Bev Harp, MSW, is Project Director for Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW), a project of the Human Development Institute (HDI) and is self-advocate faculty for LEND at the University of Kentucky. 

Bev is an autistic self-advocate who has presented at national conferences for APSE, AHEAD, TASH, and many other organizations. Bev is co-chair of the Kentucky Advisory Council on Autism and co-founder of Kentucky’s first autistic self-advocacy group. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Kentucky.

Erin Fitzgerald, MEd, works for the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky. She coordinates the College and Career Studies (CCS) program, a Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) program supporting students with intellectual disability who are attending college and exploring career interests. 

 Erin is also a self-advocate and cartoonist. She often uses the moniker “A Girl Named Earl” in her creative work, which includes a single-panel series called SPECTRUM, a cartoon mostly about neurodivergence and queerness.  Erin currently splits her time between Louisville and Lexington and helps coordinate the Kentuckiana Autistic Spectrum Alliance (KASA), an advocacy group for people in the Kentuckiana area.

Robert Pennington PhD BCBA-D is a Professor and the William T. Bryan Endowed Chair in Special Education Technology at the University of Kentucky. He has over 30 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities, their families, and teachers. 

He has published 100 articles, book chapters, and books related to working with persons with autism and intellectual disability. Robert is passionate about the dissemination of research-based practice and has provided hundreds of refereed and invited presentations to researchers, practitioners, and families. He also values service to field and his local communities through membership on numerous advisory committees, editorial boards, and grant review panel; leadership in professional organizations (i.e., President of Board of Directors for DADD, ACRES, KYABA); and consultation in schools. 

He has been recognized for his work through receipt of several accolades (President’s Distinguished Faculty Award, Felix Barker Leadership Award, KYABA Innovator in Behavior Analysis Award). His current research interests involve behavior analytic communication instruction, expanding students’ repertoires in written expression, and improving educational programming for students with severe disabilities. He has served as PI or CoPI on several funded projects related to his work with awards totaling over 9 million dollars. 

Kimberly Howard is a Field Training Coordinator at the Kentucky Autism Training Center, where she delivers direct training and technical assistance to a diverse range of stakeholders, including education staff, social and community personnel, counselors, job coaches, and families. She earned a B.S. in Moderate to Severe Disabilities (P-12) and an M.A. in Educational Counseling with a Rank 1 in Learning and Behavior Disorders (P-12) from Morehead State University. Her background includes teaching students with autism in a highly structured setting and serving as a special education teacher at the elementary, middle, and high school levels across multiple Kentucky counties. 

Mandy is the Low Incidence and Autism Consultant at the Special Education Regional Technical Assistance Center at KEDC. She designs and delivers professional development and provides coaching and consultation to school teams serving students with significant disabilities. Mandy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Morehead State University and a Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Autism from the University of Louisville. She is also a Licensed Behavior Analyst and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). 

Mandy brings a strong background in evidence-based practices and a passion for supporting educators in creating meaningful, inclusive learning opportunities for all students.

Rhonda Logsdon is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network (KY-SPIN), the state's Parent Training and Information (PTI) center funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Rhonda has been connected to KY-SPIN since its founding in 1988, advocating for individuals with disabilities from birth to age 26, their families, and professionals. She is a passionate leader, recipient of the 2022 Arthur Campbell, Jr. Advocacy Award from the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and a lifelong advocate—as a person with a disability and sibling to three individuals with disabilities. 

Rhonda’s work is driven by lived experience and a deep commitment to inclusive and equitable education and support systems.

Amanda Wright is the Director of Education Outreach and Services at KET. She is dedicated to improving the lives of KY kids by implementing high-quality professional development, boosting family engagement and kindergarten and school success. She leads KET’s Education Outreach team, sharing quality educational content that has been at the heart of KET’s mission for more than 50 years. Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and is a Level 4 Kentucky Early Care & Education Credentialed Trainer.

Holly Ackerman is the Manager of Early Childhood Outreach at KET, a leader in digital education resources. She has been in the field of early childhood education for more than 20 years. Holly loves to create and implement engaging high-quality professional learning for early childhood educators in all learning environments. She is also a co-creator of its Let’s Learn KY initiative. Holly holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in STEM from the Erikson Institute and is a Level 5 Kentucky Early Care and Education Credentialed Trainer.

Lindsay Eubanks, M.Ed., OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with over 22 years of experience in school-based practice (including JCPS and Shelby County), outpatient pediatrics with a strong emphasis on sensory integration, and community mental health, where she supported survivors of human trafficking and individuals recovering from addiction. She currently serves as a Family & Community Field Training Coordinator for the Kentucky Autism Training Center, providing trauma-informed training and support to educators, families, and providers across the state. 

