Speakers Bios
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Brenda Bender is a Senior Education Specialist with Don Johnston, Inc. For more than 20 years, Brenda has provided Human Learning Tools to key administrators, principals, district directors and teachers for students. She helps educators integrate and deliver reading and writing assistive technology tools and virtual solutions.
Gayl Bowser M.Ed. is an independent consultant who focuses on the creation of effective, legal and high-quality service systems that encourage integration of technology into educational programs for students with disabilities. Formerly the Coordinator of the Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) and the U.S. State of Oregon’s Specialist in Assistive Technology, Gayl provides consultation, training and technical assistance throughout the United States and internationally. She is a teacher by training, a founding member of the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology (QIAT) Consortium and serves on the QIAT Leadership Team. Gayl is a co-author, with Penny Reed of Education Tech Points: A Framework for Assistive Technology, Leading the way to Excellence in AT Services and several other books about AT services.
Christopher R. Bugaj, MA CCC‐SLP is a founding member the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools. Chris hosts The A.T.TIPSCAST; a multi‐award winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences and co-hosts the Talking With Tech;podcast featuring interviews and conversations about augmentative and alternative communication. Chris is the and author and co‐author of many books; The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools , ATEval2Go and The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome For Al just to name a few. He has created an app for iPad that helps professionals in education perform technology assessments for students. Chris has presented over 300 live or digital sessions at local, regional, state, national and international events, including TEDx.
Rob Carr, CPACC, is the ICT Accessibility Program Manager for Oklahoma ABLE Tech. ABLE Tech is Oklahoma’s Assistive Technology Act Program housed at Oklahoma State University. Rob helps Oklahoma state agencies and higher education institutions to make their websites and software more accessible. He trains and guides organizations to make accessibility doable. Rob focuses on topics that range from making PDF documents more accessible to building an accessibility program. Rob regularly talks about accessibility at local and national conferences and events. He also organizes Oklahoma’s statewide technology accessibility conference, TechAccess Oklahoma.
Priscilla Danielson is presently an Assistant Professor at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, UT. She has been a practicing SLP for over 30 years, specializing in AT/AAC, language disorders, written language disorders, & Universal Design for Learning.
Catherine Fredericks, Employed by the Wayne Board of Education, Catherine is a Speech/Language Pathologist with more than 40 years experience helping students with complex communication needs. She is credentialed as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) by RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) and Certified Autism Specialist (CAS) by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Catherine is also certified as a LAMP Professional by the Center for AAC and Autism. Catherine serves as Recording Secretary on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Coalition for the Advancement of Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (NJCART).
Brian Friedlander is an associate professor of education at St. Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ, where he coordinates graduate programs in special education and teaches graduate courses in assistive technology. A school psychologist with expertise in the area of assistive technology, Brian has a passion for using all kinds of technology in his professional work. Friedlander consults to many school districts in the State of New Jersey and has taught thousands of educators how to utilize the tools and methodologies of mind mapping to improve learning in the classroom. He is also a consultant in private practice in the area of assistive technology and maintains an active blog at http://assistivetek.blogspot.com.
Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, PhD. ATP is an accessibility accomplice providing training, support, and consultation to organizations around Assistive Technology, Accessible Educational Materials, and Universal Design for Learning. She is passionate about ensuring that learning is inclusive an accessible for all learners in the way that makes sense for them. She is an Assistive Technology Specialist for RSU 21 in Kennebunk, Maine where she is grateful to “be paid to think differently” and supports inclusive learning practices through the intentional use of AT, AEM, and UDL. Hillary has written and spoken in various spaces around AT, AEM, and UDL. She is also an adjunct faculty member for the University Of New England’s graduate certification programs in inclusion, as well as the University of Maine at Farmington’s graduate programs in Special Education. Home s where her heart is in Saco, Maine with her husband, son, and stepson (who have both left the nest) and cats.
Sarah Gregory, M.S. CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistive Technology consultant in the Ithaca City School District in Upstate New York. She specializes in Augmentative and Alternative Communication in a public school setting with a focus on inclusion. Sarah has presented on these topics at national and statewide conferences. She shares tech tips for AAC and teletherapy on YouTube and Instagram @SarahGregorySLP.
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Ken Hackbarth is the president of Volksswitch.org – an organization devoted to the democratization of assistive technology by leveraging the power and promise of 3D printing. Prior to his current position he worked for almost three decades as a systems architect for AT&T Bell Laboratories and its subsequent divestitures. He has a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Master of Education in Special Education, with a concentration in assistive technology, from Bowling Green State University.
