Dr. Barnhill is a Professor and Director of the University of North Carolina's Developmental Neuropharmacology Clinic. [ more ]

Dr. Barnhill is a Professor and Director of the University of North Carolina's Developmental Neuropharmacology Clinic. He specializes in the diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities, and other neuropsychiatric disorders such as Tourette's syndrome and other movement disorders as well as psychiatric problems in patients with epilepsy. He is a consultant in neuropsychiatry at Dorothea Dix Hospital, the Murdoch Center in Butner, NC, the Caswell Center in Kinston, NC, and Residential Services, Inc. in Chapel Hill, NC, as well as for Autism services. He completed a residency in psychiatry, a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry, and a fellowship in neuropsychiatry.

Ms. Broda is a Nurse Practitioner (NP) consultant in dual diagnosis for two teams in Ottawa, Canada: Solutions-s and the Canadian Mental Health Association. [ more ]

Ms. Broda is a Nurse Practitioner (NP) consultant in dual diagnosis for two teams in Ottawa, Canada: Solutions-s and the Canadian Mental Health Association. As a nurse and then as an NP, she has more than 16 years of experience in I/DD nursing. Her specific interests include genetics, psychiatry, neurology and geriatrics. She was one of the first nurses in Canada to obtain certification from DDNA, and just completed her term as the President of DDNA. A widely recognized conference speaker, she is also on the nursing faculty at John Abbot College and McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Ms. Brown started working with individuals with I/DD more than 30 years ago, initially as a Social Worker, then as a Psychiatric Nurse, as well as a Director of Nurses and an Administrator. [ more ]

Ms. Brown started working with individuals with I/DD more than 30 years ago, initially as a Social Worker, then as a Psychiatric Nurse, as well as a Director of Nurses and an Administrator. Currently, she is the Director of Development for Pharmacy Alternatives, which exclusively services persons with I/DD. She started the Northern Illinois DDNA Chapter 15 years ago as its President, and has remained in that position since its inception. Under her guidance the DD nurses of Illinois received the DDNA Network Award in 2007. She has been active politically in Illinois instituting Rule 116, which addresses training of direct support personnel to pass medications under RN delegation. She became one of the initial Trainers for the State of Illinois and continues today in that role. She is current President-Elect on the Board of Directors for National DDNA.

Ms. Canton, RN, CDDN, has more than 30 years experience in various clinical settings, with the past 14 years devoted to providing services to the I/DD population. She has developed a series [ more ]

Ms. Canton, RN, CDDN, has more than 30 years experience in various clinical settings, with the past 14 years devoted to providing services to the I/DD population. She has developed a series of short training videos for consumers and direct care staff on health related topics, including nutrition, exercise and dental care in conjunction with Photon Creative Studios. She wrote and was awarded a grant from the Department of Developmental Services to create a series on Emergency Preparedness for the individuals for whom she provides care and their direct support staff.

Mr. Canton is a consultant specializing in strategic planning for crisis. He is the former Director of Emergency Services for San Francisco, where he coordinated the emergency management program and served as policy advisor to the Mayor on emergency management and homeland security issues. [ more ]

Mr. Canton is a consultant specializing in strategic planning for crisis. He is the former Director of Emergency Services for San Francisco, where he coordinated the emergency management program and served as policy advisor to the Mayor on emergency management and homeland security issues. Previously, he served as an Emergency Management Programs Specialist and Chief of the Hazard Mitigation Branch for FEMA Region IX, where he assisted in responding to more than 18 major disasters. He is a Certified Emergency Manager, a Certified Protection Professional, and a Certified Business Continuity Professional. He is also certified as an assessor for the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. He holds a Master of Business Administration in International Management degree and is the author of "Emergency Management: Concepts and Strategies for Effective Programs" and of numerous articles on emergency management and security topics.

Dr. Chambers is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in pediatric orthopedic surgery. He is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors for the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and [ more ]

Dr. Chambers is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in pediatric orthopedic surgery. He is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors for the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, and is the Medical Director of the Cerebral Palsy Program at Rady Children's Hospital. Dr. Chambers' clinical interests are in cerebral palsy, pediatric sports injuries and pediatric trauma. He has authored numerous publications, abstracts and book chapters, and is recognized in Best Doctors in America.

