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2026 ADA Celebration Events



36th anniversary of the ADA

In July 2026, the Oregon Disabilities Commission, Northwest ADA Center and Disability Rights Oregon will host a weekly webinar series to recognize and celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

The series will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesdays throughout July and will launch on Tuesday, July 7. Everyone is welcome to participate. More information on each session is provided below. 

Register for the series on ZoomView past recordings and materials
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ADA celebration logo 2026 - Credit: ADA National Network (adata.org) 1-800-949-4232  

 2026 ADA Celebration sessions

This session will explore how behavioral health and mental health disabilities intersect with other disability experiences, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neurodivergence, and substance use disorder. Participants will examine common access barriers and consider how barriers can affect people with disabilities everyday lives. The session will emphasize the importance of supportive practices in creating more inclusive environments.​​

Panelists

Dr. Jim Davis – Moderator
Chair, Oregon Older Adults and People with Disabilities Behavioral Health Advisory Council

Photo of Jim, a man with short and curly red hair and beard with silver blended in, with glasses smiling at the cameraDr. Davis is a gerontologist, psychologist, educator, and advocate. He retired in 2016 after serving for 11 years as an associate professor in the Human Sciences Department at Marylhurst University (MU), where he coordinated the Psychology and Social Sciences Programs and taught psychology, gerontology, and social policy. He won the 2013 MU Award for Faculty Excellence in Academic Service and Teaching. 

Dr. Davis is also the chair of the state Older Adult-PwD Behavioral Health Advisory Council, after serving as the Co-Chair of the Oregon Legislative Work Group on Senior/Disability Mental Health and Addictions. Dr. Davis is the current chair of the Oregon State Insurance Advisory Committee, where he has served for 30 years. 

He is the long-time executive director of the Oregon State Council of Retired Citizens and United Seniors of Oregon, both of whom he has served since the 1970s. He is the president of the Oregon Consumer League Action Fund and has also served as president of James A. Davis and Associates, coordinator of the SDSD Senior Mental Health Projects, Mental Health Gerontologist for the Oregon Mental Health Division, and a professor/administrator at the University of Maryland. ​Dr. Davis is a past chair of the Oregon Disabilities Commission. 

He received his bachelor’s in political science, masters in Gerontology/Administration, and doctorate in Educational Psychology/Gerontology, all from the University of Oregon.

David Kracke, JD
Center for Brain Injury Research and Treatment at the University of Oregon

Photo of David, a man with short brown hair that is combed to the left and he is smiling at the camera.David Kracke, JD, has been a member of the Oregon State Bar since 1990. He has an extensive background working with private and public stakeholder groups in the realm of legislative and policy initiatives. He is a recognized legislative and policy expert in issues surrounding brain injury. 

David served as an author and legislative advocate for five stakeholder-informed efforts to pass concussion/brain injury laws that remove barriers to accessing services in Oregon, including Senate Bill 420 (2023) the landmark bill to establish a statewide Brain Injury Resource Navigation program. In 2020, David supported the successful efforts to revise Oregon Administrative Rules to allow for the use of a guided credible history interview in lieu of medical records documenting traumatic brain injury (TBI) when determining eligibility for special education services, and he co-initiated the efforts to pass Oregon House Bill 4140 which mandates academic, behavioral, and social accommodations for students diagnosed with a concussion or other brain injury. 

David was instrumental in passing Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 336.485, (“Max’s Law”), the nation’s first enacted law establishing Return to Play protocols for concussed student-athletes and ORS 417.875, (“Jenna’s Law), a companion law to Max’s Law which provided statewide concussion protocols for all youth athletes in the state of Oregon regardless of league affiliation. 

​​Also related to the field of brain injury due to the detrimental cognitive effects of COVID-19, David is very proud of initiating and helping to guide the passage of House Bill 4126 (2022), Oregon’s zoonotic disease prevention law.​

Dr. Kathy J. Marshack, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Author, Educator, and Speaker

Photo of Kathy, a woman with shoulder length white hair. She is looking and smiling at the camera. She is wearing a red shirt.Dr. Marshack is a psychologist, author, educator, and speaker with more than 40 years of experience working with NeuroDivergent individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in relationships where one partner is autistic and the other is NeuroTypical, helping individuals better understand the emotional and neurological differences that shape connection, communication, and mental health. 

Dr. Marshack is the author of several books on NeuroDivergent Relationships, including Going Over the Edge? and Empathy Is More Than Words. Her work explores how different neurological operating systems can affect intimacy, identity, and emotional well-being. She is also the creator of the emerging Radiant Empathy Universe, a multimedia educational project combining psychology, storytelling, immersive learning, and visual narrative. 

In June 2026, she released Radiant Empathy Captain’s Log, a guided journal designed to accompany the cinematic courses and immersive learning experiences within the Radiant Empathy Universe. 

