Strand Advisor Biographies

Joy Zabala, representing CAST

Joy Smiley Zabala, Ed.D., ATP,  is a general and special educator who has worked with students, families, education agencies, and others across the USA and abroad for more than 25 years to expand the use of assistive technology to increase the communication, participation and productivity of people with disabilities. She is the developer of the SETT Framework , an active member of TAM, a founder of QIAT, and the facilitator of the QIAT List. Dr. Zabala is the Director of Technical Assistance for CAST and the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials.  She is a strong supporter of Universal Design for Learning as the foundational support for the educational participation and achievement of all students and of AT and AIM as complementary supports for those students who require them for active participation and achievement in UDL environments.

Amy Goldman, representing ASHA
Co-Executive Director, Institute on Disabilities, Temple University, representing ASHA Special Interest Group 12, AAC

Carole Zangari
Professor, Nova Southeastern University

Dr. Zangari is a professor of SLP at Nova Southeastearn University where she teaches AAC classes at the master's and doctoral level, supervises AAC clinical services to children and adults, and administers an AAC lab. Dr. Zangari has presented and published on AAC topics in national and international venues. Dr. Zangari is a past coordinator of ASHA’s AAC Division and co-edited Practically Speaking: Language, Literacy, and Academic Development of Students with AAC needs with Gloria Soto. She blogs on a variety of AAC and AT topics at www.PrAACticalAAC.info with her colleague, Robin Parker.

Liz Persaud, representing Pass It On Center
Training and Development Coordinator, Pass It On Center for AT Reutilization

Liz Persaud completed an internship with Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program during the Spring of 2002. Later that year, she completed her degree with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Georgia State University and joined the dynamic Tools for Life team. Her current role is the Training and Development Coordinator for Tools for Life and the Pass It On Center. Liz is a nationally recognized public speaker and keynote addressing the need to build bridges between individuals with and without disabilities and encouraging others to focus on abilities. She has dedicated her life to increasing independence for individuals with disabilities by educating on self awareness, successful transition practices, using assistive technology and promoting equality amongst those of all abilities. Liz is currently an active volunteer and public speaker with the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Atlanta, appearing on the MDA Atlanta Annual Labor Day Telethon. In addition, Liz holds the title for the 1999 and 2005 Muscular Dystrophy Association Personal Achievement Award winner for the state of Georgia. Liz lives in Alpharetta, Georgia with her family.

Sandy Hanebrink, representing AOTA
OTR/L, South Carolina Branch Director, Touch the Future, Inc.

Sandy Hanebrink, OTR/L is the South Carolina Director of Touch the Future, Inc. Ms. Hanebrink is an occupational therapist who has developed a practice niche in advocacy, assistive technology and networking individuals with disabilities and service providers to the necessary resources and funding to achieve individual life goals.  She has multiple presentations and publications at the local to international levels including topics on effectively educating and employing individuals with disabilities, reasonable accommodations, disability laws, disabled sports and assistive technology.  Ms. Hanebrink has received many awards and recognitions for her work.

Robin Jones, representing ADA Network
Project Director and Principal Investigator, DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center (MC 728)

Robin Jones is the Project Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center located at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  Robin has served as the director of the Center since it’s inception  in 1991.  The Great Lakes Center is one of 10 regional federally funded technical assistance centers on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  The Center serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Robin’s academic preparation includes degrees in Public Administration and Occupational Therapy.   She is an instructor within the Department of Disability and Human Development teaching courses in disability policy, community integration and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Robin is actively involved in providing training, consultation and technical assistance on the provisions of the ADA and related laws to business, employers, government and educational entities, architects, social service organizations and people with disabilities and their families.

Karen Erickson
Director of Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Karen Erickson, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, a Professor in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and the Yoder Distinguished Professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Her research addresses literacy assessment and instruction for struggling readers of all ages including those with significant disabilities. Karen is co-developer of the Tar Heel Reader online library of accessible books for beginning readers, as well as several other assistive and learning technologies. Currently, Karen leads the professional development efforts of the Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment Consortium, a 13-state consortium creating the next generation of alternate assessments to support the Common Core State Standards.

