Presenters

We're very grateful to be joined by a group of excellent presenters!

Krista Bulger, WSSB

Krista is a dedicated Teacher of Blind and Low Vision Learners (TBLVL) and Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS) at Washington State School for the Blind. As part of WSSB’s Outreach Access Services team, she supports colleagues and their students with essential training and resources to be confident users of technology.

Michael Cantino, NWRESD

mcantino@nwresd.k12.or.us

Michael Cantino is an AT specialist and braille transcriber who has been supporting students with disabilities since 2006, in both K12 and higher ed. He is currently serving as the BVIS Technology Specialist at NWRESD. Michael specializes in creating accessible materials for complex subjects, including art, STEM, and wayfinding. Current projects include Project INSPIRE, Raised Mathematics, and 3D printed tactile graphics.

Lee Chandler, WSSB

Lee Chandler is a Statewide STEM/AT Consultant, at Washington State School for the Blind. As a member of the Outreach Access Services, he provides statewide support in the realms of STEM and access technology.

Emily Coleman, TSBVI

Emily Coleman is the Superintendent at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) and host of the podcast, “A Sense of Texas.” Emily began her career at the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) as an itinerant Teacher of Students who are Visually Impaired and then worked as their Outreach Director and State Vision Consultant with Washington Sensory Disabilities Services.  She has served as President of AER and served on the PNW AER Board as President-Elect, President, and Past President. She is currently a board member for the Council of Schools and Services for the Blind. Emily has three children and her middle child, Eddie, was born blind with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. 

Darlene Daniels, CRIS

ddaniels@pps.net

Darlene Daniels M.S. is TOSA And Technical assistance lead for Oregon Deafblind Project. Teacher for the Visually Impaired (TVI) and Orientation and Mobility Specialist. Darlene has been a TVI for 14 years. Orientation Mobility Specialist for 5 years.  She also holds credentials in teaching strategies for students who are blind/visually impaired with multiple disabilities in the sensorimotor stage of development. Darlene has worked in the field of special education for over 32 years in various capacities including 19 years as a Research Associate for Design to Learn Projects working on development of the Communication Matrix and other research related work.

Joe Dlugo, WSSB

Joe Dlugo is a statewide service provider with the Washington State School for the Blind Outreach department. He dabbles in a little of everything in this field, with an extra special focus on access technology. When he's not at work, he enjoys spending time in his garden with the bees. 

Kirsten Dlugo, WSSB

Kirsten Dlugo is a Teacher of Blind and Low Vision Learners who has 22 years of experience teaching in special education. She has been a member of the WA State School for the Blind Outreach team for the last 10 years. Kirsten is also a member of the WSSB Outreach Access Services team helping to mentor new teachers and provide additional support statewide. She has a background in working with deafblind learners as well as learners with complex support needs."

Daniel Glowicki, LBLESD

I have been a TSVI since 2001 and an OM since 2008.  I have worked for LBL-ESD that entire period of time.  Outside of work I enjoy being with my family, gardening, and skateboarding. 

Ky Hansen, CRIS

Ky Hansen is a COMS working in the Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR areas. They are an independent contractor and predominantly work within local school districts. Ky graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in ASL/English Interpreting from Western Oregon University in 2013. They spent 7 years working in education as a paraeducator and interpreter for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing students before becoming a COMS. During that time, Ky volunteered with the DeafBlind communities in Seattle and Oregon. It was volunteering in the DeafBlind community that led Ky to pursue their Master’s of Science in Special Education with a focus on Orientation and Mobility at Portland State University. They graduated in June of 2020 and have been working as a COMS since. Ky’s passion lies in working with individuals who are DeafBlind. They enjoy the challenge of teaching individuals how to travel safely and efficiently across all environments. On a personal note, Ky loves exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest by hiking, backpacking and taking all the pictures! Also, they and their partner have two cats , Coconut and Tigger. Two cuddly, playful balls of love.

JJ Isaacson, NWRESD

jisaacson@nwresd.k12.or.us

JJ is a dedicated advocate and educator for blind and low vision students, bringing over 30 years of diverse experience in education. Currently an itinerant teacher for NWRESD, she also serves as the state’s math specialist for BVI students. JJ honed her expertise as a math instructor at the Washington State School for the Blind and has taught essential coursework for the Visually Impaired Learner (VIL) program at Portland State University, as well as mentoring practicum students.  Active in professional networks like the Oregon Math Leaders Network and the NWRESD Equity Team, JJ champions inclusive education. Her mantra, "Let’s make numeracy greater than or equal to literacy!" reflects her unwavering commitment to empowering BVI students in all aspects of mathematical learning and numeracy skills.  

April Love, NWRESD

alove@nwresd.k12.or.us

April Love has been a TSVI since 2004. During her 20 years as a TSVI, April has worked for WSSB, SOESD, and NWRESD. During the past two years at NWRESD, she has been in a Statewide TOSA position as a TSVI Mentor. Fun facts: April enjoys hiking in her free time and her favorite food is french fries (or maybe chips and salsa).