Dr. Cheetham is a Board Certified Family Physician with more than 30 years serving people with I/DD. He has held academic appointments in the Department of Family Medicine of two university schools of medicine and was a member of the Planning Committee for the Colloquium on Primary Health Care for Adults with [ more ]

Dr. Cheetham is a Board Certified Family Physician with more than 30 years serving people with I/DD. He has held academic appointments in the Department of Family Medicine of two university schools of medicine and was a member of the Planning Committee for the Colloquium on Primary Health Care for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, which resulted in publication of the Ontario Consensus Guidelines for Primary Health Care of Adults with Developmental Disabilities and its subsequent training program. His clinical experience includes providing primary care in three developmental centers, at a tertiary 24-bed unit in a state psychiatric hospital for adults with a dual diagnosis, and in the community for 15 years in Ontario, Canada. In 2007, he was selected Physician of the Year by the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association. In 2008, he spent a year as Medical Director at Orange Grove Center, a community agency serving more than 700 individuals with I/DD in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Currently, he is developing a shared care model to increase community capacity to provide health care to individuals with I/DD in Toronto, Canada. He serves on the Board of AADMD and several other professional boards.

Ms. Collins-Bride is a Clinical Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Community Health Systems in the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing. She has held a faculty position with the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program and the Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Program at UCSF since 1992. [ more ]

Ms. Collins-Bride is a Clinical Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Community Health Systems in the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing. She has held a faculty position with the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program and the Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Program at UCSF since 1992. For the past 27 years, she has been a primary care provider in the Division of General Internal Medicine at UCSF where she specializes in adults with I/DD. She is a founding member of the Telemedicine Assessment and Consultation Team, a service that provides expert consultation to rural health care providers in Northern California to care for the most medically complex patients with I/DD. She co-chairs the annual CME conference at USCF, Developmental Disabilities: Update for Health Professionals and is a faculty member on the federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) training grant to develop curriculum to teach medical residents and students about caring for people with I/DD.

Dr. Dillenberg currently is the inaugural Dean of A.T. Still University's Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health. This is Arizona's first dental school and is pioneering an innovative integrated biomedical curriculum, utilizing technology, and fourth year community-based clinical training to educate the next generation of community minded general dentists. [ more ]

Dr. Dillenberg currently is the inaugural Dean of A.T. Still University's Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health. This is Arizona's first dental school and is pioneering an innovative integrated biomedical curriculum, utilizing technology, and fourth year community-based clinical training to educate the next generation of community minded general dentists. Included in the innovative clinical education is the Special Care Clinic. Dr. Dillenberg previously has served as the Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services and as the Associate Director for Public Health Programs for the California Department of Health Services. He directed the development of statewide oral health policy and evaluated the operation and effectiveness of California's oral health programs. He also served as the Area Health Officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Dr. Dillenberg is recognized at the local, state, national and international levels as an expert in the area of public health leadership, health program development, social marketing and oral health issues. Dr. Dillenberg is a member of the Special Care Dental Association.

Mr. Eidelman is the University of Delaware's H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership. He holds joint faculty appointments in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and the Department of Individual and Family Studies and is a Senior Fellow in the Center for Disabilities Studies. [ more ]

Mr. Eidelman is the University of Delaware's H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership. He holds joint faculty appointments in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and the Department of Individual and Family Studies and is a Senior Fellow in the Center for Disabilities Studies. He is the former Executive Director of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, leading the organization to implement innovative projects, programs and cutting-edge policies. Prior to his appointment with the University of Delaware, he was the Executive Director of The Arc of the United States, an advocacy group for people with cognitive disabilities and their families, which has more than 900 state and local chapters and 100,000 members. He also served as Deputy Secretary for Mental Retardation in the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

Dr. Fischer is a Board Certified Internist and Gastroenterologist who has been practicing as a consultant in a group setting in Northern Virginia since 1986. [ more ]

Dr. Fischer is a Board Certified Internist and Gastroenterologist who has been practicing as a consultant in a group setting in Northern Virginia since 1986. He currently performs approximately 1200 colonoscopies annually, and has been elected to Fellowship in the American Gastroenterological Association. For the past 16 years, he has been a consultant to the Northern Virginia Training Center, a residential facility for adults with I/DD, where he has a monthly clinic. For the past 10 years, Dr. Fischer has been a consultant to the Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he attends annually.

