Bio: 

I have been a lifelong resident of Virginia, currently living in Goochland County. My lived experience with disabilities includes raising my two (now young adult) daughters who are neurodivergent and have vision loss; including one who is blind and has a brain injury. I was also the bonus parent to our forever 18-year-old daughter who had progressive and complex needs including blindness due to Battens Disease. My family has always been the center of my world and my driving force to become involved in disability systems and services. I enjoy gardening and creating spaces. So, in my down time or for stress relief you will often find me digging in the dirt, painting or building something while listening to an audio book or podcast. I’ve always wanted to travel and in recent years began working on my bucket list to travel the world with my family.

Professional Experience:

• Over twenty years working with families of children who have vision loss, including blindness with and without additional support needs. 

Center for Family Involvement: 

• Family Specialist to the Blind/Vision Loss and Deafblind Communities (2017-current)
• Local Network Coordinator (2012-2017)
• Volunteer Family Navigator (2008-2012) 

Virginia Deafblind Project:

• Family Engagement Specialist (2018-current)
• Administrative Support (2014-2018) 

Virginia Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments 

• Founder/President (2003-2018) 
• Ten years as a service facilitator for Virginia’s Medicaid Waivers (2009-2020) •
• Seven years in home health medical records management. (2002-2009)

Partnership Projects:

• Center for Family Involvement
• Virginia Deafblind Project
• Center for Sensory Disabilities
• PPD Health Content Committee member
• PPD Community Living Content Committee
• PPD Accessibility Best Practices Committee
• Pre-ets Transition Ambassador Project
• 1-3-6 Family Educators Committee (past)
• DEI Committee (past)

Expertise Areas:

• Disability Rights and Advocacy
• Special Education
• Family Support
• Blind, Vision Loss and Deafblind

Certifications/Licensure:

• Person Centered Planning
• Charting the Lifecourse Transition Ambassador
• Partners in Policymaking 2005
• VA LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) 2024
• Sibshop Facilitation

Research Interests:

• Neurodivergence in the Blind community.
• Access to blind specific Pre-ets and Vocational Rehabilitation opportunities for the blind and deafblind communities, including those with additional support needs.
• Digital accessibility for the blind.
• Self-Determination.
• Person Centered Practices.
• Belonging and Inclusion in the Community.

Professional Affiliations:

• National Family Association of the Deafblind (NFADB) member
• American Council of the Blind (ACB) member
• Virginia Parents of Blind Children (VPOBC) board member.
• National Sibling Leadership Network Chapter Committee
• Virginia is for Siblings Committee
• Virginia UEB Stakeholder Committee
• Virginia DARS/DBVI Dual Case Process Workgroup
• National Center on Deafblind (NCDB) Family Specialist Group
• NCDB EHDI workgroup
• NCDB Family Transition workgroup
• NCDB Leading by Convening workgroup

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