Board Member Biographies
Shirley Hicks
Shirley currently serves as a qualified paraprofessional for the Crossroads Community Services Board. She provides training and support to individuals with significant disabilities living in the community. Prior to her current position, she served as a MR Training Specialist for Crossroads. Shirley has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Longwood College and served in many capacities in the Prince Edward County Public School.
Cecily Rodriguez
Cecily is currently the Deputy State Director for the Telamon Corporation of Richmond, Virginia. Telamon implements and manages WIA National Farmworker Jobs Program, Farmworker Youth Program, Workplace Skills Programs and other public and privately funded programs for farmworkers and Latinos. Cecily has a degree in Political Science with a minor in Latin American Studies from VCU. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and has committed herself to numerous community service projects personally and professionally.
Norma Draper
Norma Draper was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2003 and she serves in the slot for a Parent or guardian of a person with a developmental disability. She is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking and has been an advocate for persons with disabilities for over twelve years. Ms. Draper retired in 2003 from Southlawn Memorial Park where she served as a Memorial Sales Counselor. Norma is the caregiver of her grandson who has a disability. Ms. Draper formed a Parent Support Group for Parents of Children and youth with disabilities and for adults with adults with disabilities.
For the past three years Ms. Draper has worked with Parent to Parent of Virginia and Central Virginia Care Connection for Children, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Health. She assisted in the development of the Care Connection Notebook and in the training of families and professionals using this Notebook.
Additionally, Ms. Draper is a Consumer Directed Services Facilitator for the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance, as well as member of the Virginia Interagency Transition Council and the Greater Richmond Interagency Transition Council and serves as Vice Chair for Hopewell Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee.
Ms. Draper was recently appointed to serve on the Tuckahoe Local Human Rights Committee as Vice Chair. She is also a parent representative on the Hopewell Public Schools (Virginia Transition Outcome Project) VTOP.
Lisbet Ward
Lisbet Ward from Virginia Beach, Virginia is a person with a developmental disability. She has worked as a Director of Advocacy and Services with the Endependence Center, Inc., in Norfolk Virginia since 1997. Lisbet holds a M.A. in Community Counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia and a B.A. in English Literature from the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia with a minor in Anthropology.
Ms. Ward is a graduate of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities Partners in Policymaking leadership training program and she has served as a volunteer staff at the Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) as presenter and small group leader. Lisbet is a former community representative for the Virginia Inter-Community Transition Council; Columnist on the topic of personal attendant management for ABLED Woman magazine and a former Presenter at the Transition Forum and VRA Collaboration Conference.
John Burgess
John Burgess is co-founder, CTO and VP of FileTek,Inc. an international computer storage company headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. He is Treasurer and Board member of Hartwood Foundation, a non-profit and a leading provider of residential and support services for the mentally challenged in Northern and Central Virginia.
John has resided in Fairfax County, Virginia for 45 years. He earned his B.S. Degree in Electronic Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1960. He is the father of a mentally challenged son. Mr. Burgess was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2003.
William K. Daniel
Will Daniel was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2001 filling the slot for a Person with a Developmental Disability. Mr. Daniel was recently re-appointed to serve another 4 year term on the Board filling the same slot as he did for his original appointment.
Will is a graduate of the PAVE Program and J. R. Tucker High School. He received one of the J.R.T. Faculty Awards for exemplary service and spirit to J. R. Tucker High. In his spare time, Mr. Daniel enjoys basketball, track and soccer. He is currently employed by Ukrops Supermarkets.
Thomas J. Leach
Thomas J. Leach was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2003. In addition, Thomas is a staff for the Virginia Youth Leadership Forum, a devoted fundraiser for various community projects, and previously served as President of the member council of Adult Care Services’ Board of Directors (now known as a Grace Place). He was a key volunteer of the Billy Austin Sidewalk Project, which raised $143,000 and led to the construction of a sidewalk for disabled persons between The Virginia Home and Maymont Park.
Thomas, who has cerebral palsy, has participated at a Grace Place for the past 15 years. He is a very dependable individual who loves to volunteer, especially with the computer, designing and printing many forms for various programs. He contributes much of his time to a Grace Place and is a very social person.
Thomas completed his high school education at Kirk-Cone Rehabilitation Center. He has previously worked at Progressive Group Alliance, Alfa Laval Inc. as a Literature Assistant and Office Services, and the VCU library. In his spare time, he enjoys watching the Washington Redskins on TV and working on the computer.
