Brett Oppegaard, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and the Undergraduate Chair of the Journalism program at the University of Hawai‘i. He studies intersections of Technical Communication, rhetoric, journalism, mobile technologies, and media accessibility. His research has been published in such academic journals as Technical Communication, Mobile Media and Communication, and the Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, among others, and his scholarship has been supported by federal agencies – such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Park Service – but also by private foundations and corporations, such as Google.

Sajja Koirala is a PhD student in Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Hawaii.  Her research interest includes media accessibility, disability studies, and audio description.  She has worked as a research assistant on the UniDescription Project for over 5 years.  She is also involved with the Center on Disability Studies at UH where she researches and teaches about issues related to people with disabilities. 

Alaisha works as an itinerant TVI in northwest Oregon. She graduated from Portland State University with her MS in Special Education and her TVI license in 2022. She is currently working toward COMS licensure through Portland State's Orientation & Mobility program. Alaisha is passionate about equity and access for marginalized students. During her free time, she enjoys teaching youth dance classes, spending time with her dog, and taking care of her many houseplants.

Melaine Holliday is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and outdoor enthusiast. Growing up, STEM experiences that were hands-on and project-based were by far the most intriguing to her. From grade school, she enjoyed instructional units on growing plants from seed. She loved tending to and anticipating new growth. Her interest in nature was reinforced at home each spring when her mom would let her choose an annual flower to plant in the garden. Melaine extends her love for exploratory learning by blending experiences with nature into her Expanded Core Curriculum lessons for her students.

Kim Conlon is currently an O&M instructor for the Anchorage School District and previously taught in a high school Lifeskills classroom for ASD. Before moving to Alaska 14 years ago, she was the Deafblind specialist for NH and began her teaching career at Perkins School for the Blind in the Deafblind Program.  She loves to be outdoors and enjoys exploring Alaska with her family. 

I have lived in Alaska since 1974. Before I became a teacher, I worked as a land surveyor for Anaconda Minerals, and traveled Alaska extensively – from Kobuk River above the arctic circle, to Mt. Illiama down the Aleutian chain, and Prince William Sound. After I graduated May 1995 with my Bachelor’s in education at UAA, I began substituting and was asked to do a long-term job as a teacher of the blind/visually impaired program with Anchorage School District. After that year, with the encouragement from my mentors, went on to earn a double masters at the University of Michigan, Kalamazoo, MI, graduating fall of 2004 with both masters.

I have 26 years of teaching experience with Anchorage School District, Alaska – 4 years in the elementary classroom as long-term sub, 22 years as a TCVI, and 18 years as an O&M Specialist.

Brian Janson is an environmental educator with the BLM Campbell Creek Science Center in Anchorage, AK where he has worked since 2012, getting thousands of Alaskan kids out learning about and enjoying their local public lands. He also has several years’ experience working for the National Park Service as an interpretive ranger at Yellowstone, Katmai, and Denali National Parks. In 2016 he graduated with a master’s degree in Outdoor and Environmental Education from Alaska Pacific University.

Ashli is currently a TVI for students 3 through transition age with an urban school district in south central Alaska. She also has experience as an urban special educator in the lower forty-eight, where she taught students with moderate to severe disabilities and newly arrived English learners. Ashli also served as a transition coordinator for students aging out of high school with credit deficiencies. She aimed to support their transition to independent living and employment needed for adulthood while also encouraging students to pursue their high school diploma via alternate routes. 

Steve Lowry, TVI/COMS, has been an educator for 13 years. He has taught English and Social Studies at the Washington State School for the Blind since 2010 and recently completed the Orientation and Mobility endorsement program at Portland State University. Steve has led several tours of students at Fort Vancouver and is passionate about place-based education.

Leah has been working with the blind, visually impaired and DeafBlind communities for the last ten years in New York, California and across the Pacific in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. She is a recent graduate from Portland State University with a masters degree in Special Education and a focus in Orientation and Mobility. Leah is thrilled to be presenting at Mobility Matters on a STEAM series she launched in Hawaii working with blind, visually impaired and DeafBlind youth.