In addition to her clinical and writing work, Dr. Marshack hosts podcasts, teaches online courses, and speaks internationally on NeuroDivergent relationships, empathy, trauma, and resilience. She lives on the Oregon coast and enjoys writing, visual storytelling, and exploring the intersection of psychology and creativity. ​

Dr. Randall Wright, PsyD (He/Him)
Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection

Photo of Randall, a man with short red hair and thin rimmed glasses. He is wearing a grey sweater over a blue, button-up, collarDr. Wright has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He has been in the field of therapy for over 20 years and has been a licensed therapist for 6 years. Dr. Wright is a therapist at a private practice where he works with adult clients in individual and couples therapy. He has a strong interest in psychoanalytic-psychodynamic theory, identity theory, anti-racism theory and practice, and the study of emotions in couples’ relational dynamics. Dr. Wright was presented with the Richard Alan Smith Scholar’s Award for best dissertation in multicultural studies. 

In his spare time, Dr. Wright enjoys social outings, talking psychology over pizza, playing complicated board games, cooking good food, hosting dinners, working with communities on the implementation of anti-racism practice, and drinking lots of coffee. ​


Kelsey Box (She/Her)
Community Health Worker and Peer Specialist, Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection

Photo of Kelsey, a woman with shoulder length sandy brown hair. She is looking and smiling at the camera. Kelsey is a Community Health Worker and Peer Support Specialist with Oregon Spinal Cord Injury Connection (OSCI). A T12 paraplegic for more than 13 years following a car accident, Kelsey uses her lived experience to empower others navigating life after spinal cord injury. She understands the challenges that come with injury and is passionate about helping people discover that life can continue with purpose, independence, and opportunity. 

Before joining OSCI, Kelsey earned her welding certification and worked as a professional welder for four years. Her involvement in off-road racing introduced her to the disability community and inspired her commitment to advocacy and peer support. 

Kelsey is actively involved in her community, serving on the Cascade Health Alliance Community Advisory Council, the Statewide Independent Living Council, and the State Plan Committee. She also partners with Klamath County Public Health as a facilitator for the American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking program. Through local partnerships, she helps coordinate monthly Wheelchair Maintenance Workshops, ensuring wheelchair users have access to the resources needed to stay safe, independent, and active. 

​Outside of her work, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her family and exploring Oregon's beautiful mountains.​​​​​

​Dr. Jonathan Betlinski, MD
Public Psychiatry Director and Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Oregon Health and Science University

Photo of Jonathan, a man with short, wavy, light grey hair he is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a grey suit over a light lavender, button-up, collar shirt with a blue striped bowtie. Dr. Betlinski serves as George Saslow Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University, where he is also the Public Psychiatry Director. Among other projects, he serves as Medical Director for the Oregon Psychiatric Access Line about Adults, as Clinical Advisor to the Oregon ECHO Network, and as Principal Investigator for the Heal-OR Project. 

Dr. Betlinski volunteers on the boards for Big Lake Youth Camp, CareOregon Inc, Columbia Pacific CCO, and NAMI Oregon. Dr. Betlinski believes in the power of family, community, relationship, diverse perspectives, multi-disciplinary approaches, theater, being outdoors, a good night's sleep, and leaving the world better for having spent time in it.

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Panelists will discuss communication barriers, transportation needs, and gaps in pre  and post disaster services for people with disabilities. Participants will learn what inclusive emergency management looks like and how to ensure everyone has equitable emergency support.​

Panelists

Erin Taylor
Executive Director, Upstream Access

Photo of Erin, a woman with short brown hair and glasses. She is smiling at the camera.Erin is a passionate advocate for equity and accessibility, dedicated to dismantling ableism and fostering belonging. She co-founded AIM-4-Access in 2022 and helped launch Upstream Access in 2023, where she advances social connection and inclusive, cross-disability emergency preparedness throughout Oregon. Erin’s work has positioned Upstream Access as the first organization in the United States to pilot Person-Centered Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP), a strengths-based curriculum from Australia. 

A key focus of her work is power resilience, addressing the lack of backup and solar power access for people with disabilities during extreme weather and outages. Erin holds an Master of Arts in Disability Studies from City University of New York and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Western Oregon University and is disabled and a proud member of the disability and LGBTQIA+ communities. 

Erin is a lifelong musician and enjoys hiking, kayaking, and capturing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest through photography.

Danica Alexander (Rice)
Founder, Deaf Activities of Southern Oregon

Photo of Danica, a woman with long blonde hair and gold rimmed glasses while smiling at the camera. Danica grew up in Southern Oregon until college at Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf, in Rochester, New York. During her time there, she worked at several college libraries including Harvard University. She moved to various states, working her way westward, then worked for the National Archives in Seattle, and graduated with a master’s in library and information science from San Jose State University in 2017. Soon her life guided her back to Medford, Oregon where she became Vice-Chair of Jackson Care Connect’s Community Advisory Council and Co-Chair of the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services’ Advisory Committee, when she discovered the desperate need for an organization for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind in Southern Oregon, so she founded Deaf Activities of Southern Oregon (DASO), a fiscally-sponsored project of the Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon (MCASO) where she sits as Vice-President of their Board. Being Deaf herself, Danica has a passion for teaching people about her culture and language and being a bridge between worlds. When she isn’t working at her day job or conducting DASO business, Danica enjoys reading, writing, painting and spending time with her daughter, standard poodle, and friends.