Dr. Focht-New has worked in I/DD nursing for 35 years, beginning as direct care staff in a developmental center in Pennsylvania. She then worked for a large community-based residential agency as a staff nurse, nursing coordinator, and division director. [ more ]

Dr. Focht-New has worked in I/DD nursing for 35 years, beginning as direct care staff in a developmental center in Pennsylvania. She then worked for a large community-based residential agency as a staff nurse, nursing coordinator, and division director. She was DON for the Health Care Quality Unit in SE region of PA. Currently, she is a consultant in several states assisting agencies to address the challenging behavior of individuals through understanding and compassion. In addition, she is a therapist, primarily for individuals with I/DD, focusing on traumatic experiences in this population using EMDR. In 1998, she received the Lillian Brunner Sholtis award from the University of Pennsylvania's nursing alumni association for innovative practice. She is an Adjunct Professor at Widener University, teaching research and assessment and diagnosis of mental health conditions. She has worked as a legal consultant and has numerous publications in a variety of journals.

Ms. Fossum is a Registered Nurse who works in Community Health Nursing serving individuals with mental and physical challenges, as well as clients institutionalized or victimized who exhibit severe PTSD symptoms. [ more ]

Ms. Fossum is a Registered Nurse who works in Community Health Nursing serving individuals with mental and physical challenges, as well as clients institutionalized or victimized who exhibit severe PTSD symptoms. She also lectures about topics such as abuse and neglect recognition, the role of forensic nurses, and behavior management for vulnerable populations. She is the Managing Editor of "On The Edge," the International Association of Forensic Nurses Newsletter and is a Forensic Nurse Consultant.

The former, long-time Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, Mr. Gettings is widely recognized as a leading expert on national disability policy. [ more ]

The former, long-time Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, Mr. Gettings is widely recognized as a leading expert on national disability policy. Over the past four decades, he has been involved in shaping federal and state laws affecting persons with I/DD. In the area of Medicaid policy, he played a leading role in the enactment and subsequent modifications in statutes and regulations governing the ICF/MR coverage option, the home and community-based waiver authority, preadmission screening and annual review requirements and many other related areas of federal-state Medicaid policy. Over the past year, he has closely tracked the development of national health reform proposals and commented on the legislation's implications for the I/DD population in a series of policy bulletins issued by the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities.

Dr. Graff is a member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Research Group and the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed, Mental Health/Environmental Health Work Group. [ more ]

Dr. Graff is a member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Research Group and the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed, Mental Health/Environmental Health Work Group. She served on the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities' Action Group on Environmental Disasters and the Environmental Health Initiative's Education, Outreach, and Training Workgroup. She represented DDNA at the Environmental Health and Nursing Unity Meeting sponsored by the University of Maryland's Environmental Health Education Center. With years of experience in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities, she co-authored an article on in-home toxic chemical exposures and children with I/DD. She has been an invited speaker on environmental health risks for persons with I/DD at national and international meetings.

Dr. Hayes is Board Certified in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities with 30 years of practice exclusively with the I/DD population in private practice, [ more ]

Dr. Hayes is Board Certified in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities with 30 years of practice exclusively with the I/DD population in private practice, at the university (University of Pennsylvania) level and in the government (Department of Intellectual Disabilities, Tennessee).

Ms. Hayter has worked in the specialty of I/DD nursing for 23 years. She is currently the Metro North area office Nurse Consultant for the Department of Developmental Disabilities in Massachusetts. [ more ]

Ms. Hayter has worked in the specialty of I/DD nursing for 23 years. She is currently the Metro North area office Nurse Consultant for the Department of Developmental Disabilities in Massachusetts. She is the 2005 recipient of the Manuel Carballo Governor's Award and the 2006 recipient of the ARC's Norma Howland Human Rights Award for her advocacy and work in making end-of-life services available to individuals with I/DD.

