Linda joined the Institute in 2003 bringing with her over 20 years of experience in providing direction and support to people with developmental and psychiatric disabilities in the community. Working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Departments of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and later with non-profit organizations, Linda has provided leadership and vision in the development of homes and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. She is a creative thinker, disciplined analyst, and forward-moving manager who can mobilize resources, mediate conflicting interests and achieve strategic visions of organizations and the constituencies they serve. As Project Coordinator she implemented the Community Wrap/Nursing Facility Transition Project. Linda was also Project Director for the Home Care Connections grant – Integrating Long Term Supports and Affordable Housing. Both grants are part of the Real Choice Systems Change Initiative. In 2007, Linda was appointed Deputy Director and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Institute.

Susan Fox is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Institute on Disability at the University of NH and Director of the Center for Aging and Community Living. A key aspect of her work is the development of person-centered home and community based services for older adults and adults with disabilities to prevent unnecessary institutionalization and to support all citizens to live within their home communities. Prior to this, she served for five years as the State Director of the Division of Developmental Services. She managed services in a community agency serving persons with mental illness and developmental disabilities for over ten years. Including her years working in special education, she has been active in regional and statewide initiatives involving older adults and persons with disabilities for over 30 years. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Easter Seals NH Service Award and the Granite State Independent Living Community Partner Award.

Projects

The Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL) is a collaboration between The Institute on Disability (IOD) and The Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at The University of New Hampshire (UNH). These two institutes have been actively engaged in projects related to aging and long term care for many years. Jointly, the IOD and IHPP provide ongoing support to the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, the ServiceLink Resource Center Network, and various other partners in the Aging Network, in designing, implementing, and evaluating systems change initiatives. In light of these efforts and the need to assure that the state will benefit from an integrated center for applied research, evaluation, and training on issues related to aging and long term care, the CACL was established to coordinate the work of both institutes, maximize the resources available, and provide optimal benefit to the state of NH.

DirectConnect: With a population aging faster than the national average, the state of New Hampshire can anticipate an increasing demand for health care and support services and a heavier reliance on home and community-based services for long term care. It is projected that the need for direct care workers in home and community-based services will increase in the near future and demand will rapidly outpace supply. The Institute on Disability will address this growing need throughDirectConnect, a new project funded by a three-year, $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. As part of the project, DirectConnect will recruit, train, and place 200 new hires in home and community-based direct care jobs. To reach this goal,DirectConnect plans to implement statewide training programs which will include agency-based orientation and training, national best practice curriculums, professional credentialing processes, and established degree programs to prepare workers for placement and advancement. The project also will establish a tuition scholarship program, providing partner agencies with support to cover wages for workers who attend qualified trainings.

Dr. Mary Schuh is the associate director of the Institute on Disability. She has been with the Institute on Disability since its inception in 1987, working to coordinate family and consumer leadership development and educational systems change activities in the areas of: preschool, students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, higher education, and students with complex medical issues. Dr. Schuh has more than 20 years of experience in inclusive schools and communities and project management. She is currently working on systems change in the areas of personnel preparation, leadership development, and inclusive education. She teaches a course on Introduction to Exceptionality and Educating Students with Disabilities in High School at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Schuh has consulted extensively in the United States, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom on issues related to supporting students with disabilities and their families in typical school and community environments. Among her many projects, Dr. Schuh is the Principal Investigator for the National Inclusive Education Initiative (NIEI) and the Special Education Teacher Certification in Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities academic program. She continues in the role of advisor on the award-winning documentary, Including Samuel, and is the author and co-author of a variety of books and other publications related to inclusive schooling.

Projects

Derek is an Educational Consultant on the APEX III (Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence) project. Prior to joining the IOD in 2010, he served as the Associate Education Director at The Browne Center for Innovative Learning, working with organizations throughout the Northeast to implement experiential and adventure-based learning strategies. Derek also works nationally as a trainer, facilitator, and coach with organizations in performance improvement and leadership development. He is actively pursuing a graduate degree and anticipates completion in May 2011. Currently Derek is working with high schools in Manchester and Derry, NH.

Projects

APEX: The Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) project provides training, technical assistance and staff resources to implement a comprehensive drop-out prevention model in high schools that have higher-than-average dropout rates.

RENEW: This project is designed to develop the capacity among mental health providers to provide RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, and Work) services to 60 adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders in New Hampshire, and to support the systems change, training, and sustainability issues related to the implementation of this practice throughout the state. This initiative is funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Endowment for Health, a non-profit foundation that has adopted improved children's mental health as its newest priority area.

Mary Ann has been the Conference Coordinator based out of the IOD's Concord office since 2004. Prior to coming to the Institute, Mary Ann worked as a paraprofessional for 13 years. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree through Granite State College.

Dr. Joan Beasley is a licensed mental health counselor and holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University. Dr. Beasley has worked to promote the development of effective services for people with disabilities and their families for more than 30 years, and is the recipient of the 2010 Frank J. Menolascino Award for Excellence from the NADD.

She is the author and co-founder of the START program, first developed in 1989. In 2001, START was identified in the US Surgeon General's report as a national model. She currently serves as the Director of the Center for START Services at the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability. The Center is dedicated to evidenced based development and implementation of effective services and supports to individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities and behavioral health care needs and their families. 

Current efforts include national training and consultation to states throughout the U.S., development and technical assistance for New Hampshire START, NC START in North Carolina, two pilot START programs in Butler and Hamilton Counties in Ohio for children and adolescents, a Children's program in development in Connecticut, the Arkansas START pilot in Little Rock, and statewide implementation of Virginia START. In addition, Dr. Beasley continues her work in the state of Connecticut where she has worked for more than10 years for the Commissioner's office as a consultant to the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services. 

Dr. Beasley has published numerous peer reviewed articles and book chapters, and has provided training through the US and Canada. She serves on the National Board of Directors of NADD, and was Chair of the NADD U.S. Public Policy Committee from 2002-2008. She has served as the editor of "The US Public Policy Update" an ongoing contribution to the NADD Bulletin, since 2003..

Projects

The Center for START Services: The mission of the Center for START Services is to enhance local capacity and provide collaborative, cost-effective support to individuals and their families through exemplary clinical services, education and training, with close attention to service outcomes.

PHONE: 603-862-1643
FAX: 603-862-0555
E-MAIL

Education

• Ph.D., Planning and Public Policy with a focus on Health Policy and Disability Policy, Rutgers University, 2007
• M.P.A., Social Policy Analysis, University of Delaware, 1995
• B.A., Psychology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, 1991

Professional Background

Prior to joining the IOD in 2011, Dr. Brucker held a variety of social policy research positions in academic, government, and private research institutions. Her primary research interests include disability, substance abuse, and health policy. Dr. Brucker entered the field of disability policy while serving as the Associate Director of the Program for Disability Research at Rutgers University from 2001-2005. Since receiving her Ph.D. in 2007, Dr. Brucker has also been teaching public policy and statistics courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels as an adjunct professor affiliated with numerous colleges and universities.

Projects

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC) will (a) investigate the impact of government policies and programs on employment, with particular attention to the effects of program interactions, (b) examine new ways of measuring employment outcomes, and (c) facilitate the translation of research findings into policymaking and program administration. The EPM-RRTC generates new knowledge and techniques to move the field of disability policy studies forward and facilitate the utilization of this knowledge among key stakeholders. In doing so, the EPM-RRTC looks to positively influence the integration of government programs, and ultimately increase the employment and social participation of people with disabilities.