Stephanie McAlexander, CRIS

Stephanie McAlexander has been working as a Teacher of Blind & Low Vision Learners (TBLV) and Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) with Columbia Regional Inclusive Services Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education program for the past 3 years. After graduating from Northern Illinois University with an M.S.Ed in Visual Impairment in 2018, she worked for Los Angeles Unified School District as TBLV for 3 years. Before entering the field of education, Stephanie worked as an actor, farmer, and Peace Corps Volunteer. She was inspired to enter this field by her mother, who worked as an outreach and early intervention TBLV for Washington State School for the Blind for over 20 years. 

Becky Morton, CRIS

Becky Morton is a Teacher of Blind & Low Vision Learners (TBLV) and a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) at Columbia Regional Inclusive Services. For the last 3 years, she has provided Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education services (EI/ECSE) to families in Multnomah and Clackamas Counties. She has 12 years of experience in education in a variety of roles, including as a paraeducator. She received her Masters in Special Education from Portland State University. 

Amy Parker

Amy Parker, EdD, COMS, is an Associate Professor and the coordinator of the Orientation and Mobility Program in the Special Education Department at Portland State University. In 2009 she completed her doctorate in special education, with an emphasis in deafblindness and a certification in orientation and mobility, through a leadership and enrichment fellowship funded by the Office of Special Education. Using participatory methodologies with community stakeholders, she has worked to design accessible multimedia learning modules for national technical assistance and personnel preparation. Her research interests include orientation and mobility for individuals with complex disabilities, communication interventions, participatory action research with people with disabilities and their families, and community-based partnerships to create social change.

Since coming to Portland State in 2017, Dr. Parker has engaged in dialogues about campus improvements, opportunities to share knowledge about Orientation and Mobility (O&M) and inclusive design, and to advance that equitable structures and practices have benefits for communities as a whole. In 2023, she was awarded the Researcher of the Year for the College of Education.

Dr. Sandra Rosen

Dr. Sandra Rosen recently retired from San Francisco State University as the Coordinator of the Program in Orientation & Mobility (O&M) and advisor for the Orthopedic Impairment Added Authorization (OIAA). She is internationally known for her work in the field, including the development of new teaching approaches in O&M and methods of teaching mobility to people who have both physical and visual impairments. Dr. Rosen has also helped develop O&M professional preparation programs in other countries and is a frequent speaker at international conferences. Her current research interests include sensorimotor functioning in people who were born blind and O&M for people who have dual visual and health/physical impairments. Dr. Rosen is collaborating with the American Printing House for the Blind to create a curriculum on her proprioceptive facilitation techniques that support students in developing muscle memories and new neural pathways for more effective mobility.

Annie Stockton, WSSB

Annie Stockton is a Teacher of Blind and Low Vision Learners who has worked as an itinerant teacher for 21 years.  She has worked with the Washington State School for the Blind Outreach department in the Olympia area for most of those years.  Annie is also a member of the WSSB Outreach Access Services team helping to mentor new teachers and provide additional support to professionals in the field.  She has a special interest in working with beginning braille readers and teaches the WSSB Online UEB class for adults. Outside of work, Annie enjoys sailing, biking and baseball.

Claudia Swapp, CRIS

Claudia Swapp has been working as a Teacher of Blind & Low Vision Learners for 17 years. She has worked for WSB Outreach, NWRESD, and has been with the Columbia Regional Inclusive Services since 2015. Her current assignment is with the EI/ECSE team.  Claudia received her M.S. through Portland State University.  She is certified as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired as well as in Special Education. She has a passion for CVI, ECC Camp, and any opportunities to challenge her creativity.  She is a mother/step mother of 8 and is anticipating grandchild 14 in January 2025.

Scott Wall, CRIS

BLV Program Administrator for Columbia Regional Inclusive Services. Background includes work as a TVI/O&M. I have a special interest in improving how we serve students with ONH and how best to support their educational teams.

Bob Wohlers, SOESD

Bob has been teaching students with visual impairments for 9 years and is a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, helping students navigate the world with confidence. When he's not guiding the way, he's probably on a mountain bike—or at least thinking about it. In fact, he’s already mentally halfway down Phil's Trail, so let’s wrap this up before he heads for the hills!

Tyler York, SOESD

Tyler York is a TSVI that started working at CRIS in 2013. In 2014 he began working as a TSVI at Southern Oregon ESD. For the past several years at SOESD he has been working on the release of the 7th edition of the OR Project.

Sharon Zenger, CRIS

Sharon Zenger is a teacher of the visually impaired and certified mobility instructor. She has been part of the vision field for over 20 years. Her work includes Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, Eastern Oregon Inclusive Services Region, and Columbia Inclusive Services Region. Sharon graduated Portland State University and University of Northern Colorado. Sharon has been part of the guide dog community since 1989, raising puppies, interning for Guide Dogs

for the Blind, and a guide dog user herself. She has presented several times over the years on what it is like to have a guide dog and how guide dogs have helped people with their independence to a wide variety of audiences.