Policy Council

Ken Edwards: District #1
Because I am a person with a disability I believe I have insights that will help parents and caregivers of persons with disabilities. With over 30 years experience in direct service with persons and families who have disabilities, I want to be part of the solution towards education and information that will increase the level of independence for persons with disabilities. Currently, I am executive director of an Independent Living Center.

Teri Martin: District #2
I am a forty-year old wife and mother who has returned to college in order to complete my Bachelor Degree in Political Science. I have been married ten years to Jim Martin and have a 5 year-old autistic son named Anthony Martin. Anthony has had autism from age two and last year was diagnosed with leukemia. He has been through chemotherapy the entire year of 2003. In the fall of 2003, Anthony started Kindergarten. I am a member in organizations such as F.O.C.U.S. and unlocking Autism. I am politically active and seek support from Senators and Congressmen to assist funding for disabled children not only in Arizona, but throughout our nation. Both my husband and I stay knowledgeable in areas of autism and autism spectrum disorders, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), music therapy leukemia, homeopathic treatments, gluten-free casein free diet and other nutritional therapies. We try to share our knowledge of autism and leukemia with newly diagnosed families in order to help them survive and cope with everyday life. We hold playgroups in our home on Saturdays for free to help our son gain additional social skills. Our family attends the Catholic Church and follows a catholic life style. In January of 2001, we started a two-year Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) program with Anthony. I trained 12 NAU students to apply 40 hours of therapy on my son each week. The program was so successful that the Division of Developmental Disabilities gave us an award in 2002. The award was for: Dedication to change and commitment to progress”. My son is now mainstreamed in a full day general education classroom at DeMiguel Public School. The special education department is providing the first ABA training at DeMiguel for his teacher and aide. The training is proving to be very successful.

Art Gode: District #3
Art Gode I am the father of 2 kids, and I have a wonderful wife. My oldest is a girl, 20 now. She attends U of A nursing school. My wife runs the E.R. in Kingman. My second child is a boy 17 with Downs Syndrome. This brings me to why I do advocacy work. I want to help my son and whomever else I can along the way. My family is a big 4-H supporter. I am Program Assistant for Mohave County, and the kids are very active. We live on a small ranch where we raise goats and other small stock I am an Office for Children with Health Care Needs (OCSHCN) parent. I also chair our Kingman area transition team, and am a consultant to (Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Administration (NARBHA) for Mohave County Community Development.

Gina Johnson: District #6
My name is Gina Johnson and I am the proud mother of seven beautiful children including a son David who has Down syndrome. I am also a most thankful to be a graduate of Parenter's in Policy Making. I am the founder and president of Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona(SDSA) , the non-profit that serves our state when a baby is born with Down syndrome. SDSA began 13 years ago with five familes and now we have nearly 1600. We serve these families with free monthly newsletter (in Spanish & English), host monthly meeting (again in Spanish and English) to educate and empower famiiles. We place new parent packets in all birthing hospitals and personally visit all new families to bring their new parent gift package. We host play groups, teen groups and have and overall program that reaches out to every person with Down syndrome and those who love them. I am a Level III advocate. I am also a former ARC president from Tooele Utah, but the best training I have ever had was to give birth
over 20 years ago to a son who changed my life and heart forever. He is truly the wind beneath my wings and I thank God for him. It is these beloved children with disabilites, who teach us what matters most in life. I am passionates about making live such that our children (and all people with disabilities) can be fully included in life, including school, work and home environments. My email is gina@sharingds.org or our office number is 480-926-6500. With kindest regards, Gina Johnson

Diane Goldman: District #7
Stuart Goldman: District #7

For the last 24 years Diane Goldman and Stuart Goldman and their daughter Miriam have been on a unexpected and often changeling journey that continues. Each day we have new obstacles, but also new accomplishments as we deal with the “extra” challenges associated with blindness and an IQ far below the average. Together we have learned how to be more effective in dealing with the medical community to ensure that our needs are fully met. We learned how to advocate as we progressed through the school years, resulting in both of us parents now being Level 3 Parent Advocates who can now help other parents address the often adversarial Individual Education Plan (IEP) process. Diane has also served as a Special Olympics coach. In our spare time, Diane teaches high school math while Stu is a Telecommunications engineer.

Debra Mirt: District #8
Being the parent of a child with Down Syndrome, I have been involved with the local school district serving on committees that effect policy and services. I am interested in the promotion of systems change that will support people with disabilities having independence, choice and quality of life.