Sarah has been with the Institute on Disability since 2001 and currently provides child care services for the Seacoast Child Development Clinic.

PHONE: 603-271-5031
FAX: 603-228-3270
E-MAIL

Education

• M.A., Counseling, University of New Hampshire, 1985
• B.A., Human Development & Social Relations, Earlham College, 1981

Greg Burdwood has worked in the human services field for 26 years, 16 of which have been in the community mental health sector as a residential service worker, therapist, manager, and development and community relations director. From 2003 to 2010, Greg served on the board of directors of Community Partners, which provides behavioral health and developmental services to adults and children in Strafford County.

Prior to joining the Institute on Disability, Greg was the executive director of the HUB Family Resource Center for six years, where he provided leadership in all aspects of the organization’s efforts to achieve its mission of helping families raise healthy children in caring homes.

In addition to his experience in the human services sector, Greg developed the student assistance program at Phillips Exeter Academy and has worked as a manager of employee assistance programs for companies of 25 to 5,000 personnel.  He has also taught the Mental Health Management course for New England College’s Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program.

Projects

Behavioral Health Payment Reform: Recognizing that the current payment system cannot adequately support the existing need for services, New Hampshire is looking at a different funding model, where services will be funded based on the population living in a region, rather than the current fee for service model, which does not always create incentives to promote recovery and a decreased need for services over time as an individual gets better. This will be accomplished with a 1915(b) Medicaid Waiver, to be submitted in June, 2011 to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Approval of the Waiver request will allow the NH Bureau of Behavioral Health to establish a prepaid, capitated payment system. The payment and system reform plan is also looking at new strategies to support services in the community for individuals who don’t have insurance, to ensure that access to services is maintained for this group as well. This project will also focus on creating a stable system of care in each local community.

Kären joined the IOD’s Concord office in November 2009 and is Project Assistant to Dan Habib and the Including Samuel Project. Prior to working at the IOD, Kären has spent the past 10 years working in publishing as an editorial coordinator and freelance permissions editor. Kären is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, with a focus on children and adolescents.

Projects

Heidi joined the Institute on Disability in 1998 after working in Community Mental Health as a vocational counselor and case manager for individuals with chronic and severe mental health issues and drug and alcohol addiction. She has worked in transition planning, person-centered planning and resource planning with youth and adults on the Career Enhancement Opportunities Project, Project Dollars & Sense, NH Microboards, and the Family Centered Transition Planning Project. Heidi has presented nationally on topics of transition planning, creating individualized budgets and person centered planning. She currently facilitates planning for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders, trains new Facilitators and provides mentoring and technical assistance for Mental Health counselors and other Transition planners.

Projects

RENEW: This project is designed to develop the capacity among mental health providers to provide RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, and Work) services to 60 adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders in New Hampshire, and to support the systems change, training, and sustainability issues related to the implementation of this practice throughout the state. This initiative is funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Endowment for Health, a non-profit foundation that has adopted improved children's mental health as its newest priority area.

Sustainable Implementation of Family-Centered Transition Planning for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: This systems change initiative aims to improve high school transition, employment, post secondary education and community participation for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Patty directs Innovation Facilitators (IF), a new service initiative offering educational programs, facilitation services and professional development related to creative planning, strategic visioning, and consumer and family-directed service designs. IF is dedicated to advancing the standards of excellence in person-centered planning to support the shift from placing people in programs, to creating personalized support arrangements that are highly customized to the unique interests and needs of individuals. Patty works jointly with the Institute on Disability and the Browne Center for experiential learning at UNH to establish IF as a centralized resource for people with disabilities and families to hire an “independent” facilitator to guide them through person-centered planning. Since joining the Institute on Disability in 1989, Patty has coordinated numerous federally funded projects with a particular focus on model demonstration and system-change in adult services. She has extensive background in process facilitation, service brokering, and the development of natural support strategies. Patty has authored several publications on person-centered planning and natural supports, and provides training at both the state and national levels.

Projects

Innovation Facilitators (IF): As a centralized resource for training, process facilitation, and technical assistance, the mission of Innovation Facilitators (IF) is to advance the standards of excellence in person-centered planning through the support of practitioners, persons with disabilities, families, and personal support teams.

Person Centered Planning for Older Adults. Using the Team Performance Model (TPM) developed by Drexler & Sibbet (1993) as the framework for Person Centered Planning (PCP), the IOD is designing a process for supporting PCP that is applicable across all ages and disabilities. The TPM offers a valuable structure for supporting the progression of PCP and provides a comprehensive framework that reflects predictable phases of planning and decision-making that individuals, families and support teams progress through as they design and develop individually-tailored supports. The PCP project includes the development of principles of PCP, training for community staff who work in critical pathways to long-term supports, the development of a training manual, and the development of web-based PCP tools.

Donna is an Educational Consultant on the Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) Grant. She has worked in several New Hampshire high schools on the APEX II and III Project including Berlin High School, Somersworth High School, Pittsfield Middle/High School, Nute High School and Raymond High School. She has worked in various counseling roles, including mental health outreach counseling with Androscoggin Valley Mental Health, youth counseling and program coordination through the Tri-County Community Action Program, and educational counseling and school-to-career coordination in the Berlin school district.

Projects

APEX: The Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) project provides training, technical assistance and staff resources to implement a comprehensive drop-out prevention model in high schools that have higher-than-average drop out rates.

Education

• Certificate for Administrative Support Specialist, 2007

Brittney joined the IOD’s Concord office team in November 2008 as Administrative Support Specialist. Prior to joining the IOD, Brittney gained experience in the Human Services field while completing an internship at Merrimack County ServiceLink Resource Center.

Since Ann's career began as an occupational therapist, she has enjoyed supporting young children, their families and providers and working to provide supports and services that are family-centered. Her interest in autism has been fueled by these connections and passions. Increasing the use of person-centered planning, organizing and designing responsive supports, and pre-service and continuing education are personal priorities. Through the IOD, Ann is the Coordinator of Clinical Services and Supports and the Coordinator of Family-Centered Care at the Seacoast Child Development Clinic and LEND program. She has worked with many community, state, country and governmental agencies in the areas of systems change, medical home, positive behavioral supports, family-centered care, autism and developmental disabilities. Ann is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and the State of New Hampshire. As the parent of a wonderful daughter who has disabilities, Ann applies her parenting experience to the Institute’s work in education, inclusion, medical support and family support.

Projects

NH-LEND: The NH LEND Program is a collaborative effort of the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth and the Institute on Disability, a University Center of Excellence in Disabilities (UCED), and the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. The program provides interdisciplinary leadership training to those who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in working with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities or special health care needs and their families. Training experiences are individually designed to provide future leaders with both value-based and evidence-based training.

Seacoast Child Development Clinic: The Seacoast Child Development Clinic provides family-centered and culturally sensitive interdisciplinary evaluation and consultation to assist families of children who have developmental challenges to make informed decisions regarding medical, developmental, and educational needs.

Beth, a parent of four children and grandparent of four, is interested in equality for all people in all areas that affect our lives--education, social/friendship ties, work environments, housing options, recreation opportunities, and more. Beth enjoys organizing and presenting best practices to participants at the NH Leadership Series. Watching people change and broaden their expectations for themselves and/or their children is exciting to her--but even more exciting is watching them become involved in their communities and in public life.