Adam Logan (He/Him/His)
Member, Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Advisory Committee Chair,
Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Advisory Council Sub-Committee on Emergency Preparedness

Photo of Adam, a man with short light brown hair combed toward the right and a short mustache. Adam is a Communication Facilitator, empowering DeafBlind individuals with communication access, such as reading and responding to mail, emails, and Video Relay Service calls. He also works in personal-care, supporting people with disabilities in their daily lives. Prior to these roles he was an Advocate and Case Manager at Bridges Oregon. Adam currently serves on the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) Advisory Committee, representing hard‑of‑hearing Oregonians, and chairs the Emergency Preparedness subcommittee. Previously, Adam served as Secretary of the Oregon Association for the Deaf (OAD), he led a major digital transformation helping modernize, grow, and build trust with community members and professionals. He has also contributed to the Oregon Telecommunications Device Access Program (TDAP) Advisory Committee. His professional and volunteer work is driven by a commitment to inclusive communication and improving quality of life for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind communities. Outside of work, Adam enjoys paragliding and stand‑up paddleboarding, activities that reflect his love of nature and adventure.

Dr. Daniel B. Swartz (He/Him)
Commissioner, Oregon Disabilities Commission
Nationally Certified American Sign Language Interpreter
Oregon Certified Health Care Interpreter

Photo of Daniel, a man with short grey hair combed toward the left and a short mustache and beard. Daniel is an Oregon Disabilities Commission Commissioner, nationally certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, and Oregon Certified Health Care Interpreter with more than 40 years of experience in the interpreting profession. He holds a Ph.D. in Organization and Management, a master’s degree in clinical psychology, and specialty certifications in legal, medical, and educational interpreting. 

Daniel has provided interpreting services since 1985 in healthcare, legal, government, educational, and community settings. Throughout his career, he has advocated for effective communication access and equal participation for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. His current interests include emergency preparedness, disability access, healthcare interpreting, language access policy, and the impact of emerging technologies on communication accessibility. 

In addition to his professional work, Daniel serves on the Oregon Disabilities Commission and participates in state-level discussions related to disability rights, communication access, and emergency management. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and resides in Medford, Oregon with his husband and their dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys ceramics, travel, and community service.

Christie Rudder (She/Her)
Oregon Disabilities Commission

Photo of Christie, a woman with long red/brown hair that is in a ponytail. ​Christie is a current member of the Oregon Disabilities Commission, where she has served for two years advocating for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. She is a wheelchair user of 42 years and lives with a C5-6 spinal cord injury and a traumatic brain injury (TBI), bringing both lived experience and long-standing advocacy expertise to her work. She also currently serves as a council member with the Central Oregon Health Council and is chair of the Community Advisory Committee for Oregon Health Plan (OHP) consumers. Christie is a former wheelchair athlete in multiple sports and currently participates in Oregon Adaptive Sports in mountain biking, skiing, and kayaking. 

Christie was a Systems Change Advocate in Orange County, California, during the 2005–2010 firestorms, working through Senate-mandated commissions at the national, state, and local levels focused on transforming emergency response systems. Her work helped advance more inclusive practices in disaster preparedness, evacuation, rescue, and sheltering for people with disabilities. In recognition of her leadership, she was awarded 2010 National Systems Change Advocate of the Year for Region IX and was also named California Advocate of the Year twice.​

The Americans with Disabilities Act changed the physical and social landscape of the United States, expanding access to employment, education, transportation, and public life. But laws alone do not eliminate barriers. This session explores how attitudes toward disability continue to shape accessibility, more than three decades after the ADA’s passage. Two lawyers with disabilities will discuss ADA’s positive impact on society and the gap between legal rights and lived experiences. Attendees will learn about current challenges and opportunities for the ADA’s evolution in the coming years.​​

Panelists

Katie Warden, JD, PhD
Director, Northwest ADA Center

Photo of Katie, a woman with shoulder length brown hair that is pinned up. ​Prior to joining the Northwest ADA Center, Katie worked as a disability rights attorney in the Protection and Advocacy System. She earned her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Oregon. 

Katie has worked extensively in the field of special education, both representing clients and conducting sociolegal research on inclusion and advocacy experiences. In addition, her legal research contributed to legislative changes that protect the voting rights of people with disabilities in her home state of Oklahoma. 

Other areas of interest include guardianship reform, disability identity, and employment discrimination. She is also a person with a disability and the proud owner of a former service animal-in-training.


Ian Jaquiss, JD
Disability, Inclusion, and Accessibility Strategist, Oregon Health Authority Equity and Inclusion Division

Photo of Ian, a man with short grey hair and smiling at the camera. He is wearing a blue button-up collar shirt and thin rimmed glasses. ​Ian is the Disability, Inclusion, and Accessibility Strategist in the Equity and Inclusion Division at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). He has been at OHA since 2024. Ian earned his JD at the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California where he became the first person with a traumatic spinal cord injury to swim for an NCAA Division 1 program. Ian represented the United States at the 1984 and 1988 Paralympics where we won two gold medals and two bronze medals. 

​Ian has worked in a variety of fields from journalism to sports, both amateur and professional, to disability inclusion and awareness. Ian and his family live in southeast Portland.