Kenley Mays
Kenly Mays of Lynchburg, Virginia is the father of a 33 year old son that is disabled with M. R. (Downs Syndrome). Kenley received his A.A.S Degree from Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, VA. in Electronic Technology specializing in communications and broadcasting technology. Mr. Mays is a retired Senior Design Specialist from CAE-Link Simulations Systems formerly Singer Corp, Link Div.
Mr. Mays enjoys flying and golf in his space time. Kenley was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2003.
Joyce B. Knight
Joyce Knight works as Coordinator, Disability Support Services with Virginia Commonwealth University since 2002. Prior to that, Joyce worked as a Program Director, Office for Students with Disabilities with Valencia Community College, Orlando, Florida. Ms. Knight holds a M.S. degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and a B.S. in Sociology and Anthropology.
Ms. Knight has more than seventeen years of experience in Rehabilitation Counseling in career, academic and personal counseling with diverse student populations. Joyce has specialized experience in providing services to college students with disabilities.
Ronald L. Lanier
Ron Lanier is currently serving as Director of the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH). He was appointed to this position by Governor George Allen in April 1997, re-appointed by Governor Jim Gilmore in June 1998, re-appointed by Governor Mark Warner in 2002, and then re-appointed by Governor Tim Kaine in 2006. He is a former Adjunct faculty member at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College (JSRCC) and Virginia Union University where he taught American Sign Language. Prior to his current position, he was Manager of the Technology Assistance Program at VDDHH, Job Placement Counselor for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the Department of Rehabilitative Services, and a Social Worker with Richmond Social Services. Ron received his B.S. in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He also pursued courses in Sign Language and Deaf Culture at VCU and JSRCC, in addition to graduate courses in Rehabilitation Counseling at VCU.
Ron serves on the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, and is a past Member of the Virginia Assistive Technology Council. He also serves on the Challenge Discovery Projects’ Board of Directors and represents the Office of Health and Human Resources on the Advisory Board for the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority. He has served as a Member of the Court-Appointed Special Advocates and the Central Virginia Lions Hearing Aid Bank advisory boards. He is a member of the Virginia Association of the Deaf, Hearing Loss Association of America and Black Deaf Advocates. He is co-founder (1980) of the Richmond/Hampton Organization of the Deaf. He is a Trustee at the Cedar Street Baptist Church, where he also served two terms as President of the Male Chorus and is former Secretary of the Male Ministry. He recently completed a term as a parent representative on the National Mission Advisory Panel for the Clerc Center of Gallaudet University. He is a 2005 Graduate of the Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR), and is former Vice-President of Membership of a local club of Toastmasters International. Ron was recently (’06) appointed to serve a 3-year term on the Advisory Council of the National Deafness and other Communications Disorders, of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Ron is a native of Roanoke where, at age 7, he became hard of hearing as a result of an automobile accident. He is married and is the father and grandfather of a deaf child. He also mentors to deaf youth in his community.
Fred P. Orelove, Ph.D.
Fred P. Orelove, Ph.D., is a professor of education at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Executive Director of the Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia's university center for excellence in developmental disabilities education, research, and service. Serving in these capacities, Dr. Orelove teaches, conducts research, and directs several grant -supported projects, principally around the needs of learners with severe disabilities.
His books include Educating Children with Multiple Disabilities (with Dick Sobsey); Inclusive Education: Practical Implementation of the Least Restrictive Environment (with Lissa Power-deFur); and Teamwork: Parents and Professionals Speak for Themselves (with Howard Garner). Dr. Orelove is active on a variety of local, state, and national boards and committees, including the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and the Virginia Disability Commission.
He is past president of the American Association of University Affiliated Programs. Dr. Orelove lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and two children.
Chip Coleman
Chip Coleman is Executive Director of Culpeper Human Services, a position he has held since July 2003 when the Culpeper Department of Social Services restructured. He was the Director of Social Services from February 1989 to 2003. Under his leadership, Culpeper piloted welfare reform in Virginia and he was individually recognized for Outstanding Service to the Commonwealth by the Governor. His accomplishments include establishing partnerships with local, regional, and state agencies to enhance human services in the Culpeper County. Chip established Culpeper County Childcare in 1989 which provides licensed before and after-school care in every elementary school in the county and center-based care for pre-school ages. He has over eleven years of experience as a counselor with the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped.
