Ready to make a difference
Staff
Lisa Audi, Founder
Jennifer Powell
Ashley Snide
Marisa White
Instructors
Catherine Bryson
Robert Cusato
Jen DeGroff
Karen DeSorbo
Morgan Dempsey
Diane Guendel
Kristen Kiehart-Winchell
Music Speaks Music Therapy —- Sharon and Liora
Matt Peer
Erika Pelletier
Heather Re, piece d’occasion
Gwen Rudnick, OTR/L; NBCOT and SIPT-certified
Renel Turner
Meet the Board
Erin Hoffman, experienced fundraiser with more than $1M raised in support of JDRF;
Namita Modasra, Education Coordinator/Resource Specialist, Down Syndrome AIM High Resource Center
Dr. Laura Staff, board certified family practitioner, assistant clinical professor at Albany Med; medical director, City School District of Albany;
Dr. Humera Syeda, obstetrician and gynecologist in private practice in Latham. Special interest in advocacy for people with neurodiverse abilities.
Jeff Yule, twenty plus years of experience as nonprofit executive.
Meet the Advisory Council
Our advisory council is comprised of individuals who work in the field and/or are connected to neurodiverse individuals. This group provides guidance, suggestions and ideas to the Team and Board as well as being resource for current and future planning.
• Sara Berg, parent and research scientist in NYS government;
• Jessica Cecchini, MS Ed., Educational Programming/Troy Site Coordinator; Early Childhood Education Center;
• Barbara J. Collins, O.T.R., M.S., Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services, RDI Program Certified Consultant;
• Gina Cosgrove, Psy.D., Chelsea Place Psychological Services, PLLC;
• Denise DiNoto, Program Manager, Health Research, Inc.;
• Jennifer Gish, Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Russell Sage College;
• Matthew Hickling, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC
• Brent Pierce, Capital Region BOCES teacher, Work Based Learning Program.
• Jason Purvis, parent
• John Robinson, CEO, Our Ability, Inc.;
• Alicia Sikora, Director of Marketing Operations & Government Affairs, Community Care Physicians featuring CapitalCare Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics;
• Julienne Slichko, Ph.D,, Assistant Professor, Literacy & Special Education Dept., Lally School of Education, The College of St. Rose;
• Diana Straut, PhD, Education Consultant & Senior Professional Development Specialist, MI Measurement Inc.; former board member, Voorheesville school district;
• Kyle Van Vorst, WMC Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
Jane Ann Worlock, M.S. Ed., Senior Trainer, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at UAlbany
Support Team
Social Media: Thomas Straut
Website: Maki Mandelis
Graphic Design: Kimberly Smith