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This session highlights the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) latest ruling on digital accessibility and what it means for public agencies. Attendees will learn about compliance with timelines, WCAG-related resources, and enforcement trends related to digital access. This session will also feature a panel discussion with individuals working to implement digital accessibility practices, including examples of current efforts and resources in Oregon communities.​​

Panelists

Kaitlin Spidell (She/Her)
ADA Information Specialist and Certified ADA Coordinator, Northwest ADA Center

Photo of Kaitlin, a woman with shoulder length dark blonde hair. She is wearing a brown coat, gold rim glasses.​Kaitlin is an ADA Information Specialist at the Northwest ADA Center and is a Certified ADA Coordinator. In her current role, Kaitlin develops and coordinates training, technical assistance, and continuing education programs on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for state and local governments, employers, businesses, and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

Her areas of interest include digital accessibility, healthcare access for people with disabilities, and equitable access to public services and programs. She also contributes to research and outreach initiatives focused on reducing barriers and improving access to healthcare for people with disabilities. 

Outside of work, Kaitlin enjoys pottery, urban gardening, and exploring trails in the North Cascades. She is passionate about creating more accessible communities and helping organizations translate accessibility requirements into meaningful action.

Julian De Los Prados
Co-Founder of Accessibilities

Photo of Julian, a man with short black hair combed toward the left and a short mustache and beard. ​​Julian is Co-Founder of Accessibilities, an accessibility consulting company focused on manual accessibility inspection, assistive technology testing, and comprehensive ADA compliance strategy across digital and physical environments. His work centers on helping organizations move beyond surface-level automation by building defensible, user-centered accessibility programs grounded in real-world testing and lived experience feedback.




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Sesiones de Celebración ADA 2026

Celebre el 36.º aniversario de la Ley para Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA)

Acompáñenos durante todo julio a una serie gratuita de seminarios web para celebrar el 36.º aniversario de la Ley para Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA). Cada sesión contará con especialistas y personas invitadas que compartirán información, experiencias y herramientas para promover la accesibilidad y la inclusión. 

Los seminarios son virtuales por medio de Zoom todos los martes del mes de julio, de 11:30 a.m. a 1 p.m. (hora del Pacífico) y habrá intérpretes para español. 
 
Fechas y temas de las sesiones:
  • 7 de julio: Experiencias entre diferentes discapacidades y necesidades de apoyo.
  • 14 de julio: Cómo crear sistemas inclusivos y accesibles para el manejo de emergencias.
  • 21 de julio: La ADA: cuánto hemos avanzado y qué sigue.
  • 28 de julio: La nueva regla del Departamento de Justicia sobre accesibilidad digital.

Cómo registrarse
Complete el formulario de inscripción (disponible en inglés). Solo tiene que desplazarse hacia abajo en la página, seleccionar la(s) fecha(s) de las sesiones a las que desea asistir e ingresar su nombre y correo electrónico. Después de registrarse, recibirá por correo electrónico el enlace para unirse a cada seminario web.

Regístrese para las sesiones por Zoom

 Past ADA Celebration materials

2025

Watch Week 1 Recording​

Panelists share their li​ved struggles and successes within Oregon’s K-12 and Higher Education system. Panelists ​also provide information and resources on how to navigate education settings with a disability.

Pane​lis​ts

Rebecca Arce (she/her/ella)
Inclusion, Equity, and Accessibility Specialist
Office of Higher Education Coordinating Commission​

Rebecca, a woman with shoulder length brown hair, is wearing a champagne colored sweater and dangly earrings and is looking at the camera​Rebecca has a master's degree in public policy from Oregon State University. She has used her education and lived experience in her public service career. Currently, she is an equity, inclusion and accessibility specialist at the Office of Higher Education Coordinating Commission. She is mother to two sons, the proud daughter of immigrants, and the first person in her family to go to college and receive a graduate degree. In her spare time, she enjoys fiber arts and playing in her garden.

Andrew Caruana
Commis​sioner
Oregon Disabilities Commission​

Andrew, a man with short light brown hair, is looking at the camera and is wearing a purple button up shirt and sitting on an olive-green couch​Andrew was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at a young age and has been a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities, specifically working in higher education with collegiate populations, helping them navigate the accommodations process and being a peer mentor. He also advocates more broadly for disability health and employment issues as the Legislative Advocacy Coordinator for the Disability Health Equity and Employment Coalition. He graduated from Willamette University with honors and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and Disability Studies and is currently pursuing a master’s in clinical Mental Health Counseling, hoping to work with disabled and neurodivergent people.

John Dorris
Northwest ADA Center

John, a man with short brown hair and beard is smiling at the camera and is wearing a light blue dress shirt, dark colored tie, and a black suit coat. The background is a gray wall over his left shoulder and a window with a blurred vision of a structure over his right shoulder​John is the Assistant Director at the Northwest ADA Center. He relocated to Seattle from Orlando, Florida, where he primarily practiced corporate law and family mediation for nearly fifteen years and remains an active member of the Florida Bar. John helped clients navigate complicated federal and state laws to overcome their conflicts and obstacles so that parties could reach amicable solutions to move forward in life with renewed purpose. During his time in Orlando, John was an active volunteer with various organizations including the Citizen’s Dispute and Family Law Mediation Program, the Florida Bar Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration Program, the Middle District of Florida Bankruptcy Pro Se Clinic, and Cornerstone Hospice. 

