Guest Speaker Bio's

1st Grade Guest Speakers:

Topic: Physical Disabilities

Linda Hiller

Linda was born in Boston, and she grew up in Newton Massachusetts. She went to the Newton Public Schools until she was in the seventh grade. From the 8th to the 12th grade she attended the Brimmer and May school in Chestnut Hill. She went to Russell Sage College in Troy, New York where and got a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. During her senior year in college she experienced a period where the left side of her body became numb. A few years later she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Her symptoms disappeared for a while and her life became normal. Her first job out of college was as a social worker at the Bird S. Coler Hospital in New York. After she had children she became a "stay at home mother". During that time she started playing tennis. She taught her children how to ski, and took many ski vacations together. Her children became avid skiers and later ski instructors at Mount Snow.

When her children were growing up she did a lot of volunteer work. She got involved with the Understanding our Differences a disability awareness program in Newton. She started a program at the Countryside School in Newton. Since then she has been President, Physical Disabilities Research Specialist, Board Member, and now a guest speaker. She is still involved after 35 plus years. In 2009, the Boston Celtics recognized her as a "Hero Among Us" for the work she has done in raising disability awareness.

When her MS got worse she eventually progressed to using a scooter for mobility. Since using a scooter, she can no longer play tennis or ski in the conventional way. Although through the Crested Butte, Colorado Adaptive Sports Center, she took adaptive ski lessons and Linda states, "What a glorious feeling!"

Linda has been speaking for the Same and Different Like Me program for over five years. We are happy to have her return for another school year to our first grade classrooms.

Topic: Physical Disabilities

Courtney Mulligan

Courtney grew up in Merrimack, NH and currently lives in Arlington, MA. She is a graduate of Stonehill College with a degree in Psychology. She received her Master's degree from Suffolk University in Public Administration with a focus on Disability Studies. She is a proud member of the Little People of America organization. Currently, Courtney works at Regis College as the Director of Disability & Accessibility Services.

For more information about Courtney, click here.

Topic: Physical Disabilities

Donna and Will McHugh

Will McHugh is a 1st grader who attends the Deerfield School. His mom, Donna, gives a Power point presentation on physical disabilities that focuses on Will's life and activities. Will and his family are very active with the Babson College Men's Soccer Team and Team Impact. For more information see this article about Will and Team Impact click on this link.

2nd Grade Guest Speakers:

Topic: Hearing and Visual

Jaimi Lard and Christine Dwyer (Interpreter)

Jaimi Lard loves adventure. She has surfed, skied, swung on a trapeze and testified before Congress. Born deaf and blind, she is extraordinary, but she is also as ordinary as anyone: she eats out at restaurants, enjoys meeting friends for coffee and rides a bike. She was a Girl Scout. As the official spokesperson for Perkins School For the Blind, Jaimi has spent the past 13 years breaking down barriers and changing perspectives about people with disabilities. In a typical year, Jaimi speaks to dozens of groups and thousands of individuals about living independently as a person who is deafblind.

She annually testifies before Massachusetts legislative committees, advocating for programs and services for people with deafblindness. In 2006, she addressed over 10,000 people at the Lions International Convention, the first person who is deafblind to address this convention since Helen Keller did in 1925. In 2008, to a thunderous ovation, Jaimi received the “Hero Among Us” award from the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation for her advocacy work for people with disabilities. Jaimi has been visiting Westwood Public School 2nd grade classrooms for over five years. We are so happy to have Jaimi return as a guest speaker for our program. For more information about Jaimi, please click here for her webpage.

Topic: Visual

Mike Cataruzolo

Mike has been a volunteer coordinator for the Perkins School for the Blind and a longtime speaker who advocates for people who are visually impaired or blind. See below for related articles about Mike.

2014 Perkins School For the Blind Congratulatory Graduation Speech

"Army of Altruists" - an article about volunteerism

"Keys to Success"- an article on independent living.

Topic: Hearing

Gary Alpert

Gary has been speaking to our 2nd grade classes for many years. He presentation focuses on what it was like for him growing up hearing impaired. For more information about Gary's work and presentations click on this link.

3rd Grade Guest Speaker:

Topic: Cognitive Disabilities

Brian Heffernan

Michael Avakian

My name is Michael Avakian. I am 27 years old and live in Bedford, Massachusetts. I graduated from Bedford High School, and I now work at Stop and Shop. In my free time, I like to go to the movies with friends and hang out with my brothers. I also like to make friendships and bonds. I am a member of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress' Self-Advocate Advisory Council and was the MDSC Allen Crocker intern. Painting is my passion, and I have been painting landscapes for 5 years. Last year, I opened an online shop- MichaelAvakianArt- where I sell notecards with prints of his landscape paintings. My dream is to be the greatest

Topic:Learning Disabilities

Molly Sliney

Olympian Molly Sullivan Sliney was a distinguished member of the 1988 and 1992 United States fencing team. Molly also was a member of the 1987 and 1991 Pan American teams where she won two gold medals.

A Massachusetts native, Molly started fencing at age ten as a way build her self-esteem. Because of her learning disability, dyslexia, she lacked confidence and belief in herself. Encouraged by her father Joseph, and coach Joe Pechinsky, she not only had success on the fencing strip but also in the class room. Attending the University of Notre Dame on a full scholarship, she received her Bachelors in Marketing while winning two NCAA titles, a mark recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Notre Dame also named her 1980's Female Athlete of the Decade. Though she has a tremendous list of athletic accomplishments, she views her college diploma as one of her greatest achievements.

Since retiring from competition in 1992, Molly has been an active public speaker and fencing instructor. By sharing her life experiences, she teaches youth to believe in themselves, to set goals and to work every day to achieve those goals, no matter what the obstacles.

Molly currently lives in Bradford, Massachusetts with her husband Keith, and children Michaela and Troy.

For more information about Molly, click here for Molly's webpage.

5th Grade:

Topic: Mental Health and Autism

Giana Hitsos

Gianna is a senior at Gordon College majoring in Music with a concentration in Voice with a minor in French and theatre. She is a singer and speaker throughout the Boston area. She is a self-advocate for Autism Awareness, and is trying to change perceptions of autism, one song at a time. Gianna has sung the National Anthem for the a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, and for the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium, as well as Boston University Men’s Hockey, and the 13.1 Marathon. We are happy to welcome Giana back to Westwood for her second year.