As the parent of a teenager with Level 1 Autism, Lindsay brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work. She is passionate about translating complex developmental and sensory concepts into practical, realistic, and empowering strategies—especially for those supporting neurodivergent children. Her strengths-based, educator-focused approach helps lay strong foundations for early motor development and learning readiness.

Heather Paige Alger discovered her passion for working with individuals with communication challenges in the field of special education while studying speech-language therapy in college.

She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders. Heather also obtained the professional certificate for Director of Special Education from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. Her career spans over three decades of service in special education in Kentucky public schools as a speech-language pathologist, director of special education, director of preschool, and 504 coordinator. She is certified as a speech-language pathologist by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) having earned the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP).

As a Field Training Coordinator for the Kentucky Autism Training Center, Heather uses her experience and ongoing professional development in the area of autism to provide training and technical assistance to a variety of agencies, parents/guardians, and others who provide support to autistic people across the Commonwealth.

Robert Pennington PhD BCBA-D is a Professor and the William T. Bryan Endowed Chair in Special Education Technology at the University of Kentucky. He has over 30 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities, their families, and teachers. 

He has published 100 articles, book chapters, and books related to working with persons with autism and intellectual disability. Robert is passionate about the dissemination of research-based practice and has provided hundreds of refereed and invited presentations to researchers, practitioners, and families. He also values service to field and his local communities through membership on numerous advisory committees, editorial boards, and grant review panel; leadership in professional organizations (i.e., President of Board of Directors for DADD, ACRES, KYABA); and consultation in schools. 

He has been recognized for his work through receipt of several accolades (President’s Distinguished Faculty Award, Felix Barker Leadership Award, KYABA Innovator in Behavior Analysis Award). His current research interests involve behavior analytic communication instruction, expanding students’ repertoires in written expression, and improving educational programming for students with severe disabilities. He has served as PI or CoPI on several funded projects related to his work with awards totaling over 9 million dollars. 

With over 22 years of experience in special education, I am passionate about helping students with diverse learning needs develop a strong understanding of mathematics. For the past seven years, I have worked with the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC), where I currently serve as the Math Specialist for the Special Education Regional Technical Assistance Center (SERTAC). My focus is on empowering educators and supporting students through evidence-based strategies and innovative practices in math instruction for special education.

Kellie Smith brings a deeply personal and passionate perspective to the topic of student transition. As a person with multiple disabilities and the parent of a child with a disability, Kellie has lived experience navigating the challenges of special education and the complexities of planning for adulthood. Becoming a parent at a young age, Kellie was initially unfamiliar with the depth of involvement required to support a student’s transition journey.

The transition from high school to adulthood proved to be both enlightening and difficult for Kellie and her son, sparking her dedication to improving these processes for others. She now advocates for more integrated and inclusive transition planning, both within schools and in the broader community. Kellie’s mission is to empower youth to understand their rights, advocate for themselves, and get actively involved in their future planning—while also guiding families in learning how to support their child while letting go.

Nick Carpenter is the Youth Educator for KY-SPIN. He is an adult with Autism, ADHD, and other sensory-related disabilities. He was diagnosed at the age of 4 and has been a self-advocate in his community from a young age, primarily in his teenage years into adulthood.

Nick is an Eagle Scout, a recipient of the Governor's Youth Service Award, as well as a Kentucky Colonel. He is the co-founder of a local social group that allows people from different groups to gather without fear of discrimination.

Nick uses his experiences transitioning into adulthood to help guide young adults with disabilities who are preparing to exit high school.

Hello! My name is Julie Derringer and I’m a Project Coordinator/Case Manager for the Developmental Services Division of Seven Counties Services. I’ve worked for Seven Counties for 20 years: nine of those years with First Steps and 11 with the Family Support Services team. These 20 years have been a journey of discovery, growth, and humility. My work primarily consists of orienting parents of newly diagnosed children; brainstorming options for the long-term care needs of the persons we serve; providing direct support services to individuals with DD/ID and managing those services. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and to have served, so many individuals and their families, and to work alongside colleagues and other professionals who desire as much as I do to see a truly diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community for everyone. I am especially proud of being a resource and support to our Spanish-speaking immigrant community.

Enid Hurtado-Stremming is an experienced educator specializing in special education, autism, and assistive technology. She earned her BA in Special Education from San Diego State University and her M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism from Arizona State University. Enid has over a decade of teaching in urban and rural districts across California and Colorado. She has provided training to schools across the U.S. and Canada and has presented at national and international conferences. She currently serves as a School Field Training Coordinator at the Kentucky Autism Training Center, coaching educators on implementing evidence-based practices to support diverse learners.

I am an autistic advocate who is passionate about suicide prevention since I was an undergraduate in college. Few resources are made for the autistic community by the autistic community, so I am happy to provide a lived experience perspective and help create a more affirming and understanding environment to help change suicide prevention for the better.