A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Mr. Coleman was appointed to the Culpeper Town Council in 2003 and elected to office in 2004. Chip served as the Chair of Culpeper Transportation Board, which established and administers bus service in the Town of Culpeper; Vice-Chair of the Town of Culpeper Parking Authority. Chip served on the Piedmont United Way Board from 1989 to 1995, where he was Allocation Committee Chair and Chair of the Campaign. He also served as Vice-Chair for Salvation Army. Chip has spent much of his career working to assist individuals with low incomes and disabilities to become independent and self-sufficient. He was the recipient of several awards: Golden Apple Award in 2003 and Martin Luther King Award in 2004.
Joseph A. Bowman
Joe Bowman is Commissioner for Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. He has over 32 years of work experience in state government in executive leadership and direct service positions, including administration, legislative affairs, program and policy planning, strategic planning and budgeting.
H. Douglas Cox
H. Douglas Cox was appointed to his current position in January 2001. Prior to this appointment, he was the Director, Office of Special Education and Student Services, a post he had held since July 1995. Mr. Cox has been with the Virginia Department of Education since 1973, where he has served in a number of roles including regional special education consultant, coordinator of visiting teacher/school social work programs, leader for a secondary school reform initiative, and Director of Pupil Personnel Services. In his current position, Mr. Cox is responsible for special education instructional programs; special education dispute resolution and complaints management; special education monitoring; state operated programs including Virginia's two state schools for the deaf and the blind: and student services, including school health and safety, school psychology and social work.
Prior to joining the Department of Education, Mr. Cox, a native of Graham, North Carolina, was a special education teacher and administrator in Carroll County, Virginia. He has degrees from Guilford College, the University of Virginia, and Lynchburg College. He has done further graduate work at the College of William and Mary. Mr. Cox serves on the Advisory Council for the Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; and the Virginia Disabilities Council. He is also member of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and on the State Executive Council for the Comprehensive Services Act. He is a past member of the Vocational Rehabilitation Council for the Blind. He is a recipient of the Special W. Kuhn Barnett Award given by the Virginia Federation of the Council for Exception Children. He is also the 2005 recipient of Lynchburg College's J. Edward Petty Outstanding Alumni Award and a 2005 recipient of a "Friend of V-CASE Award" presented by the Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education. Mr. Cox is a past president of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.
Mr. Cox is married to an elementary teacher. They have two adult children.
Mary-Margaret Cash
Mary-Margaret Cash is Assistant Commissioner, Director of Community Based Services for the Department of Rehabilitative Services. The mission of the Community Based Services Division is “Respectfully creating real life solutions that maximize independence, employment, and full inclusion into society.” The CBS programs include the Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury Program, the Long Term Rehabilitation Case Management Program, OBRA Nursing Home Outreach, Personal Assistance Services (PAS) program, Disability Service Boards, and the Independent Living program. Prior to joining DRS, Mary-Margaret served on the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities from1988-1996, acting in several leadership positions, including Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Employment Committee. She was Board Representative to the National Association of Developmental Disabilities Council (NADDC), and a member of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, serving on the Governor's Committee and the Subcommittee on Employee Disability Concerns.
Christy Crowther
Christy Crowther of Richmond, Virginia, was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2004. She is a graduate of the Board’s Partners in Policymaking program and enjoys volunteering with its Youth Leadership Forum on a regular basis. Christy is currently a program manager with the NewWell Fund (formerly the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority), where she helps individuals with disabilities apply for low interest loans to purchase assistive technology, and ultimately independence. She is an allumna of Foxcroft School and Guilford College. She also happens to have a disability, but it doesn’t have her.
Doug Owens
Doug Owens has been interested in the education and vocational placement of individuals with disabilities for thirty years. He holds a Bachelors degree in Special Education and a Masters in Educational Psychology from Boston University. Doug has been recognized by the community with many awards including: Trainer of the Year in 1993 and Employer of the Year in 1998. He has been the Charlottesville business representative on the Jefferson Area Disabilities Services Board since 2000 and he is also a member of the Virginia Adaptive Technology System Council. In 1989 he and his wife, Marita, started a computer training and software development company. Through Technology Tamers, Inc., they work with county governments and businesses training on Microsoft software solutions and developing databases. They also work with NASA developing knowledge management programs. Additionally, Doug maintains a strong focus on working to empower individuals with disabilities through computer training. Technology Tamers is familiar with adaptive technology and trains individuals from the Department of Rehabilitation Services, Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Piedmont Workforce Network. Technology Tamers offers an aggressive scholarship program and a computer recycling program giving free computer training opportunities to many individuals in central Virginia with disabilities. Doug also sponsors the Thomas Jefferson Area Disabilities Services Board’s Martha Tarrant Award recognizing employers who show human resource excellence by hiring individuals with disabilities.
