My Resume and Qualifications

My disability:

• My first symptoms appeared in March of 2004
• I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November of 2005
• I use a cane for walking short distances and use a manual wheelchair for longer distances and when lengthy standing is required. I have left side weakness and periodic left side hemiplegia.

My professional background:

• (2008 - present) I am Director of Technical Assistance at Meeting the Challenge, Inc., a private disability consulting firm in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which operates the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center. Throught the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center we answer technical assistance questions related to the ADA, we provide training on the ADA, and we develop and disseminate materials on the ADA. Meeting the Challenge is involved with additional projects including the Transit Access Project, a cooperative agreement with the FTA, and including Invisible Voices, a theater production and DVD in which six individuals with disabilities tell their life stories.
  • Lead writer for Riders' Guide to Public Transit for People with Disabilities: Fixed Route and ADA Complementary Paratransit which outlines rights and responsibilities of riders with disabilities under the ADA.
  • Team member involved with creating, conducting and reporting on the National Transportation Access Research Project: A Survey of Riders with Disabilities .
  • Co-presenter of "New Tools in Accessible Transit" at the 2010 National ADA Symposium.
  • Conducted trainings on ADA Basics, ADA and Postsecondary Education, Creating Student Leaders in the ADA, and New Tools in Accessible Transit in-house at the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center in Colorado Springs and at the 2009 Cultural Competence and Responsiveness Conference in Aurora, Colorado sponsored by the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, at the Bridges Transition Program with Colorado Springs Academy School District #20, at the Stroke Support Group with the Colorado Neurological Institute, at support groups with the Colorado Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and at the Colorado Springs Independence Center in 2009 and 2010.
• (Summer 2008) I worked with the Summit Stage to improve accessibility in their fixed route and paratransit bus system
• (1988 - 2004) Licensed special education (K-12) and elementary education teacher
• Licensed teaching experiences:
  • 2004 taught 7^th grade special education (learning disabilities) at Summit Middle School in Frisco, CO
  • 1999 - 2004 taught middle school and high school special education (severe cognitive needs) at McGinnis Middle School and Buena Vista High School in Buena Vista, CO.
    • Team leader coordinating services with speech, occupational, physical and vision therapy and with school psychologist, counselor, administration and paraprofessionals.
    • Taught self-contained classes in reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, life skills, health, and vocational skills.
    • Collaborated with regular education teachers for inclusion.
    • Coached Special Olympics team in alpine and cross country skiing and snow-shoeing for participation in regional Special Olympics at Ski Cooper.
  • 1998-1999 taught 4^th - 8^th grade special education (emotional disabilities) at Lake County Intermediate School in Leadville, CO
  • 1997 taught 4th - 6th grade special education (emotional disabilities) at Riffenburgh Elementary School in Fort Collins, CO
  • 1989 - 1990 taught 7^th grade special education (learning disabilities) at Walt Clark Middle School in Loveland, CO
• 1979-1997 included a variety of experiences in special education (from mild to profound needs), elementary education, early childhood education and movement education including substitute teaching, student teaching, paraprofessional experiences, and volunteering. Included experiences at the preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school levels. Numerous experiences working closely with speech, occupational and physical therapists. Also raised two of my own children.
• B.A. in special education and elementary education, University of Northern Colorado, 1988. Graduated summa cum laude with G.P.A. of 4.0.
• 28.5 graduate level credits in special education and elementary education

My published writing including Disability 101, a disability awareness and etiquette column published by the Summit Daily News- click to access page

My disability related theater experience with Invisible Voices: New Perspectives on Disability - click to access page

My additional training experiences:

• 2010 National ADA Symposium in Denver, Colorado. Inclused sessions on public rights-of-way, the impact of US Department of Justice Regulations on the ADA coordinator, accessibility codes with the ANSI A-117.1, accessible resort and vacation destinations, and accessibility guidelines for the U.S. Forest Service.
• Additional training in 2010 through Meeting the Challenge, Inc. and the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center on the ADA and ABA accessibility standards and on service animals.
• 2009 EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) Denver Technical Assistance Seminar in Aurora, Colorado. Included sessions on the ADA Amendments Act, the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, unconscious bias and discrimination in human resource departments, EEOC charge processing procedures, and the E-Verify and anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• 2009 National ADA Symposium in Kansas City, Missouri. Included sessions on the ADA/ABA accessibility standards, conceptual examination of accessible design, recreation guidelines, acccessible public transportation, the legal process of discrimination complaints, assistive technology, and a comparison of IDEA, the ADA, and Section 504. (2009)
• Accessible Outdoor Recreation Areas, Programs, and Facilities -Why, What, When and How Workship in Missoula, Montana. Speaker- Janet Zeller, National Accessibility Program Manager for the U.S. Forest Service. Hosted by MonTECH at the University of Montana. (2009)
• Received additional ADA training in employment from CTAT Creative Training Solutions in their workshop ADA: A Working Partnership and from the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in their workshop ADA & Disability Awareness Training (2009)
• Moderated webcourse - ADA Basic Building Blocks by the DBTAC Southeast ADA Center (2009)
• Received additional training at "Accessibility and the Codes: How do I Apply It?" workshop given by the Town of Vail featuring Rob Gilkerson from the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center, Denis Murray from the City of Aspen, and Sarah Will from AXS Vail Valley (2009)
• ADA Title II Tutorial webcourse by the DBTAC Southeast ADA Center (2008)
• Group and individualized training received at the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center on all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act including, but not limited to, Title I requirements for employment including reasonable accommodations, the ADA Amendments Act, mental illness in the workplace, ADA standards for accessible design including the ADAAG, the ADA/ABA, and building codes, Title II requirements for state and local governments, public transportation, higher education, requirements for effective communication, Title III requirements for private businesses, accessible website design, and enforcement. Also includes training in sign language and Deaf culture, awareness and etiquette training regarding individuals who are blind or visually impaired, asssistive technology, and basic training on Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Air Carrier Access Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. (2008-2009)
• Training on ADA compliance in transportation services and small businesses from Cody Owen, disability consultant and owner of Passage to Freedom, Carbondale, CO (2008). 
• Training on basic ADA regulations from DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center, Colorado Springs, CO (2008).  
• Training on ADA compliance in transportation services from Easter Seals Project Action (2008)

My passion:

• Disabled athlete participating in Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center’s mono-ski (sit ski), handcycling and adaptive mountain biking programs and in the adaptive biking program and wheelchair basketball program of the Paralympic Sports Club based in Colorado Springs.
• Explored additional adaptive sport opportunities including wheelchair rugby
• Colorado Ski Country USA’s Adaptive Athlete of the Year 2007

My affiliations:

•    United Spinal Association  
•    Colorado Cross Disability Coalition
•    ADAPT