Beth Dixon was honored in May, 2011 with the Presidential Award of Excellence, an award given annually to five staff members who have demonstrated excellence through outstanding performance in their positions and a record of dedication to, and a concern for, the University community. Throughout the past 20 plus years of Beth’s tenure at the IOD, she has been responsible for growing a cornerstone program of the organization, the NH Leadership Series. As a result of Beth’s leadership and organizational talents, almost 800 individuals with disabilities, their families, and graduate students have been trained in evidence-based practices to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities, their families, and their communities.

Projects

The New Hampshire Leadership Series is a seven-month training session for adults with disabilities, parents or family members of children with disabilities, and LEND Trainees. It is based on the national Partners in Policymaking model. The Series is funded by the NH Department of Education, NH Developmental Disabilities Council, NH Bureau of Developmental Services, NH Area Agencies, many public and private foundations statewide, as well as the Friends of Leadership fundraising events, and donations from NH Leadership graduates.

Jennifer has been with the Institute on Disability since 2006. Jennifer currently assists in managing the business and service operations of the IOD. She is responsible for the preparation and management of grant and contract funds. Prior to joining the IOD, Jennifer was the finance manager for a global media intelligence firm.

Sönke's primary motivation lies within a deeply held belief that society must be accessible at all levels to all people in order to fulfill its promise as a democratic society. He is interested in developing infrastructures that support access for all by utilizing community economic development strategies and structures. Current work focuses on access through transportation for people with disabilities and others who do not drive, especially in rural areas. Sönke is also intrigued by connections - both historical and current - between languages and in language as a transmitter of cultural norms and values.

Projects

New Hampshire Assistive Technology Partnership Project: The goal of the New Hampshire Assistive Technology Partnership Project is to increase access to assistive technology through the creation and support of consumer driven systems for the provision of state-of-the-art assistive technology products and services for citizens with disabilities in the state of New Hampshire.

Transportation Solutions New Hampshire (TSNH) analyzes existing issues, provides factual information resources, and initiates policy changes toward a sustainable transportation system. It is especially critical that public awareness of the transportation system’s role and current stresses be strengthened through a common messaging framework in order to over-come short term thinking, restrictive state budget frameworks, and other challenges.

Jonathon started working with the Institute on Disability in 2005 as an intern through the NH Leadership in Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. From 2006-2009, Jonathon joined the APEXII (Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence) project as an Intensive Intervention Facilitator providing on-going training and technical assistance to high school professionals around a youth intensive intervention model called RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, and Work). Jonathon is currently the Master Trainer for the RENEW Capacity Building Project. The RENEW project is designed to build sustainability for RENEW in the mental health system by training clinicians to use the RENEW model as an evidence based mental health intervention. The project is targeting up to 60 youth with emotional and/or behavioral disorders. Jonathon has also collaborated with Strafford Learning Center on the Wraparound initiative for the seacoast region as a wraparound trainer and facilitator.

Projects

RENEW: This project is designed to develop the capacity among mental health providers to provide RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, and Work) services to 60 adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders in New Hampshire, and to support the systems change, training, and sustainability issues related to the implementation of this practice throughout the state. This initiative is funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Endowment for Health, a non-profit foundation that has adopted improved children's mental health as its newest priority area.

Casey joined the Institute on Disability in May 2011 to provide technical support and advisement. His prior experience includes working with both non-profit and for-profit organizations, and his expertise includes web application development, project management, consulting, and technical support.

PHONE: 603-862-0318
FAX: 603-862-0555
E-MAIL

Education:

• B.A., Social Work, University of New Hampshire, 1987
• Currently enrolled in the graduate program at Rivier College, pursuing Masters in Education in School Counseling

Professional Background

Kathy provides on-going training and technical assistance, data collection and analyses to local high schools to assist them in the development and expansion of implementation of school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. In addition, Kathy is part of the NH Responds initiative as a Research Associate and High School facilitator, assisting schools to develop systemic change and a 3 tiered approach to literacy interventions.

Prior to joining the IOD in 2010, she served as Crisis Intervention Coordinator for Somersworth High School and Middle School for over 10 years. Her experience includes implementing peer mediation programs at both the middle school and high school levels; designing and facilitating weekly socials skills for students in grades 5-12; teaching conflict resolution skills in grades 5-8 groups, as well as building awareness and skill development in youth to handle issues involving bullying and harassment; leading a student leadership group which focused on student voice in the PBIS process and dropout prevention; overseeing RENEW in the high school as a 3 tiered intervention to support high school students with social and behavioral issues;  and served as an internal coach on both the Universal and Targeted Team for the middle school and  the coach for the Targeted Team at the high school. She is actively pursuing her graduate degree in Education and School Counseling. Currently, Kathy is working as a Behavior Specialist and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) facilitator within NH Responds. Kathy provides consultation to 2 high schools on school–wide PBIS implementation and literacy interventions and assists in the development RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, and Work) a school-based intensive support intervention to help at risk youth engage in high school completion and post secondary options.

Projects

APEX: The Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) project provides training, technical assistance and staff resources to implement comprehensive drop-out prevention model in high schools that have higher-than-average dropout rates.

NH RESPONDS: NH RESPONDS is a five-year grant-funded initiative to improve the effectiveness of in-service and pre-service professional development for educators, particularly in the areas of literacy and positive behavior support. The NH Department of Education is partnering with UNH Institute on Disability and several institutions of higher education around the state along with NH Center on Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports (NH CEBIS) on this initiative.

RENEW: This project is designed to develop the capacity among high schools to provide RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, and Work) services to adolescents at risk New Hampshire, and to support the systems change, training, and sustainability issues related to the implementation of this practice throughout the state. This initiative is funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Endowment for Health, a non-profit foundation that has adopted improved children's mental health as its newest priority area.

Since graduating from college, Deb has worked in the sales and customer service industry in Massachusetts, California, Illinois, and New Hampshire. After having children, she began a new chapter in her life as a mother and volunteer. Deb is a 2005 graduate of the NH Leadership Series; this opened up her world further as she became an informed advocate for her own children then was elected to her district’s School Board. Her goal is to make a difference for all children, with and without disabilities.

As the Project Coordinator for YES, Deb enjoys organizing all the events and keeping in touch with the young adults who are a part of the program. Deb also enjoys using her hobby of photography as she updates the YES website and Facebook pages to keep all informed of past, present, and future events.

Projects

Youth Empowerment Services: A three year initiative designed to develop and promote self advocacy and leadership skills in young adults with disabilities to help them prepare for the future.

Penny joined the IOD in February 2011 as Program Support Assistant for the following Research Rehabilitation Training Centers: Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC), Center on Individual-level Characteristics Related to Employment Among Individuals with Disabilities (IC-RRTC), and Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC). After nearly seven years working for a large local Credit Union, Penny’s passion for training and education coupled with her background in non-profit work brought her to the IOD.

Projects

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC) will (a) investigate the impact of government policies and programs on employment, with particular attention to the effects of program interactions, (b) examine new ways of measuring employment outcomes, and (c) facilitate the translation of research findings into policymaking and program administration. The EPM-RRTC generates new knowledge and techniques to move the field of disability policy studies forward and facilitate the utilization of this knowledge among key stakeholders. In doing so, the EPM-RRTC looks to positively influence the integration of government programs, and ultimately increase the employment and social participation of people with disabilities.

Nikki has been with the IOD since April 2007 as Communications & Marketing Assistant. Prior to coming to the IOD, Nikki worked in internal communications with the Information Systems group at Liberty Mutual Insurance, exercising skills in website content management and design, event coordination and support, and publication production.