Jennifer Thornburg
Ms. Thornburg is a recent graduate of the Board's advocacy training program, "Partners in Policymaking." In 2001-2002, Ms. Thornburg competed in the Ms. Wheelchair Virginia Pageant with a platform that emphasized the importance of maintaining physical health and maximizing one's independence. To further her advocacy skills, Jennifer has represented students with disabilities on the State Special Education Advisory Council. In 1999, Jennifer worked as a Transition Support Group Facilitator where she facilitated and encouraged discussions among group members on issues involving living with a disability. Not only has Ms. Thornburg participated in the Board's Youth Leadership program (YLF) as a small group facilitator, she has also served as a YLF mentor in the program since 2000. While attending Princess Anne High School, Jennifer received the Senior Medallion, one of five medallions given to outstanding senior students of the year. In October of 1999, Ms. Thornburg received the Lucy Salzberg Award for Outstanding Student of the Year. Ms. Thornburg currently resides in Virginia Beach.
John A. Toscano, MSW, MBA
John A. Toscano is the President & CEO of Commonwealth Autism Service (formerly The Autism Program of Virginia, TAP- VA), a position he has held since January 2002. Before coming to Virginia, John spent three years working internationally to improve autism services in Malaysia and in England. John started his experience in autism in 1981 and developed a large residential and day service for adults in New York. Concurrent to his work in autism, John also was a full-time faculty member in social work for 18 years in New York. John has traveled extensively observing and consulting with autism services both in the US and across Europe, and has spoken at numerous local, state, national and international conferences. His particular areas of interest include: Paradigms of care and the rights of people with autism; Bridging the gap between agency ethos and practice; Program design and implementation; and Bio-medical interventions in autism. John earned his MSW from Adelphi University in 1975, and his MBA from Sunderland University, England in 2000. He is also a grandfather of a child with autism -Joey.
Kelly Hickok
Community Advocate for Resources for Independent Living, Inc.
Kelly has an associate’s degree in Architectural Drafting and Design. She spent the first 20 years of her career working with architects, engineers, contractors and suppliers designing homes and commercial spaces to include accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
For the last three years Kelly has been working with individuals who have significant disabilities to help them become proactive and involved in the issues that effect their lives.
Through education and advocacy, Kelly works with the community to bring awareness to the needs of people with disabilities as it relates to inclusion and expansion of community living options.
Lee Price
Lee Price joined the Department on June 10, 2004, as the Director of the Office of Mental Retardation. Prior to joining the Department, Mr. Price was the Richmond division manager for Community Residences, Inc., a private, non-profit organization based in Arlington, Va. He also served as the mental retardation services director for the Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck CSB, the director of Camp Baker Services, a vocational program director for Chesterfield County CSB, and executive director of the Franklin County Sheltered Workshop, Inc. His leadership experience in both the public and private sectors of community services in Virginia extends over 32 years. He holds a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University, which he received in 1979.Mr. Price is married and has one daughter who attends college at Old Dominion University.
Mac McArthur-Fox
Mac McArthur-Fox was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2004. Mac has been involved in support for people with disabilities for many years. She received undergraduate and graduate degrees in special education from James Madison University and the University of Virginia. Mac currently provides staff support to Community Opportunities, a nonprofit organization in southwest Virginia dedicated to supporting people with significant disabilities through circles of support and microboards. She also serves as a Project Coordinator at Radford University's Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC), focusing on assisting schools in southwest Virginia to improve secondary transition services for students with disabilities. Mac's past work in the field includes serving as a special education teacher in Montgomery County, Harrisonburg City, Page County, and Rockingham County Schools and as a supervisor for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board's Community Support Services. Mac and her husband are also the parents of three children. They have learned much about advocacy and the power of networks of support through their experiences with their 23-year old daughter, and they are members of her microboard.
Sandy Hermann
Ms. Hermann was appointed to the Board by Governor Mark Warner for a term beginning on July 1, 2002. She serves as the parent of a child with mentally impaired developmental disability representative. Sandy is past Chairperson of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. Sandy received a B.S.B.A. degree from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband, Joe, and their two children. Their daughter has a neuromuscular disorder with multiple medical issues. After the birth of her daughter, Sandy became involved with a variety of local and state disability organizations devoted to serving people with disabilities, her interest stemming from her daughter's disability. Currently, Sandy is Community Resources Coordinator at Care Connection for Children at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk. Sandy has also served as Medicaid Advocacy Coordinator for the Endependence Center, Inc. in Norfolk. She worked as the Parent Representative for the Virginia Beach Community Services Board, Early Intervention Program, a Behavioral Specialist for the Family Support Services Unit, and coordinated an Early Intervention Support Group. She is the Chairperson for the Virginia Beach Special Education Advisory Committee, Vice-Chairperson for Tidewater Center for Technology Access, and serves on numerous Boards, Committees, taskforces and workgroups. Sandy is a 2001 graduate of the Partners in Policymaking Training Program.