Dr. Itaya is a graduate of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry completing a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency. She has been teaching post doctoral and predoctoral dental students and residents for more than 10 ten years in the area of advanced dental care and patients with special health care needs. [ more ]

Dr. Itaya is a graduate of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry completing a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency. She has been teaching post doctoral and predoctoral dental students and residents for more than 10 ten years in the area of advanced dental care and patients with special health care needs. Dr. Itaya has been the dental representative for the TACT (Telemedicine Assessment and Consultation Team) for many years and is experienced in video conferencing from the dental education arena. She currently is the director of the Emergency Department at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and completing her Doctorate in Professional Education and Leadership.

Dr. Jesien is the Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disability (www.aucd.org). His experience includes extensive administrative and supervisory responsibility, most recently as the Executive Director of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation since 1997. [ more ]

Dr. Jesien is the Executive Director of the Association of University Centers on Disability (www.aucd.org). His experience includes extensive administrative and supervisory responsibility, most recently as the Executive Director of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation since 1997. In this role, he directed and managed Foundation activities, including national grants management, the public policy fellowship program, the associate trustee program, and fiscal management of an annual budget of approximately $2.6 million. He served as a Principal Investigator for a series of federal, state, and locally funded projects in personnel preparation, research, materials development, outreach, direct services, and information dissemination via the Internet at the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison between 1989 and 1997. In addition, he was awarded a one-year Kennedy Foundation Public Policy Fellowship in 1994 to work with the Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy with Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa.

Dr. Keller is a Developmental Neurologist with many years of experience in treating adults with I/DD. He provides consultative services for both community and state facilities. [ more ]

Dr. Keller is a Developmental Neurologist with many years of experience in treating adults with I/DD. He provides consultative services for both community and state facilities. He is a member of the Mainstreaming Medical Care Advisory Board of the ARC of New Jersey and the President of AADMD. He is an active educator on various neurologic developmental disabilities topics.

Dr. Krahn, Director of the Division of Human Development and Disability at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), joined the CDC after 25 years as an academic clinician, researcher, teacher and administrator. [ more ]

Dr. Krahn, Director of the Division of Human Development and Disability at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), joined the CDC after 25 years as an academic clinician, researcher, teacher and administrator. She is a national and international expert in the field of disability and public health. Her publications and lectures have bridged the fields of child development, developmental disabilities, health status measurement and health promotion among adults with disabilities. Her research has been funded by the NIH, the U.S. Department of Education, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at HRSA, and the CDC. She is the author of numerous publications related to disability and child development, and was co-editor of the first major textbook on Disability and Public Health. She served as President of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), Chair of the Disability Section of the American Public Health Association, on the executive committee of the National Association of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers and in the Healthy People 2010 and 2020 Disabilities work groups.

Wes Matthias has worked in the field of geriatrics and developmental disabilities for the last 18 years. He is one of the few pharmacists to be certified in both geriatric pharmacy and psychiatric pharmacy. [ more ]

Wes Matthias has worked in the field of geriatrics and developmental disabilities for the last 18 years. He is one of the few pharmacists to be certified in both geriatric pharmacy and psychiatric pharmacy. Wes has presented to multiple groups in the past, but prefers to present to DD nurses as their passion exceeds that of other groups. He also serves on the Board of Directors of multiple DDNA state groups.

Dr. Phillip Mays is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at UMDNJ/RWJ Medical School (New Brunswick, NJ) and Assistant Medical Director at the Hunterdon Developmental Center in Clinton, NJ. [ more ]

Dr. Phillip Mays is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at UMDNJ/RWJ Medical School (New Brunswick, NJ) and Assistant Medical Director at the Hunterdon Developmental Center in Clinton, NJ. He has 26 years of experience as a teacher of medical students and residents, as well as a Primary Care Physician for adults with I/DD. He is a Past President of AADMD.

Robin May has worked in I/DD nursing for more than 26 years. She currently is the Director of Nursing of a large state-operated intermediate care facility in northern New Jersey and is the Nurse Consultant for [ more ]

Robin May has worked in I/DD nursing for more than 26 years. She currently is the Director of Nursing of a large state-operated intermediate care facility in northern New Jersey and is the Nurse Consultant for several agencies that provide consultation for complex health conditions that occur in persons with I/DD. Previously, she was Health Clinic Coordinator for the Robert Wood Johnson Medical Program, which provides primary and consultative health services for adults with I/DD New Jersey. She has provided services to community agencies that serve persons with developmental disabilities and was previously the New Jersey Coordinator for the Philip Rance Foundation for Septic-Optic Dysplasia. She is a certified member of DDNA and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Ms. McMaster is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist who has provided individual and group psychotherapy for people with I/DD for 5 years through Golden Gate Regional Center and San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services in San Mateo. [ more ]

Ms. McMaster is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist who has provided individual and group psychotherapy for people with I/DD for 5 years through Golden Gate Regional Center and San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services in San Mateo.