Karen Janowski is an Assistive & Inclusive Technology Consultant, and former Adjunct Professor at Simmons College in Boston, MA. She presents both locally and nationally about the importance of using ubiquitous technologies which remove the obstacles to learning for all learners and is a passionate advocate for Universal Design for Learning. She is an EdCampBoston and EdCampAccess organizer and co-moderates #ATchat on Twitter, and has blogged at http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com since 2005. She is the President and owner of EdTech Solutions, Inc in Reading, MA, which provides AT and AAC professional development, coaching, consultations, and assessments throughout the Greater Boston area.Karen Janowski is an Assistive & Inclusive Technology Consultant, and former Adjunct Professor at Simmons College in Boston, MA. She presents both locally and nationally about the importance of using ubiquitous technologies which remove the obstacles to learning for all learners and is a passionate advocate for Universal Design for Learning. She is an EdCampBoston and EdCampAccess organizer and co-moderates #ATchat on Twitter, and has blogged at http://teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com since 2005. She is the President and owner of EdTech Solutions, Inc in Reading, MA, which provides AT and AAC professional development, coaching, consultations, and assessments throughout the Greater Boston area.
Adam Krass, MS, ATP, president of Adam Krass Consulting, LLC, has close to 30 years of experience in the field of assistive technology. He has provided assistive technology services to children and adults with disabilities in school, work and home settings. Having worked in non-profit organizations, K-12 schools, universities, equipment manufacturers and, now as a consultant, Adam has extensive experience with all phases of assistive technology. Adam is an adjunct professor at Kean University in Union, NJ, and teaches courses on assistive technology in the Special Education and Literacy Department. As a past president and current board member of NJCART, the NJ Coalition for the Advancement of Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology, Adam is a strong supporter of collaboration and the team approach to providing assistive technology to people with disabilities. Adam's latest publication, the assistive technology mini-ebook, The Teacher's Technology Toolkit: Pre-Writing and Idea Organization is available on Amazon.com.
LDA STAMP NJ Student Leaders are a group of students who speak to groups of educators, parents, and/or students about their learning disabilities, the importance of self-advocacy and the value of assistive technologies. They have presented at national and regional conferences, colleges and universities, as well as to school districts.
Veronica Lewis is a college student from Virginia with low vision studying data science and assistive technology and the creator of Veronica With Four Eyes, a free website with over 700 posts on topics related to visual impairment, assistive technology, accessible design, college transition, and more. Her writing and advocacy work have been recognized by several national and international organizations including Microsoft, RNIB, Bookshare, and Perkins School For The Blind. After she finishes her degree, Veronica plans to work at a major tech company and eventually take over the world with assistive technology, first by ensuring that every person with a disability has the tools they need to thrive both inside and outside of educational settings, and then by achieving world domination with the use of large print and screen magnifiers. Follow Veronica on Twitter and Pinterest- @veron4ica
Vanessa Lombardo has supported individuals with disabilities in New Jersey in various capacities such as Assistive Technology Specialist, Director and Educator. She is currently and Outreach Coordinator for Bookshare.
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Rachel Madel M.A.CCC-SLP is a board-certified pediatric speech-language pathologist in Los Angeles specializing in the evaluation and treatment of children with various developmental delays including autism, down syndrome, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and other developmental disorders. She works closely with other professionals such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, special educators and behavior consultants, Rachel has developed an integrated approach to therapy that focuses on a child’s strengths and weaknesses across multiple disciplines. Strategies and treatment protocols are tailored to meet each child’s specific needs in order to ensure successful outcomes.
Alexandra Mendez, M.Ed is an Assistive Technology Consultant and Owner of AT Solutions LLC. Alexandra provides Assistive Technology services to students and adults with disabilities through comprehensive evaluations, equipment recommendations, and training. Alexandra has years of experience in both Assistive Technology and Education as a former Assistant Director of a non-profit organization, Special Education Teacher, Mathematics Teacher, and Special Education Case Manager
Eve Posner is an independent distributor of OrCam Technologies in New Jersey. She enjoys working in the assistive technology space representing an innovative, and fast developing product line. OrCam Technologies makes the world's most advanced AI assistive devices for reading challenges due to visual impairment, blindness and language processing challenges, like dyslexia. Eve has a Master's in Social Work, grew up in Chicago, and raised her 3 children in NJ. She appreciates being involved in a helping profession. Connecting with others through OrCam has led to meeting interesting people and travel around the wonderfully varied State of New Jersey.
Beth Poss is a speech/language pathologist, assistive technology consultant and former assistant principal. She is currently the Director of Educational Programs for LessonPix. Beth is passionate about designing educational environments that support all students in accessing a rigorous curriculum and meeting educational outcomes. In her work with school districts, universities and national and state level organizations she focuses on how UDL is an essential component in designing equitable and inclusive learning environments. Areas of special interest include the Use of Technology in Early Childhood, Designing Inclusive Learning Environments, Supporting Social-Emotional Learning to Promote Academic Success, and Culturally Responsive Teaching.
Jamie Arasz Prioli, RESNA ATP, is the interim Disability Services Coordinator at Ocean County College. As a certified assistive technology professional, she is considered a subject matter expert in the area of disability, access and functional needs, emergency preparedness and assistive technology. She has been involved in many collaborative efforts and presentations both regionally and nationally.