David Holsinger
S. David Holsinger, III, was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in 2004, representing the manufacturing/retail industry. David is currently employed as Vice President of Human Resources and Facilities for Valley Blox, Inc., located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is responsible for developing and administering employment and safety policies and practices for twelve locations employing approximately 470 employees in three states. He is also the corporate administrator for Property and Casualty Insurance Programs. David has a long history of advocating for employment of persons with Disabilities. In 2003 he sponsored a Project Train IT intern for the development of an Excel based program for an employee survey in conjunction with the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. From 2001-2003 he served on the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board. He was reappointed to the Board in 2004 and elected as its Vice Chair. In the early 90s, David served on the Virginia Department of Rehabilitation Services Employment Advocacy Group for the Disabled and was awarded the DRS Employer Award of Merit in 1994. He has a personal commitment to obtaining jobs of persons with disabilities in his current place of employment. Since 1993, his company has employed ten hearing impaired individuals.
Vincent (Mark) Russell
Vincent (Mark) Russell was appointed by Governor Warner to the Board for a term beginning July 1, 2002. Mark serves as "an immediate relative/guardian of a person with mental impairing developmental disabilities" representative. He is a very active member of the Community Integration Committee and served as an At-Large Member on the Executive Committee. Mark worked for many years at the Central Virginia Training Center and from that experience has a strong commitment to supporting people with DD in the community with the supports they require to be successful. He has experience most recently with Larche Homes which is a best practices model for supporting people with disabilities to live independently.
Darrell V. Hill
Darrell Hill was appointed to the Board in 2007 to fill the banking representative position.
Mr. Hill joined BB&T Capital Markets Public Finance Group in April of 2006. His responsibilities include providing the full range of underwriting and financial advisor services to governmental entities throughout the nation with a focus on the Middle Atlantic States of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and the District of Columbia. Prior to joining BB&T Capital Markets, Mr. Hill was the Executive Director of the Virginia Resources Authority and a vice president in the public finance department at Davenport & Company LLC and at the former Wheat First Securities, Inc.
Mr. Hill received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Economics from the School of Business at Hampton University. Long involved in civic and community service, he is an active member of Omega Psi Phi and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Housing Opportunities Made Equal (Chairman), Arts Council of Richmond (Treasurer), Virginia Equal Housing Foundation, and Team-Up Richmond. He is a member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and was appointed to the City of Hampton Tourism Advisory Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. Mr. Hill is married and has two children.
Jim Congable
Jim moved to Richmond from New York in 1989, after serving as President of the U-Haul Company of Metro New York from 1980. Jim joined the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA) as a Plaza Superintendent until 1995. Jim founded the Designated Drivers Association, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping prevent drunk and impaired driving in 1994. In 1999 SmartRide was added to the DDA as a service to help the elderly, the blind and visually impaired get reliable transportation to medical appointments, shopping, even the hairdresser. In 2005 Jim joined the Senior Connections, the Capital Area Agency on Aging as a transportation coordinator with the goal of developing a regional transportation program called Ride Connection, to serve the elderly, disabled, and the low income in the Richmond Region (Planning District 15). Ride Connection, a form of Transportation Brokerage, in partnership with agencies, ride providers and clients throughout the region is scheduled to start in April 2007.
Michael J. Carrasco
Michael J. Carrasco was appointed to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities in April 2007. Since 1995, Michael has been serving the Commonwealth of Virginia on numerous community, regional and state-wide nonprofit boards and civic commissions in the areas of civic education, volunteerism and disabilities.
Michael currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Parent Educational Advocacy Center, a state-wide parent resource Training Center providing special education and advocacy training for families throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Michael previously served on the Alexandria City Community Service Board which serves as the Board of the Directors of the City of Alexandria Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse.
Appointed by former Governor Mark Warner as Commissioner to the Virginia Commission on National and Community Service Michael promoted volunteerism and the national service programs such as AmeriCorps and Learn & Serve throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Michael also previously served as the Chairman of Alexandria City Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee where he advocated and secured funding for the first Autism Resource Specialist as well as working to raise the awareness of the school district of the needs of students with Autism. Michael resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and three children. His oldest son is on the Autism spectrum.