Dan Habib is the director, producer and cinematographer of the documentary, Including Samuel. The Emmy-nominated film was broadcast nationally on public television and won the Positive Images in Media award from TASH.

Including Samuel has been featured on “Good Morning America,” NPR's “All Things Considered,” and in the Washington Post and Education Week. Exceptional Parent Magazine said "Including Samuel is a must see film."

Habib is Filmmaker in Residence at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. Until joining UNH in April of 2008, he was the photography editor of the Concord Monitor. In 2006 and 2008 he was also named the national Photography Editor of the Year. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Time, Newsweek, People, Life, and the New York Times.

Habib has been named New Hampshire Photographer of the Year six times. He has been a judge of Pulitzer Prizes, Pictures of the Year, Best of Photojournalism and the White House News Photographer's Association.

Habib’s second film, Education Revolution (working title), due for national release in 2012, documents the lives of students with emotional/behavioral disabilities, and shows innovative educational approaches that help these students to succeed – while improving the overall school culture and climate.

Habib and his wife, Betsy, live in Concord, New Hampshire, with their sons Isaiah, 15, and Samuel, 11.

Projects

The Inclusive Communities Project: The Inclusive Communities Project at the IOD leverages the Institute’s expertise and the power of documentary film to promote greater acceptance and inclusion of children with disabilities in schools and communities. The Inclusive Communities Project is directed by the IOD’s Filmmaker in Residence, Dan Habib. Habib’s award-winning documentary film Including Samuel is built on his family’s efforts to include Samuel, 11, who has cerebral palsy, in all facets of their lives--a journey that transforms each of them.

Including Samuel also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with teachers, parents, students and disability rights experts. Including Samuel has become more than a film, however. It has evolved into a powerful tool to promote inclusive education, social change, disability rights and public awareness through curriculum, training and worldwide outreach. See the film trailer and read more at www.includingsamuel.com.

Habib is working on his second film, Education Revolution (working title). The film will document the educational approaches that enable children with complex emotional/behavioral challenges to succeed, while simultaneously improving the climate of schools and youth-serving organizations. Through the production, distribution, outreach and screening events of this documentary film and an accompanying website, Educational Guide, Screening Toolkits and social media program, this project will increase awareness, spotlight best practices and improve responses to one of the major challenges in our educational system today. View the preview and read more.

Betsy joined the Institute on Disability in 2010 as Interdisciplinary Training Director for the NH Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NH-LEND). Betsy’s connection to the IOD goes back to the mid-90’s when she completed her master’s in early childhood special education. and participated in the NH-LEND program as a trainee. She went on to serve for over ten years as early childhood special educator for the Portsmouth Early Education Program, an inclusive preschool program. During her years in the school department Betsy served as consultant for the Preschool Technical Assistance Network (PTAN), as a member of the Head Start Advisory Board, Mentor for the Early Intervention Network of New Hampshire, faculty at the College of Lifelong Learning (now Granite State College), and adjunct faculty for the Department of Education at UNH. In 2008 Betsy received a doctoral scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to pursue studies in the area of autism spectrum disorders. She has been a contributing author on several manuscripts and book chapters, reviewed proposals for the Division of Early Childhood national conference, and been a guest reviewer for Topics in Language Disorders and the American Journal of Speech and Language Pathology. Betsy is in the process of completing her dissertation study, a secondary data analysis which will examine associations between the use of standardized developmental screening tools and timing of autism spectrum diagnosis in commercial claims data.

Projects

NH-LEND: The NH Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NH-LEND) is a collaboration between Dartmouth Medical School and the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. NH-LEND has provided graduate level interdisciplinary training in maternal and child health/developmental disabilities for students and professionals at UNH since 1993. The purpose of NH-LEND is to improve the health of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities by preparing leaders to enter the field of maternal and child health. Trainees from a wide variety of professional disciplines engage in 300 hours of training related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally competent systems of care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families. Beginning in 2011, NH-LEND will be partnering with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies/UCED at the University of Maine-Orono to serve an area that is not currently served by a LEND training program. Through this partnership, NH-LEND will assist in developing infrastructure and addressing regional needs, particularly in rural underserved regions of Maine.

Dr. Hurley joined the Institute in 2009 and currently serves as the Director of Training at the Center for START Services, a team of national experts in the field of mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Dr. Hurley started her career as a psychologist training in neuropsychology and behavioral therapies for people who had schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and depression. During her internship, she began a specialization in the mental health problems of people with intellectual disability that became the focus of her career. In 1995, she joined the consulting team at the START Center in Massachusetts. Since that time, she has been working to integrate systems support models with behavioral and therapeutic services. Dr. Hurley has published over 100 articles and book chapters on these topics, presented numerous seminars and training programs in the US and Canada, and is on the Editorial Board of several journals. Current projects include: a contract to provide trainings and evaluate service needs of individuals in New Hampshire; a Health Foundation grant for children and adolescents in Butler County, Ohio to provide training to community providers; and a multi-state grant to provide national training to START Teams and their partners.

Projects

The Center for START Services: The mission of the Center for START Services is to enhance local capacity and provide collaborative, cost-effective support to individuals and their families through exemplary clinical services, education and training, with close attention to service outcomes

Cat joined the support staff team at the IOD's Concord office in October, 2007, managing online registration, assisting with the creation of marketing materials, and coordinating logistics for IOD conferences, trainings, and events. Previous to returning to her home state of New Hampshire, she helped to develop and support a spearhead professional development program serving university staff at the University of Washington's Professional and Organizational Development in Seattle, Washington.

Having come up through the education ranks as a paraprofessional, Title 1 tutor, general education teacher, special education teacher and inclusion facilitator, Laurie brings a wide variety of experience, perspectives, and expertise to the education of children with disabilities. Laurie has had significant training in the many areas of educating students with disabilities and holds graduate certificates in the areas of Intellectual and Development Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Laurie has also done significant work in the Beyond Access for Students with Disabilities project, the Beyond Access for Assessment Accommodations project, the Gaining Access to What Student with Cognitive Disabilities Know project, the National Center and State Collaborative Community of Practice, and the National Inclusive Education Initiative, research projects at the UNH Institute on Disability.

Projects

Gaining Access: A multi-year project in partnership with the NH Department of Education to revise the NH Alternate Assessment.

PHONE: 603-862-4320
FAX: 603-862-0555
E-MAIL

Education

• Ph.D., Epidemiology, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey - School of Public Health, expected completion 2013
• M.P.H., Quantitative Methods, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey - School of Public Health, 2008
• B.A., Psychology, Harvard University, 2000

Professional Background

Eric has spent the last 14 years developing his interest in disabilities and mental health. After receiving his bachelor's degree in psychology, Eric worked directly with children and adults with mental health conditions at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center and McLean Hospital. Eric's fieldwork for his master's degree examined brain weights in autism. His Ph.D. coursework was in statistics, research methodology, molecular biology, and genetic sciences. Eric's career focus includes health disparities, disabilities and mental health, with research interests such as the impact of disabilities, physical illness and mental illness on quality of life, access to care, and health outcomes. Eric's career goals include teaching, research, grant writing, and publishing as well as informing policy on the state and federal level.