Darrell Christenson: District #11
Being a counselor for 14 years with a physical and sensory disability since birth, I bring a multi-level perspective to the Council. As a council member I believe I am able to share in making a difference for individuals with disabilities and their families. The Council is a vehicle toward true consumer control, choice and options. Over the past 5 years I have been the Director of Community Integration for the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL). ABIL’s mission is to offer and promote programs designed to empower people with disabilities to take responsibility, so that they may achieve or continue independent lifestyles within the community. Programs under Darrel’s direction include: Empowering Youth with Disabilities into Adulthood, Early Intervention, Reintegration of Young Adults from Nursing Homes to Community, Community Living Options, Home Modification, Information & Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Socialization Through Recreation and Americans with Disabilities Act Services. Additional ABIL services include: Peer Mentoring, Advocacy, Personal Assistance Services, Benefits Planning Assistance and Ticket to Work/ Work Incentives programming. Prior to his coming to Arizona Mr. Christenson had worked with the Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living (SEMCIL) based in Rochester, Minnesota for the previous 11½ years. There he was responsible for opening 3 branch offices in rural counties and providing services to consumers with disabilities and communities in 11 counties. Both my life-long experiences as a person with both a physical and sensory disability and as a person with a graduate degree in Guidance & Counseling from the University of Wisconsin – Stout, has given me the experience and knowledge to assist persons with disabilities adjust to life with a disability. In my free time I am an avid baseball fan. I have attended baseball games in 40 Major League ballparks and only need to get to the 4 newest ballparks to round out the current parks and get caught up again. I has also coached Youth Football and Softball as well as having played competitive softball for 20 years.

Janet Maxwell: District #12
I am a mother of a child with Down syndrome. My son's name is Sam and he is almost 8 years old. I presently serve on the board of the Advisory Council on Developmental Disabilities to the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities for Maricopa County. I completed the Arizona Partners in Policymaking program. I attended and completed a course called Family Support, Self-Determination and Disability at Glendale College, taught by Midge White. I also took the Level I advocacy training offered by The Arizona Center for Disability Law.

Rhonda Webb: District #15
In 2002, I relocated to Phoenix, AZ from Dayton, OH. As a Spinal Cord Injury survivor and wheelchair user for more than 13 years, I now work as a Work Incentives Specialist/Benefits Counselor at ABIL. As a council member I hope to share my experiences and those of my consumers to influence and educate policy makers on disability issues facing individuals with various disabilities and backgrounds.

Teresa Cervantes: District #21
The inspiration behind my motivation to reach out to other families is my six year old with Down syndrome. I have been a volunteered for various organizations who offer services to persons with disabilities. I am currently the Vice President/Secretary for Sharing Down Syndrome AZ. (SDSA) for families who have children with Down syndrome. I look forward to be a part of the Coalition Policy Council and help make changes in the long run.

Sherrine Hayward: District #22
My name is Sherrine Hayward and I am the mother of two little children. My youngest daughter is a very healthy three-year old and my oldest is a six-year old son with many developmental disabilities. He has a seizure disorder, cerebral palsy, cortical visual impairment, sleep apnea and several other diagnoses. He is non-ambulatory, does not speak, and requires my help in accomplishing the common, everyday tasks that come so easy to everyone else. Before he was born, I graduated from ASU with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation and feel I was definitely directed in choosing that degree. I have used my education in many ways while raising both children and am very involved in both of their lives. I have a strong belief in treating every individual as God sees them and to expect them to reach their full potential. I do not believe in giving up or losing hope. I have attended many seminars and trainings on the legislative system and how it may affect a person with disabilities and have become a strong advocate in my community on supporting individuals with all kinds of disabilities. My son is now completing his first grade year of school in a fully integrated classroom at Houston Elementary in the Gilbert School District. This has only heightened my knowledge that my child can accomplish tremendous goals and can overcome many obstacles! I hope to continue to provide strength and support for not only my own children, but also for many others that are in our community.

Liz McClain: District #23
My 13 yr. old son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 7. Since then co-occurring diagnoses of OCD and ADD have been added. My interest in behavioral health led to a role as one of the original Family Support Partners within the 300 Kids Project in Maricopa County. The Project has spread statewide as a major reform to how families with children in the behavioral health system are served. I am currently working with PGBHA on their Child & Family Team processes. I continue to serve on various Maricopa Co. committees related to this reform. As well, I have been a member of the Mesa School District's Special Ed. Parent Advisory Committee for 3 years and I am a Partner’s in Policymaking graduate. I currently own my own consulting business providing grant resources to nonprofits.