John has a special passion for adaptive sports and inclusivity, and he continues his advocacy for inclusiveness in sports through participating in Seattle’s LGBTQIA sports community. He’s looking forward to working with various community partners in helping the disabled community increase their access and enjoyment in various recreational sports and arts programs. 

John earned his Juris Doctorate at Florida State University College of Law. He attended Purdue University for his undergraduate work, and both Central Michigan University and the University of Houston for graduate school. 

Olivia Foster
Student
Blue Mountain Community College​

Olivia, a woman with medium length light brown and green hair and glasses, is sitting with a knee up while looking towards her left. She is wearing blue jeans and a yellow shirt​Olivia Foster is a graduate of Hermiston High School with certifications as a Phlebotomy Technician, Clinical Medical Assistant, and in BLS/CPR. While not currently employed due to medical reasons, her background includes customer service roles in a family restaurant and gas station. Her personal experience with chronic illnesses has given her unique insights into the healthcare system, fueling her interest in becoming an Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Specialist. During high school, Olivia consistently achieved academic honors, including "Gold Honor Roll" in Colorado and multiple awards at Her​miston High School, such as Program of Study: Health Sciences and several scholarships. She aims to be more involved in boards and councils to improve education for future students.

Suzanne Gall (she/her)
Special Education COPPA Fellow
Disability Rights Oregon​

Suzanne, a woman with shoulder length brown hair is smiling at the camera and is wearing a black shirt. The background is green leafy trees.Suzanne joined the Disability Rights Oregon team in July 2024 as a Special Education Fellow, thanks to generous funding from The Council of Parent Attorneys and​ Advocates (COPAA) through The Oak Foundation and The Meyer Memorial Trust. A licensed attorney for over 20 years, Suzanne fights for children to get the free and appropriate public education (FAPE) they are entitled to under the law. Her interest in this area began after placing her own children in Oregon public schools and witnessing systemic problems and their impacts on children and families. She is most proud of the successful outcome in S.C. v. Lincoln County School District, No. 21-35242 (9th Cir. 2021), which underscores the importance of ensuring IEPs are individualized, even when the student's needs are complex. Suzanne received her J.D. from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and her B.A. from Loyola University Maryland. When she isn’t ​working, she is on the hunt for the best coffee shops and restaurants in Portland.

Katie Warden, JD, PhD
Director
Northwest ADA Center

Katie, a woman with shoulder length brown hair that is pinned up is wearing a grey sweater with a high neck collar and smiling at the camera. The background is a cream color wall from center to left and a window with trees from center to right.​Prior to joining the ADA Center, Katie worked as a disability rights attorney in the Protection and Advocacy System. She earned her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Oregon. Katie has worked extensively in the field of special education, both representing clients and conducting sociolegal research on inclusion and advocacy experiences. In addition, her legal research contributed to legislative changes that protect the voting rights of people with disabilities in her home state of Oklahoma. Other areas of interest include guardianship reform, disability identity, and employment discrimination. She is also a person with a disability and the proud owner of a former service animal-in-training.​

Watch Week 2 Recording​

​Panelists cover topics on how to navigate and understand employment options for people with disabilities.

Panelists

Andrew Caruana
Commissioner
Oregon Disabilities Commission

Andrew,Andrew was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at a young age and has been a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities, specifically working in higher education with collegiate populations, helping them navigate the accommodations process and being a peer mentor. He also advocates more broadly for disability health and employment issues as the Legislative Advocacy Coordinator for the Disability Health Equity and Employment Coalition. He graduated from Willamette University with honors and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and Disability Studies and is currently pursuing a master’s in clinical Mental Health Counseling, hoping to work with disabled and neuro​divergent people. 

Cindy DeLashmutt (she/her)
Employment Manager at Living Opportunities
Credentials: OELN, ACRE, CESP, WIPC

Kim, a woman with shoulder length blonde hair smiling at the camera. The background is a brick wall. Cindy began her career at Living Opportunities nine years ago in the residential program. After one year, she transitioned to the employment department as a job coach, where she spent the next eight years cultivating strong relationships with employers and the individuals she supports. She actively pursued professional development, earning her OELN certification to provide pre-employment services such as Discovery, Community-Based Work Assessments (CBWAs), and Trial Work Experiences (TWPs). ​

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cindy and her team strengthened community connections by expanding their Employment Path program, using it as an opportunity to creatively support both job seekers and employers. 

In 2021, Cindy stepped into a management role with a focus on enhancing and expanding Employment Path services. Within her first year, she earned both her CESP and ACRE certifications and later completed Cornell University’s Work Incentive Practitioner Credential (WIPC) in 2024. She has since begun integrating benefits planning supports into the Employment Path model. 

In recognition of her leadership and dedication, Cindy was named Manager of the Year at Living Opportunities in 2024 and went on to receive the ORA Works of Heart award. 

Outside of work, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family and pets. When she needs to recharge, she finds joy in cooking and gardening. 

Jennifer Denley (she/her)
Employment Services Manager
Premier Community Supports 

Jennifer, a woman with shoulder length light brown hair and she is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a white shirt with a silver necklace. The background is a white wall with a blue mat.Jennifer is the Employment Services Manager with Premier Community Supports, as well as a certified Work Incentive Practitioner. Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education. Jenifer is ACRE certified, is a certified Work Incentive Practitioner, and is a certified trainer of the ODDS Intro to Supportive Employment curriculum. 