Projects

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Individual-Level Characteristics Related to Employment Among Individuals with Disabilities (IC-RRTC) is generating new knowledge about the role of individual characteristics on employment outcomes. Despite the ADA and advances in medicine and technology, people with disabilities, as a group, have become economically less self-sufficient over the last few decades. For people with disabilities, employment rates have declined, reliance on public benefits has increased, and household incomes have fallen further behind those of other households. In addition, there are substantial disparities in employment outcomes within the population with disabilities. The IC-RRTC will work toward improving strategies and interventions designed to foster better employment outcomes for the various subpopulations of people with disabilities

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC) will (a) investigate the impact of government policies and programs on employment, with particular attention to the effects of program interactions, (b) examine new ways of measuring employment outcomes, and (c) facilitate the translation of research findings into policymaking and program administration. The EPM-RRTC generates new knowledge and techniques to move the field of disability policy studies forward and facilitate the utilization of this knowledge among key stakeholders. In doing so, the EPM-RRTC looks to positively influence the integration of government programs, and ultimately increase the employment and social participation of people with disabilities.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) aims to improve knowledge about and access to existing data, and generate the knowledge needed to improve future disability data collection and dissemination. It is our goal to foster evidence-based decision making by people with disabilities and their families, advocates, policymakers, program administrators, service providers, and researchers by making data widely available and accessible.

Peter A. Macalaster joined the Institute on Disability in 1994 as an office assistant. Prior to his work at the Institute, Peter worked as a courier at BankEast for over 10 years and operated a small business in Boston, Massachusetts for 15 years. In 1999, Peter graduated from the Institute on Disability's Leadership Series and remains an active advocate for disability rights. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the NH Challenge newspaper and offers guest lectures in UNH classes and elsewhere on his experiences with disability. Peter is also a member of the UNH President's Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities. In his free time, Peter enjoys skiing, water skiing, and traveling.

JoAnne M. Malloy is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Malloy received a master’s degree in social work administration and planning from the University of Tennessee in 1981 and a doctorate of philosophy in education from the University of New Hampshire in April 2011. She joined the staff of Institute on Disability (NH’s University Center for Excellence on Disability) in 1991 where she has directed several state and federally-funded employment and dropout prevention projects. In 1996, she directed a demonstration project to create employment opportunities for youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities. The model developed as a result of the project, known as RENEW (Rehabilitation, Empowerment, Natural supports, Education, and Work), has resulted in positive outcomes for youth with emotional and behavioral disorders and at risk youth in educational, mental health and juvenile detention settings.

Ms. Malloy has directed two projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education that were the first in the country to link Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions (PBIS) with dropout prevention. These projects, entitled APEX (Achievement in Prevention and Excellence) have been implemented in 17 high schools in New Hampshire, and have been replicated and expanded with state discretionary special education dollars. Ms. Malloy also directs a project funded by the NH Endowment for Health to train community mental health center staffs to provide RENEW services to youth with emotional and behavioral disorders. Ms. Malloy has published numerous articles and book chapters on employment and transition for youth with emotional disorders and adults with mental illness.

Projects

APEX: The Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) project provides training, technical assistance and staff resources to implement a comprehensive drop-out prevention model in high schools that have higher-than-average dropout rates.

Medicaid Infrastructure Grant: Provides research, capacity building and infrastructure development to remove barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities.

NH RESPONDS: NH RESPONDS is a five-year grant-funded initiative to improve the effectiveness of in-service and pre-service professional development for educators, particularly in the areas of literacy and positive behavior support. The NH Department of Education is partnering with UNH Institute on Disability and several institutions of higher education around the state along with NH Center on Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports (NH-CEBIS) on this initiative.

RENEW: This project is designed to develop the capacity among mental health providers to provide RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, and Work) services to 60 adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders in New Hampshire, and to support the systems change, training, and sustainability issues related to the implementation of this practice throughout the state.

Melissa joined the IOD in 2005. Currently she works on projects to support access to person-centered long-term care options for older adults, as well as assessing consumer satisfaction with community mental health services and developing core competency standards for individuals who work with children with emotional and behavioral challenges. Previously, Melissa worked on projects supporting family and informal caregivers and integrating affordable housing with long term supports. Prior to joining IOD, Melissa worked for the State of New Hampshire at the Bureau of Behavioral Health and at New Hampshire Hospital. Previous employment included University of Iowa Mental Health Clinical Research Center and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Monica has a strong background in applied research and project management. The focus of her career as an epidemiologist has been on the evaluation and implementation of evidence-based medicine, and more specifically, genetic testing. Monica has worked with both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ACCE Model Process, which takes its name from the four components of evaluation—analytic validity, clinical validity, clinical utility and associated ethical, legal and social implications, and the EGAPP (Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention) Initiative for evaluating data on emerging genetic tests. These processes include collecting, evaluating, interpreting, and reporting data about DNA (and related) testing for disorders with a genetic component in a format that allows policy makers to have access to up-to-date and reliable information for decision making. She has collaborated with genetic experts across the country through her work with the CDC, Women and Infants Hospital in RI, the Institute for Preventive Medicine and Medical Screening, and the Foundation for Blood Research. Through these positions she has developed a wide breadth of knowledge about issues relevant to the field of genetics.

Projects

Monica is Co-Principal Investigator of The New England Genetics Collaborative (NEGC), which is a federally-funded cooperative agreement by the Health Resources and Services Administration – Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The NEGC was established to assure that individuals with genetic disorders and their families have access to quality care and appropriate genetic expertise and information in the context of a medical home that provides accessible, family-centered, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective care.

NH-LEND: The NH Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NH-LEND) is a collaboration between Dartmouth Medical School and the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. NH-LEND has provided graduate level interdisciplinary training in maternal and child health/developmental disabilities for students and professionals at UNH since 1993. The purpose of NH-LEND is to improve the health of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities by preparing leaders to enter the field of maternal and child health. Trainees from a wide variety of professional disciplines engage in 300 hours of training related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally competent systems of care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families. Beginning in 2011, NH-LEND will be partnering with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies/UCED at the University of Maine-Orono to serve an area that is not currently served by a LEND training program. Through this partnership, NH-LEND will assist in developing infrastructure and addressing regional needs, particularly in rural underserved regions of Maine.

Michael McSheehan, a project director with the Institute on Disability/UCED and Clinical Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, has been affiliated with the Institute on Disability since 1993. Michael works on a variety of state and federally funded initiatives to advance research, policy, and practice in inclusive education, alternate assessment, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), autism spectrum disorders, collaborative teaming, and Response to Intervention (RtI).

Michael was a developer, researcher, and author of The Beyond Access Model, which has been used successfully by schools across the United States to promote membership in general education classrooms, participation in general education instruction, and learning of general education curriculum by students with significant disabilities.

In partnership with the NH Department of Education, Michael coordinated a four-year effort to revise the NH Alternate Assessment (Gaining Access). He brings insights and lessons learned from that project to a partnership with University of Kentucky (NCSC) and a national consortium of states to design and implement alternate assessment based on common core state standards and the vision of career and college readiness for students with significant disabilities. Michael also coordinates with seven elementary schools and five school districts/SAUs to develop and implement a Response-to-Intervention model that blends academic and behavioral supports (NH RESPONDS). He brings exceptional skills in working with teams to solve challenging problems within school-wide improvement and reform efforts.

He consults with various state departments of education and is nationally recognized for his presentations at conferences.

Projects

National Inclusive Education Initiative (NIEI): The NIEI is focused on improving educational services and outcomes for students with autism and related disabilities through national efforts in the areas of model demonstration, leadership development, personnel preparation, professional development, clinical evaluation services, and research and policy.