Gene Carnicom: District #24
Gene was born in Miami, Florida in 1944. He is the son of Naval officer and has traveled and lived in many states. Gene graduated from high school in Springfield, PA and served in the military for 32 years until he retired from active duty in the year 2,000. Gene has four children. His son, Patrick, was born in 1975 with cerebral palsy, bilateral hemiplegia and learning disabilities. Gene became involved in the advocacy movement to secure needed services for Patrick and attended the second Arizona class of Partners in Policymaking along with Patrick. Gene has served on many boards including the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disability and the Arc of AZ as well as an OASIS Advisor and as a District IV Advisory Council, Level III Advocate. Gene has lived in Parker, Arizona for the last 15 Years with his wife, a physician in the Indian Health Service. Gene is also an organist at the Messiah Lutheran Church.

Jenny Culver Hill: District #25
I am an Arizona native born in Tucson, Arizona. I was one of four children born into an Air Force family. I joined the Air Force myself in 1977 and went to Germany. I worked on F4E’s at Ramstein Airbase in Avionics computer and navigation systems. I have been a professional Massage Therapist for 5 years. I also sing and play my own songs on Acoustic guitar. I am a big reader and an amateur artist I am on the Board of our local Hilltop Art Gallery. I am also a member of Rio Rico Rotary and a volunteer reader at my son’s school, Little Red, Santa Cruz # 28. Autism in my youngest son has changed the course of my life and given me tremendous gifts, patience and confidence, compassion and purpose. My work as a volunteer is gratifying. I am delighted to find that I enjoy life more and more as time goes by and that serving others and learning is what I am meant to do. Making connections and working for policy goals that serve the disability community satisfies me.

Tricia Rivas: District #27
I was born in Los Angeles, CA. I have seven children. Our youngest child was born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. She was brought home on life support. She had a ventilator, tracheotomy, oxygen suction machine and an NG tube. I learnt nursing 101 in a month. Our daughter is almost three now and she has complete functioning and will be decannulated in two months (no more breathing tube). When our daughter was born they refused to deliver her in Tuscon. We had to drive to Phoenix. She will enter pre-school in the fall. I became an advocate because we had to fight so hard for our daughter and I want people going through the same experience or similar experiences to feel supported and to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I am currently working with Pilot Parents of Southern Arizona doing surveys for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. I believe when we learn something, as I did through my experience working with the different agencies and systems, that it is our responsibility to share and give back that knowledge to my community.

Marianne Solinsky: District #28
I was born in Tuscon, Arizona. I began my career as a Special Education teacher. I am now working as the coordinator for the Partner’s In Policymaking Program based in Tuscon. I also act as guardian for my older brother who has Downs Syndrome. I became an advocate because I believed all people needed to be valued. I believe that the quality of life needs to be enhanced not only for my brother, but for others as well.

Teresa Kellerman: District #29
Teresa is the Director of the Fetal Alchohol S (FAS) Community Resource Center in Tucson, Arizona. She is President of Fasstar Enterprises, and cofounder of FASWORLD. She is the adoptive parent of a young adult with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Teresa participated in a workgroup for the FAS Surveillance Project in Arizona for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. She has conducted FAS trainings for the Arizona Department of Health, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the Native American Alliance Foundation, CASA, and Prevent Child Abuse, Inc. Teresa provides support and information for families, consults with professionals, facilitates support groups, produces workshops, and offers classroom presentations to students of all ages. She has authored published articles, including a chapter in a popular book on FAS, “Fantastic Antone Grows Up.” Teresa maintains a web site that reaches over 45,000 visitors each month. She helped to found International FAS Awareness Day and has assisted groups all over the world in educating their communities about FASD through Awareness Day events on September 9th of each year since 1999. Teresa shares a wealth of information on the Internet at this web site: http://www.fasstar.com. Reach Teresa by email tkellerman@mindspring.com.

Being the mom of a son with autism, seizure disorder and a profound cognitive disability I would like to bring to the council some insight to the concerns faced by families in the care and financial needs of the entire family. I believe in the Person Centered Planning (PCP) approach with much more emphasis during the school years. I also hope to make a difference in consumer control of the care given and services available to our kids once they move out of the home.