Kelly Fonner
Assistive Technology Consultant

Kelly Fonner, MS is a self-employed consultant and trainer in assistive and educational technology. She is a Special Educator and has a Masters degree in Educational Technology with emphasis in Rehabilitation and Special Education. Since 1986, she has presented to schools, universities & families in 46 states & internationally on a wide range of topics including technology integration, augmentative communication, computer access, literacy, electronic writing, organizers, behavior supports, and assistive technology assessment and implementation strategies.
 

Janet Good, representing MTSS
Region 3 Technology Coordinator, Technology & Learning Connections for Assistive Technology and UDL
University of South Florida

Janet is a SLP and has been working with individuals with disabilities since 1989. Currently Janet is the Region 3 Technology Coordinator supporting Local Assistive Technology Specialist  (LATS) and FDLRS Center Technology Specialist in east central Florida.
 

Scott Marfilius
Independent Consultant

Mr. Marfilius has been working with individuals with disabilities for the past 26 years. The past 20 years has involved implementing assistive technology at various levels.

Scott continues to assist teams and individuals in assessing students assistive technology needs. His teaching certifications are in Early Childhood Handicap, Cognitive Disabilities, Emotional Disabilities, and Learning Disabilities. His M.A. is in Curriculum and Instruction.

Scott also works with universities and has assisted in reorganizing their curriculum to infuse technology throughout the teacher preparation experience. He also consults with individuals and businesses to determine adaptations that are needed in workplace settings.

He teaches in the CSUN Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program and holds an ATACP certificate of learning from CSUN. Scott’s focus areas in assistive technology include computer access and technologies that assist those with cognitive and learning disabilities.

Kirk Behnke, representing Texas ESC
M.Ed., ATP

Kirk Behnke has worked all over the country in various roles in assistive technology (AT), special education professional development, technical assistance and service provision. His experience has ranged from AT fabrication to assessment, information & referral, program development/coordination and professional services development and marketing.  Along with Dr. Harry Murphy, he originally designed and implemented the Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program (ATACP) in 1996 through California State University, Northridge (CSUN).

He holds a Master's of Education degree from Temple University and a certificate in Assistive Technology Applications from the University College in Dublin, Ireland. He has also gained and maintained a professional credential as an Assistive Technology Professional from the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Kirk has spoken at various national AT and educational conferences throughout the US and abroad with a high concentration of accessible curriculum design, learning differences, universal design for learning and the application and use of web-based tools.
 

Brian Wojcik, representing The SEAT Center
SEAT Center Coordinator, Special Education Assistive Technology (SEAT) Center

Brian Wojcik serves as the Coordinator of the Special Education Assistive Technology (SEAT) Center at Illinois State University.  He has worked as a special education teacher, a postsecondary transition specialist, and as an assistive technology specialist.

Howard Kramer
Access Specialist, CU-Boulder

Howard Kramer (Co-PI) has worked in the field of Assistive Technology, disability and information systems for more than 20 years, focusing on computer, workstation, environmental and media access. Since 1997, he has been with Disability Services at the University of Colorado-Boulder (UCB), where he established the Assistive Technology Lab which serves students with disabilities who need specialized computer access and alternative media format. In 2008, his role shifted to a focus on campus physical and media access. He is chair of UCB’sUniversal Design (UD) and Accessibility Committee which advocates and promotes a UD approach for campus information systems. He is also a cofounder of the annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference: Accessible Media, Web & Technology. Mr. Kramer is also the developer and instructor for a 3-credit class on Universal Design titled: Universal Design for Media: Where Accessibility & Usability Meet at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has a Masters from CU-Boulder and is working on his Ph.D. at the University of Denver.

Diana Carl
Independent Consultant

Diana Foster Carl, M.A., L.S.S.P., is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology with more than 30 years experience in various capacities in public education. Carl is a former Director of Special Education Services at Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston, Texas where for twelve years she served as the lead facilitator of the Texas Assistive Technology Network. Currently, Carl contracts with CAST as the Special Projects Coordinator for the National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials.