Jennifer provided support and education for students with disabilities in school and community settings for 12 years prior to coming to work at Premier Community Supports. As the Employment Services Manager, Jennifer provides both Vocational Rehabilitation and ODDS services for individuals interested in exploring employment opportunities in their community. 

Jennifer has a passion for working in a teaching role and supporting other people in achieving success, no matter what barriers they may face. Jennifer is dedicated to supporting individuals in the I/DD community reach their goals and achieve success. Jennifer is an active member of her local Roseburg community and enjoys participating in community events that build connection and build success throughout the community. Jennifer enjoys spending time outside gardening, hiking with her French bulldogs, and running races around the state. 

Melanie Hartwig (she/her)
Community Liaisons and Supported Employment Advocate
ODHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services

Melanie, a woman with long light brown hair with glasses is looking at the camera. She is wearing a blue V-neck top with a white shawl and white necklace. The background is a nature scene.Melanie is a Community Liaisons and Supported Employment advocate for ODHS' Office of Developmental Disabilities Services. Community Liaisons work in collaboration with Self-advocates and their community partners to advance The Employment First Initiative in Oregon and to help ensure civil rights for everyone. Melanie has been working for ODDS for 9 years. 

Melanie has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and fine arts with additional master’s level work in Counseling and Art Therapy through Marylhurst University. Career certifications include Supported Employment Specialist, Certified OIS Instructor, Certified Positive Behavior Support Specialist. Special Education Crisis Intervention Specialist. 

Recent accomplishments, team development and implementation of the Oregon Supported Employment College Curriculum. Treasure Valley Community College and Umpqua Community College offered this course in 2024 and 2025. Facilitation of the Oregon Supported Employment Community of Practice since 2018. 

Volunteer work over the last 15 years includes APSE Board Member. OIS training and certification for families and providers. Development and implementation of Positive Behavior Support Plans along with victim’s advocacy work. Melanie has had the privilege of working with people who experience Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for 39 years. In that time, they have shared their talents, gifts, and dreams. It has been an honor to work with each person and to assist them to pursue their dreams and live the life they want. 

Katie Mijares Thompson
Program Manager
Work Incentives Network

Katie, a woman with shoulder length wavy blonde hair, is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black button up shirt with a white collar. The background is her home office settingKatie co-manages the Work Incentives Network (WIN), a benefits planning program under Oregon Department of Human Services. Prior to coming into this role in 2018, Katie provided benefits planning services for several years at an Oregon Center for Independent Living. Her additional experience includes work as a legal assistant at a Social Security disability law firm as a well as a case manager for Oregon Developmental Disability Services. In her free time, Katie spends copious amounts of energy embracing her inner cat lady and exploring the Pacific Northwest.​

Kim Randle (she/her)
Operations and Policy Analyst 3
Oregon Department of Human Services

Kim, a woman with shoulder length blonde hair smiling at the camera. The background is a brick wall.Kim received her Associate of Arts degree from Umpqua Community College. She has over 20 years of experience with ODHS. Kim started out as an Office Support Specialist and has promoted several times over the years. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, biking…pretty much anything outdoors. Kim also loves spending time with her family, especially her grandkids. ​

Emily Ross
WIPA Program Manager
Disability Rights Oregon

Emily, a woman with long red hair, is wearing a royal blue button up shirt and smiling at the camera. The background is a city scape.Emily is the WIPA Program Manager for Disability Rights Oregon's Plan for Work program. Emily joined the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program in 2017 as the WIPA Intake Specialist and within a year made the decision to become a Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC). In 2022, Emily was promoted into her current role as Program Manager where she oversees a team of talented CWICs and continues to provide benefits planning and assistance to Social Security disability-based beneficiaries.

As a former recipient of SSDI and other state-based benefits, Emily uses her own personal experiences to fuel her team’s mission to assist Social Security recipients on their own paths to financial stability and independence.

Emily was born with a genetic eye condition, aniridia, which caused statutory blindness. Throughout her lifetime, she has found solutions to obstacles and barriers that she’s encountered and worked through them with the encouragement and empowerment from her family. Emily holds a bachelor's degree from Willamette University.

Emily joined the National Association of Benefits and Work Incentive Specialists (NABWIS) Board of Directors in December 2024. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking her cranberry upside-down cake in the fall (trust me you have to try it!), playing with her dogs Cooper and Maeve, and finding creative ways to decorate her new home (a great excuse to buy more LEGOs!).

Corinne Schram (she/her)
Supervising Attorney
Disability Rights Oregon

Corinne, a woman with long brown hair with red highlights pinned up, is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a green tank-top with a tattoo on her upper right arm and left chest. The background is a nature scene.Corinne joined Disability Rights Oregon in January 2022 and serves as the supervising attorney for Project Independence. This initiative focuses on ensuring access to reasonable accommodations in housing, employment, health care, and public spaces. 

Project Independence also oversees the Client Assistance Program (CAP), which helps resolve disputes between Vocational Rehabilitation and its clients. In her role as the CAP representative, Corinne is a member of the State Rehabilitation Council, which advocates as the consumer voice for Oregon’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services. 