Haruka Hopper is currently in the Visually Impaired Learner and Orientation and Mobility programs at Portland State University, pursuing her master’s degree. She works as a state resource teacher at the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, Office of Student Support Services. Haruka is originally from Japan, worked as a high school PE teacher, and had many years of experience in the field of Special Education before moving to Hawaii. As a sibling of an individual with CHARGE syndrome, she grew her love and passion for teaching and advocating for the low-incidence population throughout her life. 

Amelia Russell has been supporting, educating, and empowering children and families for over 30 years. She received her Master’s in Special Education, Visual Impairments from Portland State University in 2018. She is a dedicated teacher working as a special education Preschool Resource Teacher/TVI in Maui, Hawaii.  She has a passion for instilling early intervention foundational skills and a joy for learning. Ms. Russell is currently attending Portland State University Orientation and Mobility program.

Hazelle Magaoay-Baniaga has been an Education Assistant in the SPED department for many years.  She has her undergrad in Biology from the Chaminade University of Honolulu.  She is compassionate and loves working with children.  She is currently attending Portland State University in the Orientation and Mobility program. 

Nancy Parker is a teacher of the visually impaired in the Honolulu School District, Honolulu Hawaii.  After completing a tour with the United States Marine Corps in 1990 she obtained a Bachelors of Science in Mass Communications from East Tennessee State University in 1997.  She then went on to earn a Master’s in Special Education from American College of Education in 2017.  She continued her education by completing the Teacher of the Visually Impaired program with Portland State University in 2018.  Currently Ms Parker is attending Portland State University’s Orientation and Mobility program. 

Claire Hamura was previously an elementary school teacher and has taught students in all grade levels, K-6, with the exception of grade 3. Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, she is excited to be able to serve and give back to her community. She is currently attending Portland State Universityʻs Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility programs.

Tracy Fortmann is Superintendent at Fort Vancouver NHS, which is in Washington and Oregon. She began her career in the National Park Service as a graduate intern. With her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Political Science, her first position was in the Washington DC Office of Policy as a program and policy analyst. She also served as a speechwriter for the Director of the National Park Service and for other Department of the Interior officials. She held several key positions at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including as a Management Assistant and later as the Chief of Communications, Legislation, Partnerships and Special Events.  She was the lead for public planning and public affairs for the "Post to Park" transfer of the Presidio of San Francisco to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In 2014, she was recognized as the National Park Service's Cultural Resources Superintendent. Tracy has raised her children in Vancouver and loves the Pacific Northwest.  She found her niche at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. As a complex, highly sensitive cultural resource site and an urban national park, she and park staff are afforded an almost infinite number of partnerships and other opportunities to daily make real connections with the American people. Tracy likes to share that she feels honored to work at Fort Vancouver, a national treasure, with employees, who are incredible public servants, who find each day a new day to do something special and make a difference.

Rosanne Hoffmann holds an MA and PhD in biological sciences from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She has developed science products for students with visual impairments at the American Printing House for the Blind for the past 15 years including the DNA Twist, DNA-RNA Kit, Protein Synthesis Kit, Build-A-Cell and various tactile graphics compilations. Using her 20 years of experience teaching college level biology at the University of Louisville and tenure at APH, her goal is to help level the playing field for students with vision impairments by combining her scientific knowledge with the principles of universal design.

Adam Amundsen is pursuing a graduate degree in the Visually Impaired Learner and Orientation and Mobility programs at PSU. While managing a bicycle shop in Portland, he began volunteering for several adaptive sports organizations. Eventually, he combined his knowledge of running a business with his commitment to inclusive recreation when he founded Different Spokes, an adaptive-specific bicycle shop that customized cycles for people of all abilities. Teaching others about inclusive cycling and seeing how it provided independence and mobility for people with disabilities was an eye opener for Adam and inspired him to pursue a career as a TSVI and COMS.

Charles Johnson is a sophomore at the Washington State School for the Blind.  He participated in Mobility Matters 2021 as a student facilitator of the accessible virtual tour to the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Charles is the founding member of the Green Beings environmental conservation club at WSSB and serves on student council. He is also a competitive swimmer and took second place in the 50 freestyle and third place in the 50 backstroke adaptive competitions at the Washington State high school championship meet in February.