Jeff Higginbotham, representing RERC/AAC
Professor, Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, SUNY - Buffalo

Jeff is currently a professor of Communicative Disorders and Sciences at SUNY Buffalo as well as Director of UB’s Signature Center for Excellence in Augmented Communication. The thrust of my scientific development over the last 30 years has focused on understanding how individuals use assistive technologies to interact with their social world. To accomplish his area of interest, he does research in conversation and social interaction analysis, as well as, studying the human and device design factors associated with assistive technology use.
 

Joel Mittler, representing TAM/CEC
President, Technology and Media Division of CEC

Joel Mittler is Professor of Special Education at Long Island University/Post. Having completed his Doctoral work at Teachers College, Columbia University, he worked in the field for a dozen years before coming to LIU/Post. A founder and current President of the Technology and Media (TAM) Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), he has remained active on their Executive Board. He also serves on the Board of the New York State Council for Exceptional Children (NYSCEC). Interested in public policy and special education, with a special interest in Assistive Technology policy, he is currently the CEC Children’sAction Network (CAN) Coordinator for TAM and NYSCEC.

Jon Harding  
TA Specialist, NCDB

Jon has worked as a Technical Assistance Specialist with the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness since 2000. He has an undergraduate degree in general education and a master’s degree in special education. Jon taught for 5 years in public schools in Kansas before accepting a position with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (Technology Center for Special Education, School of Education) as an Assistive Technology Specialist. In this role, he helped Local Education Agencies implement AT for students with disabilities. His interests and experience with the Consortium revolve primarily around the practices of distance technology, interveners, and customized employment. Jon has assumed different leadership roles with each of these endeavors, and is currently leading the Technology Solutions initiative at NCDB.
 

Ike Presley, representing AFB
National Project Manager, American Foundation for the Blind

Ike Presley is the current National Project Manager at the American Foundation for the Blind in Atlanta. During the past twelve years with AFB he has developed professional development courses, authored articles and books, and presented at numerous conferences. Previously he served as an AT specialist for the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology and as a technology instructor with adults experiencing vision loss at the Georgia Sensory Rehabilitation Center. After receiving his Masters degree from FSU in 1978 Ike worked as a teacher of the visually impaired in the Atlanta area for the first 11 years of his career.

Gayl Bowser
Independent consultant

Gayl Bowser’s work as an independent consultant focuses on the integration of technology into the educational programs of students with disabilities. Ms Bowser provides assistive technology consultation, training and technical assistance throughout the United States and internationally. She was the Coordinator of the Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) and the State of Oregon’sSpecialist in Assistive Technology from 1988 until 2008.Gayl has co-authored numerous publications about assistive technology services and is a member of the leadership team of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) Consortium.  She is a member of the faculty for Portland State University and the University of Oregon.  You can learn more about Gayl on her blog at http://www.integrateat.com .

Teresa Goddard, representing JAN
Senior Consultant, Job Accommodation Network

Teresa is a consultant on JAN’s motor and sensory teams. She holds a masters degree in Speech-Pathology from WVU and ATACP certification. Before joining JAN Teresa worked as Speech-Language Pathologist and teacher. Teresa has presented at educational workshops in Japan and at assistive technology conferences including ATIA, CSUN and MSAT.
 

Mike Marotta
Assistant Director, Assistive Technology Services, Advancing Opportunities

Mike is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Practitioner and Assistive Technology Specialist for Advancing Opportunities. Before joining the agency, Mike was a national trainer for California State University at Northridge (CSUN), providing practical and in-depth training to professionals interested in specializing in assistive technology. Currently, he provides Assistive Technology assessments and trainings for consumers, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and companies throughout the state.

Mike is also the President of NJCART. The New Jersey Coalition for the Advancement of Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (NJCART) is a non-profit organization established in 1987 to promote the appropriate applications of technology for individuals with disabilities, assure access to resources and provide continuing education to its members and the community at large. Learn how to become involved with this group by visiting the website - www.njcart.org.