Gaining Access: A multi-year project in partnership with the NH Department of Education to revise the NH Alternate Assessment.

NH RESPONDS: NH RESPONDS is a five-year grant-funded initiative to improve the effectiveness of in-service and pre-service professional development for educators, particularly in the areas of literacy and positive behavior support. The NH Department of Education is partnering with UNH Institute on Disability and several institutions of higher education around the state along with NH Center on Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports (NH CEBIS) on this initiative.

National Center and State Collaborative: Developing a system of assessments supported by curriculum, instruction, and professional development to ensure that students with significant cognitive disabilities achieve increasingly higher academic outcomes and leave high school ready for post-secondary options. Through a sub-award from the University of Kentucky, the IOD collaborates with the Professional Development workgroup of the NCSC. Through this project, the IOD also provides technical assistance to Communities of Practice in three states (CT, MA, RI) as they prepare and improve systems for a new alternate assessment.

Maureen has been with the Institute on Disability since 2004. Prior to joining the IOD, Maureen was Director of Finance & Administration at a statewide human service agency. She is pleased to be part of the IOD as a member of the financial management team that supports the work the staff "in the field" perform to carry out the mission of the organization.

Julie Moser brings more than 12 years of project management and communications skills to the Institute on Disability. After a five-year career in journalism, she originally joined the IOD in 1999 as a project associate for major grants including Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Covering Kids project and the Department of Education’s Early Connections model demonstration project. She served at the IOD through 2004 before moving to Asheville, NC, where she served as a project manager at the University of North Carolina. With roots in New England, Julie Moser returned to the IOD in 2010 to work on behalf of the Center for START Services.

Projects

The Center for START Services: The mission of the Center for START Services is to enhance local capacity and provide collaborative, cost-effective support to individuals and their families through exemplary clinical services, education and training, with close attention to service outcomes.

Sarah joined the IOD in January 2010 as a Project Assistant for the National Inclusive Education Initiative. Sarah has more recently expanded her project work to include APEX and RENEW. She is also the in-house online training coordinator. Prior to joining the IOD, Sarah was a Project Assistant for the Office of HIV/AIDS at the United State Agency for International Development and a Congressional Aide for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Projects

National Inclusive Education Initiative (NIEI): The NIEI is focused on improving educational services and outcomes for students with autism and related disabilities through national efforts in the areas of model demonstration, leadership development, personnel preparation, professional development, clinical evaluation services, and research and policy.

APEX: The Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) project provides training, technical assistance and staff resources to implement comprehensive drop-out prevention model in high schools that have higher-than-average dropout rates.

RENEW: This project is designed to develop the capacity among high schools to provide RENEW (Rehabilitation for Empowerment, Natural Supports, Education, and Work) services to adolescents at risk New Hampshire, and to support the systems change, training, and sustainability issues related to the implementation of this practice throughout the state. This initiative is funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Endowment for Health, a non-profit foundation that has adopted improved children's mental health as its newest priority area.

Before rejoining the Institute on Disability in 2009, Ms. Partch-Davies served for six years as founding director of the Center for Community Economic Development & Disability at Southern New Hampshire University, where she served as Principal Investigator for a sub-study of NIDRR funded Asset Accumulation and Tax Policy Project; the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) funded Living with Independence, Freedom & Equality (LIFE) Project, and the Principal Investigator for several CMS funded sub-studies for New Hampshire's Medicaid Infrastructure Grant. She is the current PI for the experimentally designed REAL Opportunity Study, a NIDRR funded Asset Accumulation and Economic Self Sufficiency Study in partnership with the Burton Blatt Institute of Syracuse University.  She is the PI for the New Hampshire Medicaid Buy In Utilization project in partnership with Mathematica Policy Research, the co-PI for the Employment Infrastructure Evaluation, and the project manager for the Employment Indicator System, a multi-system, web-based, quality improvement tracking system for the employment development of people with disabilities, all sub-studies affiliated with New Hampshire’s Medicaid Infrastructure Grant.

Kim joins the Institute on Disability as a researcher and Program Evaluation Specialist for various projects within the Center on Aging and Community Living. She arrives from her previous position at UNH, at which she assisted with research and evaluation for Prevention Innovations: Research and Practices for Ending Violence Against Women on Campus.

Kathleen Pirie brings more than seventeen years of administrative and leadership experience to her role as Office Manager at the IOD’s Durham Office. This experience, combined with Kathy’s commitment to providing quality support and service, makes her well suited for this role.

Jennifer joined the Institute on Disability as a Project Director for DirectConnect in 2010. Jennifer has spent the last 14 years working with elderly, as well as chronically and acutely ill populations in community based settings. Prior to joining the IOD, she worked for seven years as Director of Patient Services for the ALS Association – Orange County Chapter in California. In this role, Jennifer was responsible for program design, implementation and evaluation as well as general oversight of all programs. Previous to that, she provided program supervision and case management for 5 years in a Medicaid waiver program designed to post pone and/or prevent nursing home placement of at risk seniors in Los Angeles County, California. Jennifer has also worked on a research project that evaluated the efficacy of a Cognitive Behavioral group treatment approach to depression.

Projects

DirectConnect: With a population aging faster than the national average, the state of New Hampshire can anticipate an increasing demand for health care and support services and a heavier reliance on home and community-based services for long term care. It is projected that the need for direct care workers in home and community-based services will increase in the near future and demand will rapidly outpace supply. The Institute on Disability will address this growing need throughDirectConnect, a new project funded by a three-year, $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. As part of the project, DirectConnect will recruit, train, and place 200 new hires in home and community-based direct care jobs. To reach this goal,DirectConnect plans to implement statewide training programs which will include agency-based orientation and training, national best practice curriculums, professional credentialing processes, and established degree programs to prepare workers for placement and advancement. The project also will establish a tuition scholarship program, providing partner agencies with support to cover wages for workers who attend qualified trainings.

Leigh began working at the Institute in 1993. Prior work included teaching in a special education preschool program and as a family support worker in an early intervention program. She began at the Institute by providing technical assistance and training around elementary school inclusion. She has served as project coordinator for the Granite Ladders Project, a five-year research project evaluating the effectiveness of a literacy curriculum in Head Start classrooms, funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education, Institute of Education Sciences and the Community Options project, a model demonstration project promoting inclusive options for preschoolers. Leigh currently provides technical assistance and training for school districts and community providers in the areas of inclusion, literacy, and Response to Intervention.

Leigh is a mother of three, including one child with special educational needs. Leigh is a past board member of the Northern New England Down Syndrome Congress and served on the Family Advisory Board for Region 8.

Projects

NH RESPONDS: NH RESPONDS is a five-year grant-funded initiative to improve the effectiveness of in-service and pre-service professional development for educators, particularly in the areas of literacy and positive behavior support. The NH Department of Education is partnering with UNH Institute on Disability and several institutions of higher education around the state along with NH Center on Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports (NH CEBIS) on this initiative.

Dr. Ruiz joined the IOD in January 2011 as Research Associate for the Hunter College Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics (StatsRRTC), Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC), and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Individual-Level Characteristics Related to Employment Among Individuals with Disabilities (IC-RRTC). Prior to working with the IOD, Dr. Ruiz was an Assistant and Associate Professor at the Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Technology Berlin, Germany (1980-84, 1984-90). He held Visiting Research Professor positions at the University of Oklahoma; Osaka University, Japan; University of Gent, Belgium; and Aarhus Business School, Aarhus, Denmark. He was also a Visiting Professor and Senior Research Associate at Cornell University (1990-2008). He has published in the areas of organizational behavior and human resource management.