Before joining Disability Rights Oregon, Corinne spent 10 years practicing employment law and working as a public defender. She holds both her bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Arizona. 

Originally from Arizona, Corinne enjoys spending time outdoors when the weather is warm, exploring new restaurants, participating in trivia nights, spending time with animals, and connecting with friends and family. 

Eric Thompson
Sergeant at Arms, Oregon Self-Advocates Coalition
Mail Clerk, Rogue Credit Union

Eric, a man with short black hair and glasses is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a grey dress shirt, grey tie, and sitting in a black office chair. The background is office cabinetry.Prior to Eric’s current employment, he worked for 7 years as a mail carrier for Medford City Hall. Eric’s education in Occupational Skills Training has earned him the Occupational Skills Training Certificate. 

He is an advocate and currently serving as the Sergeant at Arms in Oregon Self-Advocates Coalition (OSAC). Eric has also participated in the Transition Student Groups from OHSU including Healthcare Project, spoke at an autism awareness gala, at the Oregon Sports Awards Program, and many other advocacy opportunities. 

Eric is an athlete. He has run in 21 marathons and even won the 2010 Special Olympics Athlete of the Year. 

A few of Eric’s hobbies and interests include being an author, reading books, writing stories, art, and running. ​

John Valley (he/him/his)
ABLE Savings Account Plans Information
Policy and Outreach Director, Oregon Treasury Savings Network

John, a man with short brown hair, light grey mustache and goatee, glasses is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a mint green dress shirt, green and white necktie, and grey suit coat with an American Flag pin. The background is a grey photo screen.John has been the Policy and Outreach Director for the Oregon Treasury Savings Network since September 2014. John attended George Washington University to receive a Political Science Degree in 1994 and graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law to receive his law degree in 1997. John has been married to Amanda his wife for over 22 years and they have two children, Parker who is 19 and Bridget who is 16. Before working for Oregon Treasury John worked for U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley in his Portland office as his Clackamas County and Washington County field representative. Before working for the Senator, John was the Oregon Government Affairs Director both at the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. 

Ted Wenk (he/him/his)
Operations Manager
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, Civil Rights Division

Ted, a man with a bald head, glasses, and short beard, is holding a paper in his left hand and giving a speech at the camera. Ted is wearing a white button up shirt with a brown tie. The background is glass windows with trees and shrubbery outside.Ted Wenk is an Operations Manager with the State of Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Civil Rights Division. Ted attended Michigan State University, graduating with a degree in Communications – emphasis on Research and Statistics; he obtained his Juris Doctor (law) degree from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan. He worked for legal aid services in Southeast Michigan for several years before locating in Oregon. Ted worked as an attorney for Disability Rights Oregon for 20 years before joining BOLI. Ted is former chair of the Oregon Disabilities Commission, the Oregon State Bar Association Disability Law Section and was a member of the State Rehabilitation Council for 15 years. Ted enjoys forest bathing as well as hiking. He is also presently and perpetually reading several books (the paper kind).

Watch Week 3 Recording​

​Hannah and Shane Burcaw are relationship vloggers changing the way society understands disability.

Presenters

Hannah (she/her) and Shane (he/him) Burcaw
aka Squirmy and Grubs
Relationship Vloggers

Hannah is a woman with long blonde hair smiling at the camera with her arms around Shane. Shane is a man with short brown hair, glasses, sitting in his power wheelchair, and smiling at the camera. The background is trees and the glow of the sun.

​Hannah and Shane Burcaw are relationship vlogg​ers on a mission to change the way society understands disability. On their YouTube channel, Squirmy and Grubs, which has gained almost two million subscribers, the couple shares an entertaining and authentic examination of what it's like to be in an interabled relationship. In addition to their work on YouTube, the couple co-authored a nonfiction collection of love stories that involve people with disabilities. Hannah and Shane speak across the country from universities to elementary schools to Fortune 500 companies. They live in Minneapolis, MN with their fluffy labradoodle, Chloe.

Watch Week 4 Recording​

​Panelists ​highlight how Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act changed disability policy and services in Oregon.

Panelists

​Brenda Gessner (she/her)
ADA and Title VI Program Manager
Oregon Department of Transportation

Brenda, a woman with shoulder length light brown hair is wearing a black shirt and looking at the camera. The background is a white wall.Brenda is the ADA and Title VI Program Manager at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), where she leads initiatives to ensure accessibility and equity across transportation systems. She earned her B.S. in Business from San Diego State University and later received an M.A. in Occupational Studies from California State University Long Beach. Brenda’s professional background includes extensive experience in ADA compliance, both in facilities and education. She worked closely with disabled student services in the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program and the American Braille Institute in Anaheim, California to provide computer software instruction including JAWS, a screen reading software, in dedicated accessible classrooms. 

At ​ODOT, Brenda chairs multiple internal committees focused on accessibility and inclusion, and she is an active participant in disability commissions meetings across Oregon. Her work is informed not only by her professional expertise but also by her personal experience as a parent and caregiver for family members with disabilities. This dual perspective strengthens her commitment to advocacy and drives her efforts to build more inclusive environments across the state.