Bill Peterson
Bill Peterson is the Senior Policy Analyst at the Virginia Department for the Aging. He has been employed by the Department for the Aging for more than 28 years and has served in a variety of positions including Acting Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner for Programs, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Public Information Officer, and Special Projects Manager. Bill received his B.A. in Sociology from Lynchburg College, his Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and his PhD in Public Policy and Administration also from VCU. Bill's wife, Sherry, is the Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association Greater Richmond Chapter.
Sherry Confer
Sherry Confer, a licensed clinical social worker, has been employed in the human services field for over 25 years. Experience in direct field service, administration, planning and quality assurance prepared her for her role in policy and advocacy as the Policy Director at the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy. Sherry has experience in both public and private provider settings. Commitment to self-direction, community integration, and consumer centered services are core values of Sherry's.
Dorothy Clark
Dorothy Clark lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia and is currently employed as a Machine Operator there. She is active in the community and has been a member of the Hope House Foundation Board of Directors since 2005 and is instrumental in that organization by currently serving as Chair of the Our Voices Committee.
Dorothy has also been a member of the Cerebral Palsy Walk-a-Thon Committee, the Consumer Advisory Committee for MR Services and the Adult Arts Festival Committee.
Jason L. Neal
Jason L. Neal was appointed in December 2007, by Governor Kaine, to serve an unexpired term on the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities as a Person with a Developmental Disability (Spina Bifida) through 2009.
Jason was born in Abingdon (Washington county) in southwest Virginia, where he has lived, except for 4 years in the Hampton/Newport News area as a small child and his 3+ years in Blacksburg attending Virginia Tech as a Marketing major. Jason received an Associate in Business Administration from Virginia Highlands Community College before transferring to Virginia Tech.
Jason's volunteer and work experience is diverse, from volunteering at the renowned Barter Theater and working for the dry cleaning business once owned by his family in high school, to working at other historic sites in Abingdon - the Martha Washington Inn and White's Mill, where he also volunteered hundreds of hours. Jason interned for Congressman Rick Boucher in the early 1990's and worked for the local radio station as a advertising salesman and color commentator for Abingdon High School sports.
Most recently Jason was the Community Action Specialist for Clinch Independent Living Services in Grundy. He has been an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Abingdon for 4 years and is a past member of the planning committee for the Washington county's Walk America.
Sarah Ratner
Sarah Ratner is an Associate Attorney on the Labor and Employment team at Hunton & Williams in Richmond Virginia. Sarah received her J.D from the University of Virginia where she was part of the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review and the Editor in Chief of the Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law. Sarah is involved with the Autism Society of America and the Women's Advocacy Project.
Dr. Suzanne Ripley
Dr. Ripley is the Project Director and Vice President of the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities for the Academy for Education Development. She lives in Falls Church Virginia. She received her Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University and has received numerous honors and awards in her profession. Dr Ripley has also been an Instructor for Northern Virginia Community College. She has extensive affiliations with many professional organizations.
Martha Toomey
Martha Toomey is the founding Director of Mary’s Family which is a non-profit private respite care program in the Virginia Piedmont area. The organization publishes a quarterly journal title, Let Me Tell You, a creative way to give voice to families who have children with special needs. Governor Tim Kaine visited Mary’s Family as a volunteer in May 2003. Mary’s Family was chosen to represent the disability community in the 2006 Commonwealth of Virginia Inaugural Parade in Williamsburg. Ms. Toomey was named 2003 Fauquier Times-Democrat’s Citizen of the Year for her dedicated service to the disability community. Martha is a volunteer for many organizations and has an extensive list of personal and professional interest.
Brian Clukey
Brian Clukey is the Library Page at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in Fall Church, Virginia. He has over 15 years in various clerical positions from New York to Washington DC. Brian is a graduate of Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale Virginia, and has many interests. He has been a member of the Board of American Association on Mental Retardation, Board of Directors for the ARC of Northern Virginia, President of People First of Northern Virginia, Member of the President’s Committee on mental Retardation, and the Northern Virginia Representative for the White House Celebration of the American with Disabilities Act.
Renita Ray
Renita Ray lives in Honaker Virginia and is the Independent Living Specialist of Clinch Independent Living Services in Grundy Virginia. She is responsible for the counseling of consumers toward the accomplishments of individual goals and objectives as directed by the consumer. Renita received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk.
