The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities Staff and Faculty
The National Leadership Consortium is co-directed by Steven Eidelman and Nancy Weiss
Steven M. Eidelman, MBA, MSW 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. Mr. Eidelman 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, Mr. Eidelman 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. Mr. Eidelman also served as Deputy Secretary for Mental Retardation in the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. (Contact Steve Eidelman at sme@udel.edu)
Nancy R. Weiss, MSW has worked in the disabilities field for over thirty years. Prior to her affiliation with the University of Delaware, she was the Executive Director of TASH, an international advocacy association committed to full inclusion for people with disabilities. Ms. Weiss also served as an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University and was the Director of Community Services for the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. Ms. Weiss is the former Executive Director of Community Systems, Inc., an agency providing progressive supports for adults with disabilities in Delaware. Ms. Weiss advocates for person-centered, ethical, and humane supports; she has written and spoken extensively on these topics. (Contact Nancy Weiss at nweiss@udel.edu)
The faculty of The National Leadership Consortium’s Leadership Institutes includes nationally-known experts in disability services and public policy. They include:
Mary Lou Bourne’s work for the past fourteen years has focused on supporting human service systems interested in re‐designing their organizational structures and aligning their work culture to make the transitions necessary to become a learning organization. She has over 25 years of experience in Developmental Disabilities, Behavioral Health, and Early Childhood support systems and has supported the development of person centered practices across the United States and the United Kingdom. Mary Lou has held the position of Executive Director for a service provider agency and was the Local Coordinator for Home and Community Based Waiver programs in Pennsylvania. Mary Lou is a partner in Support Development Associates and is currently completing her Master of Science Degree in Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Derrick F. Dufresne is the President of Community Resource Associates, a training and management consulting firm dedicated to promoting full community citizenship for people with disabilities. Derrick has worked in a variety of leadership positions since 1974. He is deeply committed to assisting providers, advocates, state officials and others in the implementation of the principles of full citizenship for all persons with disabilities into the mainstream of community life.
Marian Frattarola-Saulino co-founded Values Into Action (VIA) with her partner Paul in 2005. She currently leads the organization in it’s support of people with disabilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. VIA is designed to enable self direction within an agency context in partnership with people with disabilities, their families and communities. She has experience with developing and operating other models of service where people and their allies have control, such as support brokerage and microboards. Marian is a graduate of the 2007 Winter Leadership Institute.
James Gardner is the President and CEO of The Council on Quality and Leadership in Supports for People with Disabilities. From 1977 to 1986 he served as Director of Community Programs and then as Vice President for Community Program Development at the Kennedy Institute at The Johns Hopkins University.
Gail Godwin is the Executive Director for Shared Support Maryland, Inc. For over 19 years Gail has been an advocate with people with disabilities and has worked in service provision organizations at the direct support level, middle management, administration, training and development. Her current professional affiliations include Chair for the Mid-Atlantic TASH, MACS Exec. Board Member, and Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council Exec. Member. She is the co-founder for the New York Downstate Person Centered Consortium. Gail’s experience is in Positive Supports, Person Directed Planning and Individualized Supports Organizational Development.
K. Charlie Lakin is the Director of the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota. He has more than 30 years experience in services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as a teacher, researcher, consultant and advocate.
Mike Mayer is a Senior Partner of Community Resource Alliance. He is an internationally known author, speaker, consultant, and trainer. Prior to joining CRA he was the Executive Director of the Institute on Complex Disabilities for 12 years specializing in crisis services and helping people transition from institutions. His humorous and dynamic approach has led to him working with over 500 organizations and training over 70,000 people worldwide.
Diane McComb works with the Delmarva Foundation, a CMS Quality Improvement Organization, providing technical expertise on disabilities, self-direction, individual budgets, and community waiver programs. Concurrently, she also works with the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) as the Liaison to State Associations around the country. Previously, she served as the Deputy Secretary of the MD Department of Disabilities; the CEO of a statewide association of community organizations that support people with disabilities and their families; and the director of a community agency that supported people with developmental disabilities and their families
Julie Petty is an accomplished self-advocate and former President of SABE (Self Advocates Becoming Empowered). She has been a leader in the self-advocacy movement in Arkansas and nationally. Julie graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 2004. In 1998, she established Arkansas People First. Julie worked for HSRI (Human Services Research Institute) where she assisted on self advocacy projects and served as Chief Editor of the Riot, an online newsletter for self advocates. Julie joined the staff at Partners for Inclusive Communities, the Arkansas UCEDD, in August of 2009.
Renee Pietrangelo is CEO of the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR). Her contributions include the creation of the ANCOR Foundation, a nonprofit education and research organization, and a National Advocacy Campaign to address the critical issues of staffing shortages and inadequate reimbursement for the supports and services providers offer. Her contributions include the creation of the ANCOR Foundation, a nonprofit education and research organization, and a National Advocacy Campaign to address the critical issues of staffing shortages and inadequate reimbursement for the supports and services providers offer.
Patti Scott co-founded Neighbours, Inc. in 1995. Neighbours, Inc. is an innovative agency that affords people with disabilities the opportunity to take control of their own lives; to be self-directing. Patti believes that these individualized supports are essential to lay the foundation for a meaningful life as a citizen, neighbor, and community member. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of Neighbours, which is supporting individuals and families throughout NJ and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Michael Smull is the Chair of The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices (TLC-PCP), and Director of Support Development Associates. Mr. Smull has been working with people with disabilities for the past 33 years, and has written and trained extensively in the provision of person-centered supports and self determination.
Lynne Seagle leads Hope House Foundation an organization that supports people with disabilities in their own homes. She is experienced in fundraising, community development and partnership. Ms. Seagle provides consultation and training on progressive service delivery and participatory management throughout the United States and internationally.
Sue Swenson is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of OSERS (the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services). She is the former Commissioner of the U.S. Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the past Executive Director the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation and The Arc of the United States. Ms. Swenson also ran her own company which specialized in management, payment technologies and social entrepreneurship to support people with disabilities and their families and perhaps most importantly is the mother of three sons, one of whom has multiple disabilities. Swenson brings a wealth of experience in disability related issues including family support, inclusion, transition, and public policy.
Nancy Thaler Served as Pennsylvania’s Deputy Secretary for Mental Retardation and is currently the CEO of The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS).
Elizabeth Vasquez has over 25 years experience as a management consultant for not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, and for profit companies in the US and internationally.
Nancy Ward is the Information Coordinator for the Medicaid Reference Desk. The website allows people to learn about their states’ Medicaid system via the internet. Ms. Ward is a tireless advocate for people with disabilities, who has many causes and works with numerous organizations that allow people with disabilities to expand their rights and freedoms by becoming an active participant in their community.
Liz Weintraub has a long history of leadership in self advocacy, and has held many board and advisory positions at state and national organizations. Liz works part-time for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), the Council on Quality & Leadership (CQL) and consults for the National Children's Center in Washington, DC. Her work with all of these organizations focuses on improving quality of life for people with disabilities.
Liz is the immediate past chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and is the President of the Board of Directors for Shared Support Maryland, a progressive provider organization.