Projects
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC) will (a) investigate the impact of government policies and programs on employment, with particular attention to the effects of program interactions, (b) examine new ways of measuring employment outcomes, and (c) facilitate the translation of research findings into policymaking and program administration. The EPM-RRTC generates new knowledge and techniques to move the field of disability policy studies forward and facilitate the utilization of this knowledge among key stakeholders. In doing so, the EPM-RRTC looks to positively influence the integration of government programs, and ultimately increase the employment and social participation of people with disabilities.

PHONE: 603-228-2084
FAX: 603-228-3270
E-MAIL

Education

• M.S., Salem State College, 1992
• B.A., Psychology, Lyndon State College

Professional Background

Bob joined the Institute on Disability in 2011 after working as the Director of Residential Services for a large human services company in Massachusetts. Bob has worked to develop cutting-edge residential services to individuals with significant medical and mental health disabilities as well as developing unique services focused on end of life care for individuals with Downs Syndrome and dementia. Working closely with Dr. Joan Beasley in Massachusetts, Bob was instrumental in the development and operation of the first START Services model in Massachusetts, and would later help to operate the Sovner Center a community mental health clinic specializing in progressive treatment for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health issues. Bob brings over 25 years of human services, clinical, and supervisory experience to the Institute on Disability.

Projects

The Center for START Services: The mission of the Center for START Services is to enhance local capacity and provide collaborative, cost-effective support to individuals and their families through exemplary clinical services, education and training, with close attention to service outcomes. 

For nearly 40 years, Frank has worked in the education field in a variety of educational and residential settings. He brings diverse experience to the Institute on Disability. Working to promote sustainable system change in schools, he has been instrumental in building the capacities in schools to support educational practices which include all students. Providing trainings for and technical assistance to teachers, therapists, paraprofessionals and administrators, he focuses on practical applications, the “how to” of achieving full participation for students with disabilities.

Frank has also been instrumental in the development and operation of the NH Leadership Series which supports self advocacy and leadership skills for individuals with disabilities and their families who wish to affect change at a personal, community, and statewide level. He currently is the Project Director of Youth Empowerment Services (YES), providing an intensive training series in the areas of leadership, self advocacy, and future planning for young adults ages 16-22 with and without disabilities.

He has co authored chapters in the books, Part of the Community and Tips for Inclusion Handbook by Brooks publishing and has been a contributor to several publications in the field of special education.  Frank has also conducted several workshops and trainings on “Schools are for ALL Kids” throughout the state, the nation, in the United Kingdom and most recently in Belarus.

Projects

Including Samuel: Dan Habib's new award-winning documentary film Including Samuel examines the educational and social inclusion of youth with disabilities. The film is built on the Habib family's efforts to include Samuel, 11, in all facets of their lives, a journey that transforms each of them. Including Samuelalso features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with teachers, parents, students, and disability rights experts.

The New Hampshire Leadership Series is a seven-month training session for adults with disabilities, parents or family members of children with disabilities, and LEND Trainees. It is based on the national Partners in Policymaking model. The Series is funded by the NH Department of Education, NH Developmental Disabilities Council, NH Bureau of Developmental Services, NH Area Agencies, many public and private foundations statewide, as well as the Friends of Leadership fundraising events, and donations from NH Leadership graduates.

Youth Empowerment Services: A three year initiative designed to develop and promote self advocacy and leadership skills in young adults with disabilities to help them prepare for the future.

Karen has been with the IOD since February 2008 as Project Coordinator with the New England Genetics Collaborative (NEGC). The NEGC is a cooperative agreement with HRSA intended to improve access to high quality genetic services in New England. Directly before this position Karen worked as a research assistant with the Crimes Against Children Center at UNH. Karen has a strong background in human services, having directed a Juvenile Intake program for eighteen years prior to working at UNH. This experience spanned child welfare, the juvenile court system and social services, and helped Karen learn to look across systems as well as to manage day to day activities. She now uses those skills here at the IOD.

Rae M. Sonnenmeier, Ph.D., is a Clinical Associate Professor with the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. Her research focuses on understanding the communication patterns of young children on the autism spectrum, early identification of young children at-risk for an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays, the design of technologies and other supports for communication to support students’ learning of the general education curriculum, including literacy skills. She teaches courses on autism spectrum disorders, speech differences in young children, augmentative communication, and leadership in the field of developmental disabilities. Through her work with the Seacoast Child Development Clinic, she provides clinical assessment and consultation regarding best practices for communication development and learning to families, school personnel, and early intervention and other community-based providers.

Projects

NH-LEND: The NH Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NH-LEND) is a collaboration between Dartmouth Medical School and the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. NH-LEND has provided graduate level interdisciplinary training in maternal and child health/developmental disabilities for students and professionals at UNH since 1993. The purpose of NH-LEND is to improve the health of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities by preparing leaders to enter the field of maternal and child health. Trainees from a wide variety of professional disciplines engage in 300 hours of training related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally competent systems of care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families. Beginning in 2011, NH-LEND will be partnering with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies/UCED at the University of Maine-Orono to serve an area that is not currently served by a LEND training program. Through this partnership, NH-LEND will assist in developing infrastructure and addressing regional needs, particularly in rural underserved regions of Maine.

PHONE: 603.862.1084
FAX: 603.862.0555
E-MAIL

Professional Background
Jennifer joined the IOD in June 2011 as the Executive Assistant to the Director. Jenn has over 10 years' experience in executive assistant roles including for a past UNH President. She most recently worked as a development manager for a non-profit organization in Boston, and previously worked as a flight concierge for a private charter flight company. This diverse experience combined with her passion for civil rights and equality drew her to the IOD.

Kate is an occupational therapist with over 10 years clinical experience working with people of all ages.  She is a doctoral candidate in Education at UNH and her studies have focused on supporting children with autism spectrum disorders. Kate currently teaches in the Occupational Therapy Department and she is the project coordinator for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program.

Projects

NH-LEND: The NH Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NH-LEND) is a collaboration between Dartmouth Medical School and the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. NH-LEND has provided graduate level interdisciplinary training in maternal and child health/developmental disabilities for students and professionals at UNH since 1993. The purpose of NH-LEND is to improve the health of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities by preparing leaders to enter the field of maternal and child health. Trainees from a wide variety of professional disciplines engage in 300 hours of training related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally competent systems of care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families. Beginning in 2011, NH-LEND will be partnering with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies/UCED at the University of Maine-Orono to serve an area that is not currently served by a LEND training program. Through this partnership, NH-LEND will assist in developing infrastructure and addressing regional needs, particularly in rural underserved regions of Maine.

Mary joined the Institute on Disability as Concord Office Manager in August 2010. Prior to coming to the IOD, Mary spent ten years at the University of Vermont Extension as an administrative assistant, program support assistant, and office manager for the St. Johnsbury Office. While there, she worked with the Coping with Separation and Divorce (COPE) Program, with a Farm Business Management Specialist, with a Community and Leadership Development Specialist, with a Food Safety and Nutrition Specialist, and with 4-H educators. Previous to that, Mary was a licensed customer service agent at a local insurance agency for 15 years.