Ms. McMillan is an Advanced Practice Nurse in the Mental Health Program at Surrey Place Centre, a large I/DD community agency in Toronto, Canada. She holds a clinical appointment in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. [ more ]

Ms. McMillan is an Advanced Practice Nurse in the Mental Health Program at Surrey Place Centre, a large I/DD community agency in Toronto, Canada. She holds a clinical appointment in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. She was the first nurse outside the U.S., and the first from Canada, to be certified as a CDDN. Her nursing practice for the last 25 years has focused on clinical work, research and education in the field of I/DD through the lifespan. She was a member of the Planning Committee for the Colloquium on Primary Health Care for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, which resulted in publication of the Consensus Guidelines for Primary Health Care of Adults with Developmental Disabilities and the subsequent training program for health care practitioners. She is enrolled in the PhD Program in Learning Disability (Developmental Disability) Nursing at the University of Glamorgan in Wales, U.K.

Ms. Moore is the co-owner of Innovative Outcomes, Inc., a company that provides a comprehensive array of services to individuals with I/DD in residential and natural home settings. A Registered Nurse for over 25 years, she has worked in I/DD nursing for more than 20 years. [ more ]

Ms. Moore is the co-owner of Innovative Outcomes, Inc., a company that provides a comprehensive array of services to individuals with I/DD in residential and natural home settings. A Registered Nurse for over 25 years, she has worked in I/DD nursing for more than 20 years. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association since January 2002, and is the current Board President. She also co-founded the DDNA North Texas network, serving as the founding President for six years. A frequent speaker at local, regional and national forums, she advances the discussion of common health issues facing persons with I/DD and the practice concerns of nurses who work in the specialty of I/DD nursing. Her areas of interest include developing successful intervention plans for persons with challenging behaviors, improving medication management strategies for persons with I/DD, and creating quality health education programs for direct support staff.

Dr. Moreno is the Cofounder of Puente Clinic San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Medical Director for over eight years. [ more ]

Dr. Moreno is the Cofounder of Puente Clinic San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Medical Director for over eight years.

Ms. Oxx is the Director of Health Services for the Office of Quality Management in the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation. A Registered Nurse for 33 years, she has worked in I/DD nursing for 22 years, [ more ]

Ms. Oxx is the Director of Health Services for the Office of Quality Management in the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation. A Registered Nurse for 33 years, she has worked in I/DD nursing for 22 years, focusing on the development and support of healthcare and residential services for individuals living in the community. She was instrumental in the creation and implementation of a medication administration curriculum for unlicensed direct support personnel who work in DMR programs. She was the Founding President of the DDNA, and serves on the Board of Directors for the online International Journal of Nursing in Intellectual and Developmental Disability.

Ms. Pobanz has a diverse nursing history of direct patient care, administration, staff development, clinical systems re-design, and regulatory compliance. Currently, she develops online CE courses in I/DD nursing. [ more ]

Ms. Pobanz has a diverse nursing history of direct patient care, administration, staff development, clinical systems re-design, and regulatory compliance. Currently, she develops online CE courses in I/DD nursing. She has functioned as a consultant to ICF-MRs in both nursing and professional standards of practice and in quality improvement. She is a recognized team facilitator, change agent and speaker at state, national and international seminars and conferences. She also has a background in strategic project management, team building and leadership development. She has served on the Ohio Board of Nursing and participated in several committees for the NCSBN. Additionally, she has served as volunteer faculty at the University of Cincinnati. Her clinical focus for the last 10 years has been the development of organizational systems to ensure the provision of appropriate supports and services for persons with I/DD.