Tom Stenson
Deputy Legal Director
Disability Rights Oregon

Tom, a man with short brown hair, is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a blue pull over on top of a light blue collared shirt. The background is a city scene.​Tom focuses on systemic efforts to improve and reform services for people with disabilities — especially projects with the potential to lead to substantial litigation. Tom has defended the rights of clients in many major class actions and suits for injunctive relief. 

Major Disability Rights Oregon projects that Tom has participated in include class actions to transform Oregon's foster care system; to ensure students with disabilities receive full days at school; to secure fair opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities seeking employment in the community; to compel the Oregon Department of Transportation to make Oregon state roads accessible to people with disabilities by fixing 26,000 curb ramps and thousands of pedestrian buttons; and to improve how the criminal justice system treats people with disabilities. 

Tom has particular expertise and interest in developing and maintaining community-based services that ensure people with disabilities can live in their homes; emotional and behavioral services for children in the foster care and educational systems; physical accessibility for people with disabilities in public places; and eliminating the criminalization of emotional and behavioral disabilities. 

Prior to joining Disability Rights Oregon, Tom worked at the ACLU of Alaska as its legal director. Tom began his legal career as a public defender in Philadelphia. He earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College.

Katie Warden, JD, PhD
Director
Northwest ADA Center

Katie, a woman with shoulder length brown hair that is pinned up is wearing a grey sweater with a high neck collar and smiling at the camera. The background is a cream color wall from center to left and a window with trees from center to right.​Prior to joining the ADA Center, Katie worked as a disability rights attorney in the Protection and Advocacy System. She earned her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Oregon. Katie has worked extensively in the field of special education, both representing clients and conducting sociolegal research on inclusion and advocacy experiences. In addition, her legal research contributed to legislative changes that protect the voting rights of people with disabilities in her home state of Oklahoma. Other areas of interest include guardianship reform, disability identity, and employment discrimination. She is also a person with a disability and the proud owner of a former service animal-in-training.​

Todd D. Woodward (he/him/theirs)
Commissioner, Oregon Disabilities Commission (ODC)
​Financial Eligibility Specialist, Oregon Department of Human Services 

Todd, a man with short brown hair, brown and silver beard, and black framed glasses is looking at the camera. He is wearing a black and red checkerboard button up shirt. The background is a black wall.Todd is an autistic, ADHD (AuDHD), dyslexic and dyscalculia professional, and passionate advocate for inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, accountability, belonging, parity, and representation in healthcare and education. Todd brings decades of experience working with leading multinational technology companies. For the past 10 years, he has dedicated himself to public service in education, community healthy, neurodivergent and disability justice. 

As "The Autivist" (the Autistic Advocate), Todd is a recognized voice on relational and educational neuroscience, neuroequitable practices, and disability history. He shares his insights through writing and video, advocating for strength-based education, co-regulation, neurodivergent parenting, and neurodivergent culture. 

Todd's commitment to his community is further evidenced by his service on various Oregon Health Authority (OHA) committees and his leadership in pandemic-response health outreach initiatives. He is in his second year as a Commissioner on the Oregon Disabilities Commission, and member of the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), Community Partners Council. 

2024

​Watch the session recording

Presenters and panelists

  • Hannah Baker, Facilitator - Advocacy and Leadership Development Coordinator, Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Justin Connolly - Chair, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition
  • Gabrielle (Gabby) Guedon - Executive Director, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition
  • Phil Stone - Advocate
  • Eddie Plourde - Vice Chair, Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities​

Watch the session recording

Presenters and panelists

  • Krista Gallagher, Facilitator - Deaf Specialist, ODHS Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
  • Andre (Dre) Gray - Filmmaker, Deaf Advocate
  • Cara Frank - Development Director, Oregon Adaptive Sports
  • Rhiannon Lelievre - Licensed Massage Therapist​

​Watch the session recording

Presenters and panelists

  • Emily Cooper - Legal Director, Disability Rights Oregon
  • Justice Chukwu, JD - Technical Assistance Specialist, Northwest ADA Center
  • John Dorris - Northwest ADA Center

Watch the session recording​

Presenters and panelists

  • Missy O'Bryant, Facilitator - Service Equity Manager, ODHS Office of Equity and Multicultural Services
  • Jenny Cokeley - Executive Director, ODHS Oregon Home Care Commission
  • Susan Collins - Member, State Rehabilitation Council
  • Donna Courtney - Commissioner, Governor's Commission on Senior Services
  • John D. Curtis, JD (retired) - Volunteer Advocate
  • Dr. James (Jim) Davis - Chair, Oregon Older Adults and People with Disabilities Behavioral Health Advisory Council; Co-Chair, Oregon Legislative Work Group on Senior/Disability Mental Health and Addictions
  • Donna Harris, MA - Commissioner, Oregon Disabilities Commission
  • Elieen Marma - Chair, Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Advisory Committee
  • Ruth McEwan - Commissioner, Oregon Home Care Commission
  • Roman Olivera - Member, Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Advisory Committee
  • Eddie Plourde - Vice Chair, Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities; Founding Member, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition
  • Barb Stoner - Member, State Independent Living Council
  • Leslie Sutton - Executive Director, Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Todd D. Woodward - Commissioner, Oregon Disabilities Commission