Dr. Sundar joined the Institute on Disability in 2007 and is responsible for providing research and evaluation support to several projects at the IOD. Prior to this, Dr. Sundar was a post-doctoral associate at the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information and Exchange (CIRRIE). She has extensive experience working with disability advocacy and community based agencies. Dr. Sundar’s expertise is in research and evaluation design, applied statistical techniques and measurement models in disability research. Her research interests include long term care specifically community living for the aging population and assistive technology for older adults.

Projects

Gaining Access: A multi year project in partnership with the NH Department of Education aimed at providing recommendations to revise and improve the NH Statewide Alternate Assessment System by better understanding the sensory profiles of students with severe cognitive disabilities in NH.

The New Hampshire Leadership Series is a seven-month training session for adults with disabilities, parents or family members of children with disabilities, and LEND Trainees. It is based on the national Partners in Policymaking model. The Series is funded by the NH Department of Education, NH Developmental Disabilities Council, NH Bureau of Developmental Services, NH Area Agencies, many public and private foundations statewide, as well as the Friends of Leadership fundraising events, and donations from NH Leadership graduates.

Transitions in Caregiving: The purpose of this project support nursing home diversion for persons identified to be at risk of spend down to Medicaid by (1) modernizing and transforming family caregiver support funds into flexible into consumer-directed service dollars managed locally by Caregiver Support Specialists at the ServiceLink Resource Centers (SLRC) and (2) by providing support and services and training to caregivers of older adults at risk of institutional placement.

Youth Empowerment Services: A three year initiative designed to develop and promote self advocacy and leadership skills in young adults with disabilities to help them prepare for the future.

PHONE: 603-862-0561
FAX: 603-862-0034
E-MAIL

Education

• Certified Paralegal Studies, Boston University, 2010

Professional Background

Dawn joined the IOD in January 2012 as the Program Support Assistant for the NH-LEND Program and Seacoast Child Development Clinic. Dawn has over 15 years' experience supporting top-level executives including Governors of Massachusetts, Commissioners of State, corporate presidents and vice presidents, and personnel at various other levels of business and government.

Projects

NH-LEND: The NH Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (NH-LEND) is a collaboration between Dartmouth Medical School and the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. NH-LEND has provided graduate level interdisciplinary training in maternal and child health/developmental disabilities for students and professionals at UNH since 1993. The purpose of NH-LEND is to improve the health of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities by preparing leaders to enter the field of maternal and child health. Trainees from a wide variety of professional disciplines engage in 300 hours of training related to interdisciplinary, family-centered, culturally competent systems of care for children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families. Beginning in 2011, NH-LEND will be partnering with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies/UCED at the University of Maine-Orono to serve an area that is not currently served by a LEND training program. Through this partnership, NH-LEND will assist in developing infrastructure and addressing regional needs, particularly in rural underserved regions of Maine.

Seacoast Child Development Clinic: The Seacoast Child Development Clinic provides family-centered and culturally sensitive interdisciplinary evaluation and consultation to assist families of children who have developmental challenges to make informed decisions regarding medical, developmental, and educational needs.

Maureen joined the APEX II project in 2006 after working as a 7th grade special education case manager in Amherst, NH. APEX II, a three year grant, was an introduction and training for high schools on the three tiers of PBIS for drop out prevention. Maureen has also worked on the YES (youth empowerment series) program training youth on advocacy, leadership skills, future & transition planning.

She has presented locally and nationally on PBIS topics with a focus on Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans She has also  collaborated with the APEX II staff in publishing a monograph for PBIS in High Schools. Maureen has also worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Associations of New York and New England to bridge the best practices of PBIS and Prader-Willi Syndrome together.

Currently, Maureen is working with Memorial and Litchfield High Schools developing behavior support teams and working with students who have been identified with emotional and behavioral disabilities. She is also training Administration, teachers and staff to work with at-risk students in the RENEW model. Maureen’s passion is working with students with emotional and behavior disabilities overcome their barriers and build successful futures.

Projects

APEX: The Achievement in Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX) project provides training, technical assistance and staff resources to implement a comprehensive drop-out prevention model in high schools that have higher-than-average dropout rates.

Youth Empowerment Services: A three year initiative designed to develop and promote self advocacy and leadership skills in young adults with disabilities to help them prepare for the future.

Scott joined the Institute on Disability as a Project Director for DirectConnect in June 2010. Prior to joining the IOD, he was Director of Workforce Development for Moore Center Services where he led a department responsible for the professional development of staff at all levels within the organization. Scott was responsible for developing and implementing an initiative to professionalize the direct support workforce utilizing the College of Direct Support, a national best practice web-based curriculum. While Scott’s career at Moore Center began as a direct support professional, he has spent the past several years focused on creating efficient, cost-effective workforce development systems. Prior to joining Moore Center in 2002, Scott had over 20 years of experience in the field of training and development where he worked with organizations throughout the world.

Projects

DirectConnect: With a population aging faster than the national average, the state of New Hampshire can anticipate an increasing demand for health care and support services and a heavier reliance on home and community-based services for long term care. It is projected that the need for direct care workers in home and community-based services will increase in the near future and demand will rapidly outpace supply. The Institute on Disability will address this growing need through DirectConnect, a new project funded by a three-year, $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. As part of the project, DirectConnect will recruit, train, and place 200 new hires in home and community-based direct care jobs. To reach this goal, DirectConnect plans to implement statewide training programs which will include agency-based orientation and training, national best practice curriculums, professional credentialing processes, and established degree programs to prepare workers for placement and advancement. The project also will establish a tuition scholarship program, providing partner agencies with support to cover wages for workers who attend qualified trainings.

Jill has been with the Institute on Disability since 2007 as the publications coordinator/program support assistant. Her background includes experience in both the nonprofit and corporate settings, and her extensive customer service experience strongly supports her activities as the publications coordinator.

Dr. Willkomm is currently the Director of the New Hampshire Statewide Assistive Technology Program (ATinNH) with the Institute on Disability and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. In addition, Dr. Willkomm is the coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Assistive Technology Program and the coordinator of the Disability Studies Minor. She has been in engage in providing/managing assistive technology services for over 28 years in the areas of home, school, and worksite modifications for persons with disabilities. She is known nationally and internationally as “The MacGyver of Assistive Technology" and for her work in rural rehabilitation technology. Dr. Willkomm has presented in 38 states, five foreign counties, and three U.S. Territories and authored 22 publications including her most recent book titled “Make A Difference Today – Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes."

Projects

New Hampshire Assistive Technology Partnership Project: The goal of the New Hampshire Assistive Technology Partnership Project is to increase access to assistive technology through the creation and support of consumer driven systems for the provision of state-of-the-art assistive technology products and services for citizens with disabilities in the state of New Hampshire.

Michelle provides legal and policy analysis for a variety of projects at the Institute on Disability. Prior to joining the IOD in 2010, Michelle was a health and long-term care policy analyst with the Institute for Health, Law, and Ethics at the Franklin Pierce Law Center (a UCED partner) for eleven years and continues to work with the IHLE. Her work employs legal and policy analysis to research, report, comment, and propose recommendations relative to the impacts of federal and state law, including government funding sources, on the integration and provision of quality health and social services to the people of New Hampshire. A primary focus of her work has been to enhance the home- and community-based long term care infrastructure for children and adults in New Hampshire. Additionally, from 2006 to 2009, Michelle was a member of New Hampshire’s team in the national Health Information and Privacy Collaborative, assessing state law and policy on issues related to electronic health information use, disclosure, and privacy. Other areas of particular focus include:  Medicaid law and policy; managed care issues affecting people with disabilities; and legal and financial planning for individuals with disabilities and their families.