Dr. Powell is a Board Certified Internist practicing in Long Island, NY. He is the Medical Director of the Developmental Disabilities Institute and Opti-Healthcare. He provides primary care [ more ]

Dr. Powell is a Board Certified Internist practicing in Long Island, NY. He is the Medical Director of the Developmental Disabilities Institute and Opti-Healthcare. He provides primary care and oversees the operations of their four clinics. In addition, he is a Clinical Instructor for the Department of Medicine at Stony Brook University School of Medicine and a Board Member of AADMD.

Dr. Rader is the Director of the Morton J. Kent Habilitation, Orange Grove Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee, a community-based agency that provides services for people with complex I/DD. [ more ]

Dr. Rader is the Director of the Morton J. Kent Habilitation, Orange Grove Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee, a community-based agency that provides services for people with complex I/DD. He is a past President of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry and Editor-in-Chief of Exceptional Parent Magazine. He has made more than 300 presentations to professional associations, Congress, parent groups, research agencies, and universities throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. He has presented on medical stabilization at AAIDD and the American Collect of Legal Medicine.

Ms. Raposa is Senior Manager of Professional Relations at Colgate-Palmolive. She has spent recent years lecturing to dental professionals and writing journal articles. Her work was recently published [ more ]

Ms. Raposa is Senior Manager of Professional Relations at Colgate-Palmolive. She has spent recent years lecturing to dental professionals and writing journal articles. Her work was recently published as a full chapter in both Dr. Esther Wilkins' textbook titled "Clinical Practice for the Dental Hygienist," as well as in the North American Dental Clinics "The Special Care Patient" publication. Her career in dental hygiene has included private practice, business management, professional relations, marketing, and sales. Most recently, she held an Assistant Professor/Assistant Director position at Boston University in the Department of General Dentistry's Extramural Programs. She is a member of the ADHA, the ADEA, the AADH, the Special Care Dentistry Association, and AADMD, and she holds advisory board positions for several dental hygiene publications. She also has a son with autism, for whom she has modified, managed and applied dental hygiene techniques on a daily basis.

Ms. Schuffman, a Registered Nurse and Registered Dietitian, has more than 20 years of experience dealing with the nutritional and nursing needs of persons with I/DD. [ more ]

Ms. Schuffman, a Registered Nurse and Registered Dietitian, has more than 20 years of experience dealing with the nutritional and nursing needs of persons with I/DD. She completed an internship at the University of Tennessee on the nutritional needs of people with I/DD. She has lectured to many professional groups regarding her specific area of expertise, which is choking prevention and altered consistency diets.

Ms. Thaler is the Executive Director of NASDDDS, which provides member state agencies with analyses of federal statutory and regulatory policies that affect people with disabilities; disseminates information on state-of-the-art programs and service delivery practices [ more ]

Ms. Thaler is the Executive Director of NASDDDS, which provides member state agencies with analyses of federal statutory and regulatory policies that affect people with disabilities; disseminates information on state-of-the-art programs and service delivery practices; provides technical assistance and support to member states; and offers a forum for the development of state and national policy initiatives. She served as Pennsylvania's Deputy Secretary for Mental Retardation from 1993-2003, managing a system that served over 80,000 children and adults. She also worked for the Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from 2003-2006 and was responsible for the quality improvement strategy for the Federal Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver Program. She is the parent of an adult son with cognitive disabilities.

Dr. Waldman is a Distinguished Teaching Professor of the State University of New York. He was the first faculty member of the School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook, where he has served for more 39 in numerous roles, including Department Chair and Assistant Dean, as well as participating in teaching programs throughout the Health Sciences Center and the undergraduate college. [ more ]

Dr. Waldman is a Distinguished Teaching Professor of the State University of New York. He was the first faculty member of the School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook, where he has served for more 39 in numerous roles, including Department Chair and Assistant Dean, as well as participating in teaching programs throughout the Health Sciences Center and the undergraduate college. He has published 900 monograph and articles in international, national and regional publications evaluating health delivery and social issues, including manpower, health economics, delivery modalities and quality assessment; with particular emphasis in the issues facing the delivery of health services to children and adults with special health care needs.

