Participants

I am a wife and mother of three boys.  I have dedicated much of my life to caring for my family and raising my children.  I have a bachelor's degree from WMU in early childhood education.  I have spent years volunteering and advocating for my children's education.  I currently serve as the Chairperson for the WISD Parent Advisory Committee (PAC).    

Larry Biederman is a proud teacher with over 25 years of experience and an equally proud husband, father, and friend to many. Despite the challenges of having Tourette Syndrome, he teaches high school science at Insight School of Michigan and elementary religious school at Temple Beth Emeth. He is also the President of the Board of Trustees of the Milan Public Library.

In her role at the Michigan Office of the Attorney General, Black leads efforts in equity work, recruitment and retention, leadership, emotional intelligence training policy development, and engagement. Her position emphasizes the Attorney General’s commitment to fairness and equity in the Department’s operations and to creating an inclusive and equitable work environment for all department staff members. 

Metaphor Brown is an animation artist and director. Her work has been featured in festivals such as SXSW, discussed in publications such as Deadline, Film Inquiry, Culture Vulture, and more. Her clients include the Getty Museum, US EDA, CORE, USC, oscar winning artists, and more.

Felicia Brabec was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives for the 55th district in 2020, and assumed office on January 1, 2021. In 2022, she was elected for the 33rd district, and assumed office in 2023. She chose not to seek re-election in 2024, instead preparing to run for state senate in 2026.

Sam Carter (She/Her/Hers) is a recent MFA graduate from Eastern Michigan University, specializing in Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young. In 2024 Sam created, directed, choreographed, and wrote lyrics for Ronnie and Scales’ Magnificent Tale. This immersive, multi-sensory experience was designed for neurodivergent individuals and toured to special education classrooms. 

ROXANNE J. CHANG, JD, MS LLP, is an attorney specializing in elder and special needs law in Plymouth, Michigan. She is also a Limited Licensed Psychologist, with a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.  Ms. Chang has experience in consultation and advocacy for persons with dementia, developmental disabilities, and other individuals with special needs and their families.  

Emy Deshotel is a local mental health advocate, writer, and community volunteer. She spends most of her time talking about her own mental health as a form of advocacy and using her creativity to express herself through fiber arts, graphic design, and more. 

Sheriff Alyshia Dyer, Washtenaw County's first female sheriff and a licensed social worker, leads the WCSO and is committed to a safer, more just, and compassionate community. With master’s degrees in public policy and social work, and experience as a WCSO Deputy, Marine Safety Officer, therapist, and community organizer, she prioritizes public safety, equity, and community trust and wellness. The WCSO serves 365,000 residents across 723 sq. miles and 28 municipalities.

21 years old

Autism advocate 

Reach for the stars

I'm an advocate fighting for continued education for adults with severe developmental disabilities to continue their education past the age of 26. As of now we will be introducing a bill in the Michigan Senate this September to advance this education opportunity. I'm also a member of the Michigan Developmental Disability Council.

Jileesa Irwin is a woman with a disability, mother of two neurodivergent children, and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She is passionate about advocating for disability rights and accessibility informing the disability community about assistive technology for outdoor recreation as an Outdoor Recreation AT Specialist for the Michigan assistive technology program (MATP).

I am a third-year environmental science major who is in the College Supports Program and Honors College here. 

Debra Jelinek Gombert, PhD, MT-BC, is a Professor of Music Therapy at Eastern Michigan University. She has published and presented both regionally and nationally with a focus on music therapy, wellness, dis/ability, and social justice. She has 20 years of clinical music therapy experience with Early Childhood, School-Age, and Older Adult populations and has been a music therapy educator for over 10 years.

EMU 28 Marching Band and Pep Band

Sophie LeFevre, CTRS, MSR, BCBA, LBA, is the owner of Advanced Therapeutic Solutions, LLC. She specializes in Recreational Therapy and Behavior Analysis, supporting individuals with IDD, severe mental illness, and emotional disturbances. Passionate about empowering clients, she provides personalized, evidence-based therapy, advocacy, and community support.

Katie Nurss is a junior pursuing a major in Occupational Therapy at Eastern Michigan University. She has had extensive experience with public speaking about her lived experiences and advocating for those with disabilities in her university. 

Katie Oswald is an autistic self-advocate and founder of Full Spectrum Agency for Autistic Adults, where she works with her peers to provide support and social opportunities for almost 2,000 autistic adults. She launched the MiA3 Committee, a group of autistic advocates dedicated to bringing the voice of autistic people to the people who make decisions about our lives. 

Sarah Quinn is a former elementary school special education teacher who now focuses her research and teaching on academic inclusion for students with disabilities in their general education classrooms. She is passionate about interdisciplinary teacher preparation, Universal Design for Learning, and evidence-based instructional practices. 

Jeff Rayner has led MXTREALITY since 2013, focusing on the development of VR, AR, AI, and accessibility tools for education, rehabilitation, training, and social impact. MXT has collaborated with universities, the NSF, and non-profits to create over 150 XR experiences to empower diverse audiences to connect, learn, and thrive through innovative and inclusive technologies.

State Representative Carrie Rheingans is serving her second term representing the 47th House District, which includes parts of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and Jackson County. As the only Michigan legislator dually trained in public health and social work, she believes that every policy issue is a health issue. Before being elected to office, she worked for MDHHS and other health policy organizations.

Eli Savit started his career as a public school teacher, teaching special-education and 8th grade American history. After attending the University of Michigan Law School, Eli worked for two federal judges including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, then as an appellate and Supreme Court lawyer. In private practice, he dedicated significant time to representing children with disabilities. Eli has also been an integral part of several major, successful civil rights and environmental initiatives in Michigan and across the country.

Seeking a degree in Product Design Engin. Technology. While engineering workmanship is my focus, I enjoyed integrating within EMU organizations and other creative projects for 4 years. One notable project was working on a class project where I built an tool piece to produce more accurate parts on the project. I value being part of a team and hope to share this in detail.