Kristen Russell has a degree in Occupational Therapy and is currently a New Jersey licensed and NBCOT certified occupational therapist. After working in traditional occupational therapy roles at the beginning of her career, she found a passion for assistive technology and focused in this specialty area. In 2006, she became certified by RESNA as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP), a credential she continues to hold. She has provided assistive technology services as an Assistive Technology Specialist at Advancing Opportunities for 14 years and counting. In this role, she has provided assistive technology evaluations and trainings to individuals with disabilities of all ages to help improve their independence and success at school, work, and home. She works with a variety of agencies including the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, NJ school districts, NJ Traumatic Brain Injury Fund, and NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP, FAOTA is an occupational therapist and former elementary school teacher. She is certified as an assistive technology professional (ATP) by RESNA and was a founding member of the Loudoun County Public Schools Assistive Technology Team. Judith has provided direct services in schools for more than 44 years. She has authored numerous articles and chapters and is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker presenting on the topics of school-based occupational therapy, transition, literacy, and assistive technology. Judith is the former vice president of the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association and served as the communication liaison for the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Early Intervention and School Special Interest Section. She participated in National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) workgroups addressing response to intervention (RTI), transition, and virtual schools. Currently, Judith represents AOTA on the National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities, and serves on the editorial board of the Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits (ATOB) Journal.
Barbra Seltzer is a Speech/Language Pathologist with 30 years of experience working with children and adults with complex communication needs. She has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practice, special needs schools, early intervention, and home-based therapy. Currently, Barbra works in private practice providing AAC Evaluations and Therapy to children and adults in Northern New Jersey. Barbra has a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech/Language and Hearing Association, a New Jersey license to practice Speech/Language Pathology and Certification by the New Jersey Department of Education as a Speech/Language Specialist. She is PROMPT trained and is Vice Chair of the New Jersey Speech/Language and Hearing Association’s Committee on Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Barbra believes that all people have a right to be heard, understood, and respected.
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Nanci Shepardson is a credentialed k – 12 Reading Specialist with an additional master’s degree in Assistive Technology. She is a seasoned classroom teacher in both public and independent schools, past administrator, an advocate for students and their families, and a professional presenter on Assistive Technology and high incidence disabilities throughout the country. She is the Senior Educational Technologist at Wilson Language Training and the parent of a grown daughter with dyslexia.
Auston Stamm is an Accessibility & Assistive Technology Coordinator at Saint Mary's College in Northern California. I am an expert in text to speech software solutions like Kurzweil and Read & Write. I create and distribute approximately 400 accessible textbooks to eligible students each semester. I provide assistive technology tutorials to students to help them learn how to use Echo Smartpens, Otter.ai, Microsoft OneNote and digital recorders. I work with faculty to help them integrate universal design principles into their course design. I am the faculty advisor for the DiverseAbilities Club on campus, which is a student-led club that arranges multiple disability awareness events each year. I am currently working toward a doctorate degree in Educational Technology from Boise State University. I have my master's in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. I received my BA in Film Production from Loyola Marymount and recently started a YouTube Channel. I have a passion for promoting accessibility in higher education and creating accessible materials.
Kelli Suding is a Specialist with the PATINS Project in Indiana. She has a background in general education and special education classrooms. She has national, state and regional presentation and training experience. She does have a strong understanding of and ability to connect theory to practice. Her instructional experience has been with students requiring mild, moderate, and intense intervention. Kelli's specializations include Autism, Accessible Educational Materials & Assistive Technology: Secondary Age, Chrome Accessibility & Integration, Specific Learning Disabilities: Primary Age.
Dr. Anita L. Swanson is the Project Coordinator at Texas Technology Access Program. She brings experience as a practitioner and professor of music therapy. Dr. Swanson has served a wide range of clinical populations, utilizing AT with individuals on the autism spectrum, persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and adults with neurological challenges. Dr. Swanson has published in several journals and frequently presents across the US and internationally.
Jeannette Van Houten has her masters in curriculum and technology and has been an Assistive Technology Specialist since 2001. As such, she coordinates technology training for educational staff, on-site technology in-services at schools throughout the state, and technical assistance to students. Jeannette supports students with technology to adapt and implement the core curriculum to the students learning profile, which enabled them to remain as independent as possible in school, work, and leisure.
Emily Wallace received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Psychology with a minor in Education, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Columbia University in Curriculum and Instruction. She is the Curriculum Specialist at Inclusive TLC. Her role includes creating resource guides for teachers and therapist providing ideas for how to use AT resources in the classroom, creating shareable activities for educators to use with students, leading professional development trainings on different AT topics, and creating newsletters providing ideas for how to use a variety of different AT resources to teach the same topic in differentiated ways. Previous speaking experience includes professional development days and domestic and international conferences.
Elisa Wern is an Occupational Therapist. She also has a Masters Degree in Special Education and has presented at a variety of state and national conferences including regional trainings, CEC, PATINS A2E, and ATIA, OTAP/RSOI Project and AAC in the Cloud. She has guest lectured in a variety of settings including undergraduate and graduate special education students, as well as for the masters level occupational therapy students. She is currently the Local Assistive Technology Specialist for Alachua County Schools where she coordinates AT services for the district, as well as serving as the Lead Occupational Therapist. In her spare work time she has a private practice, AT & OT Consulting and Coaching, supporting students and families primarily through teletherapy evaluations, consultations, and interventions. She is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP).