I have been involved in numerous ADA evaluations for the Florida and Michigan Independent Living Councils, Adaptive Rehabilitative Consulting Services and various businesses, municipalities and private homeowners in Florida and Michigan. I have given extensive training on the ADA and disability etiquette to numerous groups nationally and internationally. I have extensive experience working with SCI survivors and families facilitating SCI education, recreation opportunities, and adjustment to catastrophic injury, activities of daily living. I facilitate SCI support groups and SCI resource information referrals, and I have worked with many disabled populations including but not limited to MS, Cerebral Palsy, closed head injury, Developmental disabilities and Muscular Dystrophy.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
My professional experience includes working in the medical model as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Therapist, Department Manager, Rehabilitation and Peer Counselor, Case Manager and Spinal Cord Injury Program Manager at the Rehabilitation Institute of Sarasota and HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota. I was also the Executive Director and Director of Outreach Services for the Florida Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center at Tampa General Hospital.
I received ADA training through the Department of Justice in Washington D.C., Florida’s Americans with Disabilities Working Group and the National Council for Independent Living in Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida. I have been involved in numerous ADA evaluations for the Florida and Michigan Independent Living Councils, Adaptive Rehabilitative Consulting Services and various businesses, municipalities and private homeowners in Florida and Michigan. I have given extensive training on the ADA and disability etiquette to numerous groups nationally and internationally. I have extensive experience working with SCI survivors and families facilitating SCI education, recreation opportunities, and adjustment to catastrophic injury, activities of daily living. I facilitate SCI support groups and SCI resource information referrals, and I have worked with many disabled populations including but not limited to MS, Cerebral Palsy, closed head injury, Developmental disabilities and Muscular Dystrophy.
Please visit www.cilsflablog.org
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