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Dr. LaShawna Fant is an 18-year educator of visually impaired and blind students. She is blind and lost her vision while a senior in high school. Dr. Fant has also been a vocational counselor and transition specialist, and holds a doctorate degree in counseling. Additionally, she is the CEO of Fant Fresh Start Consulting, LLC. With this business, LaShawna helps guide individuals living with blindness, as well as families, employers, schools, and others.
Dr. DeVonda Elliott is a Recreation Therapist with the Department of Veterans Affairs for 12 years. She is also an adjunct professor at Jackson State University in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
Dr. Zaccheus Ahonle, Dr. Phillip Rumrill, and Dr. Stuart Rumrill
Dr. Zaccheus Ahonle, Dr. Phillip Rumrill, and Dr. Stuart Rumrill
Zaccheus J. Ahonle, PhD, CRC, is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education and Program Coordinator of Rehabilitation Counseling at Mississippi State University. He holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Ahonle has over 10 years of combined experience working as a CRC, rehabilitation counselor educator, and researcher. His research focuses on enhancing the rehabilitation outcomes of Veterans and people with acquired brain injuries.
Phillip Rumrill, PhD, CRC, is a Professor of Counselor Education at UK and Director of Research at HDI. He holds a master’s degree in Counseling from Keene State College in New Hampshire and a doctorate in Rehabilitation from the University of Arkansas. Dr. Rumrill is well known as one of the leading disabilities and employment researchers in the United States. He has authored or co-authored more than 450 professional publications. Dr. Rumrill has extensive experience administering funded research projects. He has had leadership roles on 44 grants with total budgets of more than $53 million.
Stuart Rumrill, Ph.D., LPC, CRC is a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the department of Kinesiology and Community Health. He received his doctorate in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has over ten years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. His research interests include substance use disorders, quality of life and well-being, accommodation planning and ADA compliance, assistive technology and traumatic brain injury, and autism spectrum disorder and college success.
Tyler Griffin is a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments at the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and Blind where he has been serving for over 11 years. He is currently in the role of Special Services Coordinator with the district’s Special Services office. He has worked within a wide range of areas and activities at the school including teaching braille and assistive technology, providing professional development for district staff, directing the K-12 music and performing arts program, coaching sports such as Goalball and Track and Field, and on-campus or community-based event planning. In 2016, Tyler was named the Mississippi School for the Blind Teacher of the Year and in 2023 he was named the district Employee of the Year. He completed a master’s degree in the field of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments as one of the first cohort members of the Deep South Synergy2 TVI Project at Jackson State University. Tyler is an active board member at large with the Mississippi Chapter of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MAER).
Destin Parsley was born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She graduated from the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor’s degree in leisure studies and therapeutic recreation. Destin began working at the Memphis VA in 2016 in acute spinal cord, PTSD, and adaptive sports. In 2019, she began working at the Biloxi VA in Blind Rehabilitation. Destin’s favorite leisure and recreation activities are going to the islands, scuba diving, drawing, and painting.
Garrett Davenport is a Recreational Therapist at the Blind Rehab Center in the Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare System, who is 26 years old, and born in Jasper, AL. He received his degree from the University of South Alabama in 2021 and started working at the VA shortly after. Garrett has some experience with mental health, but most of his practice has been with the visually impaired.
Kendra Farrow is a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University with 14 years’ experience providing itinerant VRT services. Kendra currently works for the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University. She is the project director for the Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center, OIB-TAC.
Herbert Humphrey, Moderator
Herbert Humphrey, Moderator
Kendra Farrow, Garrett Pendergast, Tracy Ferro
Kendra Farrow, Garrett Pendergast, Tracy Ferro
After completing his military career in 2001, which included participating in the First Gulf War, Herbert Humphrey worked as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area for 11 years. In 2012 Herbert was diagnosed as legally blind, resulting from a brain tumor. After a successful surgery to remove the tumor, he attended and successfully completed blind rehabilitation at the Addie McBryde Center for the Blind and the Blind Rehabilitation Center, VA Hospital, Biloxi, MS. He went on to work as Advocacy Coordinator for Mississippi Industries for the Blind, a position he held for 5 and a half years. Herbert is currently ADA Compliance Coordinator for the City of Jackson. Herbert is married with 5 children.
Kendra Farrow is a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University with 14 years’ experience providing itinerant VRT services. Kendra currently works for the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University. She is the project director for the older individuals who are blind technical assistance center, OIB-TAC.
Garrett Pendergast is an ACVREP Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Specialist, Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired, and an Assistive Technology Specialist. Since June 2022, he has been a Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (BRS) at the Gulf Coast Blind Rehabilitation Center, Department of Veterans Affairs in Biloxi, MS. Prior to coming to the Department of Veterans Affairs, he was a Certified Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Instructor at the Foundation for Blind Children (FBC) in Phoenix, Arizona. FBC is a 501c3 which serves the blind and visually impaired community through their life cycle.
Garrett has a Master of Arts in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy and in Orientation and Mobility from Western Michigan University. He has a Master of Arts in Special Education, Visual Impairment Emphasis from University of Arizona.
Tracy Ferro is a retired master sergeant of the United States Air Force. He is originally from New York where he joined the United States Air Force shortly after graduating from high school. Tracy spent 16 years in Germany and his wife had orders to Keeslar Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. Tracy and his wife decided that they liked the MS Gulf Coast and have grown to love it there. He was diagnosed in 2006 with Stargardts Disease and has gone through the Blind Rehabilitation Center at the Biloxi Veterans Association where he currently volunteers. Tracy is an accredited Veteran Service Officer and the National Secretary for the Blinded Veterans Association.
Dr. Malinda Wimbs obtained a Master’s in counseling in 2005, became a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor in 2015, and acquired a Ph.D. in 2017. For seventeen years, she worked at the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services as a computer instructor and a vocational rehabilitation counselor, and currently employed at the Biloxi Blind Rehabilitation Center as CATS Supervisor. Dr. Wimbs strives to inspire and empower individuals with disabilities, providing strategies for overcoming and making dreams come true.
Dr. Shelly Bates worked as a recreational therapist for over 20 years with patients over the age of 55 in all aspects of care including skilled, acute behavioral health, assisted living, long-term care and hospice care. She has a Master’s degree in recreational therapy from Clemson University, and a Ph.D. in instructional design and development from the University of South Alabama where she currently serves as assistant professor in recreational therapy.
Nancy Raia Nancy has won numerous awards including the Gulf Guardian Award, the Mobile Arts Councils Educator Award, and the Alabama Art Educator of the Year. Nancy studied acrylics, watercolor, pen & ink, and photography at the Eastern Shore Art Center in Alabama. She brings art to the community as Artist in Residence at the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Al, after serving as Community Outreach Director of the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, AL.
Ms. Dorothy L. Young is a graduate of Alcorn State University (B.S.); the University of South Alabama (M.S. in Counselor Education and Minor in Rehabilitation Counseling); and Belhaven University (Master’s in Management). In 2000, Ms. Young began work as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, with the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind. In the 2013, Ms. Young was promoted to the Director position for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Services, Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. Dorothy L. Young serves on the National Executive Leadership team as the Technology Chair for the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind.
Dr. Joann P. Judge is a professor in the School of Kinesiology & Nutrition at The University of Southern Mississippi. She received her Ph.D. in Kinesiology for Individuals with Disabilities from the University of Virginia. Dr. Judge is a Nationally Certified Adapted Physical Educator (CAPE); a licensed K-12 Health & Physical Education Teacher; and she has taught students with visual impairments at Camp Abilities in Brockport, NY, AZ, PA, and FL.
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