Ms. Wilhelmy is an Adult Nurse Practitioner certified in wound care who works in specialty care, treating patients with childhood onset disabilities. She has also been working with group home residents for more than 15 years. [ more ]

Ms. Wilhelmy is an Adult Nurse Practitioner certified in wound care who works in specialty care, treating patients with childhood onset disabilities. She has also been working with group home residents for more than 15 years. Her clinical practice includes wound care, baclofen pump management, and adult general medicine inpatient care. She has dedicated her career to promoting quality health care for individuals with I/DD.

Dr. Wilkins was a physician at Willowbrook in the 1970s. He was involved in organizing a group of family members of the "inmates", professional and nonprofessional employees, and community members. [ more ]

Dr. Wilkins was a physician at Willowbrook in the 1970s. He was involved in organizing a group of family members of the "inmates", professional and nonprofessional employees, and community members. They pressed for change. Two of the members of the group--Dr. Wilkins and a social worker--were fired after failing to obey the director's order to stop attending the meetings of the group. The person who handed Dr. Wilkins his pink slip neglected to take his key, which opened every door at Willowbrook. Dr. Wilkins called Geraldo Rivera, who at that time was a local newsman in New York, and they entered the institution without permission using the key to gain entrance to multiple buildings, filming conditions on the back wards. They returned more than ten times, filming abysmal conditions in multiple buildings to emphasize the magnitude of the problem and to erase any doubt that the conditions were being accurately presented. Geraldo Rivera produced an award-winning documentary emphasizing the benefits of community services over institutions, and Dr. Wilkins appeared with him on the Dick Cavett show. The attitudes of the citizens of New York and elsewhere were changed after they saw the cruel conditions and the alternative of community and family services.

Mr. Willis has experience as a community-based psychiatric nurse consultant, a nursing supervisor in a large I/DD facility, a home care nurse, a nursing home charge nurse, a hospital association executive responsible for handling nursing regulatory issues, and a trial attorney defending medical malpractice claims and long term care facility negligence suits. [ more ]

Mr. Willis has experience as a community-based psychiatric nurse consultant, a nursing supervisor in a large I/DD facility, a home care nurse, a nursing home charge nurse, a hospital association executive responsible for handling nursing regulatory issues, and a trial attorney defending medical malpractice claims and long term care facility negligence suits. He is a Licensed Health Care Risk Manager, has an MBA in Health Systems Administration, and a Master of Laws LL.M degree in Elder Law, including disability law.

Ms. Wincik is the Associate Director of Nursing/Health Services at Erie Homes for Children and Adults, a residential facility serving medically fragile individuals with I/DD throughout the lifespan. [ more ]

Ms. Wincik is the Associate Director of Nursing/Health Services at Erie Homes for Children and Adults, a residential facility serving medically fragile individuals with I/DD throughout the lifespan. A Registered Nurse since 1977, she has worked in I/DD nursing for 27 years, specializing in health support for individuals with I/DD living in community homes, as well as clinical supervision of nursing staff. Since becoming a Family Living provider for a young woman with Down syndrome, Stephanie has developed an even greater respect for individuals with I/DD and their ability to enrich the lives of those around them.

Dr. Wong has extensive experience in hospital dentistry for over 20 years, providing care and teaching dental residents and dental students. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry where he directs the Hospital Dentistry Program and teaches in the Cariology course. [ more ]

Dr. Wong has extensive experience in hospital dentistry for over 20 years, providing care and teaching dental residents and dental students. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry where he directs the Hospital Dentistry Program and teaches in the Cariology course. Dr. Wong has been a strong advocate for improving access to care and caries prevention for the underserved and is an active volunteer and trainer for Special Olympics Special Smiles program both nationally and internationally. He serves on the Boards of AADMD and the American Association of Hospital Dentists.

Ms. Wrobel has worked as a consultant pharmacist to facilities that care for persons with I/DD for more than 20 years. She is currently the Director of Development for Pharmacy Alternatives and owns her own consulting firm, The Pharmaceutical Advisor. [ more ]

Ms. Wrobel has worked as a consultant pharmacist to facilities that care for persons with I/DD for more than 20 years. She is currently the Director of Development for Pharmacy Alternatives and owns her own consulting firm, The Pharmaceutical Advisor. Because her specialty is psychiatric medications, she serves on many committees with psychiatrists to help facilities understand when and if the use of behavioral medications is appropriate. She is a renowned speaker both nationally and internationally and has spoken at many DDNA national and chapter/network conferences.