Education
AS Madison Area Technical College (1980), Madison, WI, in Occupational Therapy Assistant
BS Loyola University at Chicago (1985), Chicago, IL, in Public Administration
MPA DePaul University (1995), Chicago, IL, in Public Services Administration
Experience
1980-84 Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
1984-86 Senior Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
1986-88 Assistant to the Head, Clinical Associate and Coordinator of Graduate and Undergraduate Admissions, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
1988-91 Executive Director, Progress Center for Independent Living, Oak Park, Illinois.
1991 Assistive Technology Specialist, Assistive Technology Unit, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2001-2003 Co-PI Community Access to Recreation and Fitness Facilities Project (CARFF), Department on Disability and Human Development, UIC (10%)
1988- Non-Salaried Clinical Faculty, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago.
1998- Instructor, Department on Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago
1991- Project Director and PI, Great Lakes Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center, Department on Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
Teaching
University of Illinois at Chicago, Department on Disability and Human Development, DHD 430 Introduction to Disability Policy, 3 credit course. Co-Teacher. Fall 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
University of Illinois at Chicago, Department on Disability and Human Development, DHD 594 History and Implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 3 credit course. Spring 2004 and 2005, 2007
University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Associated Health Professions, Disability Studies PhD Program, DIS 594 Special Topics: Disability and community participation: Policy, systems change and action research, 4 credit course. Co-Teacher, Fall 2005.
Funding Support
Selected Grants
National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research, 10/01/01-09/30/06, Regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (PI)
National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research, 10/01/03-09/30/08, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, Assessing Community Environments and Participation with People with I/DD: A Consumer-Directed Approach Project (Co-Investigator, Joy Hammel, PhD, PI)
National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research, 10/01/04-09/30/09, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Technology Promoting Integration of Stroke Survivors: Overcoming Barriers, Evaluating Community Living and Work Participation Environments and Technologies for Use by People who have a Stroke: A Consumer-Directed, Dynamic Assessment Methodology Project (Co-Investigator, Joy Hamel, PhD, PI)
National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research, 10/01/04 - 09/30/09, Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Advancing Cognitive Technologies, Needs, Knowledge, Barriers and Uses of Assistive Technology by Persons with Cognitive Disabilities Project (Co-Investigator, Tamar Heller, PhD, PI)
National Institute of Health, 10/01/05 - 09/30/10, Building Health Empowerment Zones for People with Disabilities. Longitudinal study looking at interventions which will increase the access of individuals with disabilities to activities which promote their choice of a healthier lifestyle including access to fitness and recreation facilities and improved dietary habits. (Co-Investigator, James Rimmer, PhD, PI)
Professional Affiliations/Activities
2005-Present Member, Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Transition Plan and Self Evaluation Task Force, Chicago, IL
2005-Present Member, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO), Small Business Development Centers Disability Initiative Advisory Board, Chicago, IL
2005-Present Member, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Disability Task Force, Chicago, IL
2002-2005 Chairperson, Supply Side Work Group, Mayor's Task Force on Employment of People with Disabilities, Chicago, IL
2003-2005 Customizing Employment for People with Disabilities Advisory Council, Chicago Workforce Development Board
2003-Present Illinois Accessibility Code Revision Work Group, Illinois Attorney General's Office, Disability Services Division, Chicago, IL
April 2004 Peer Review Panel, Field Initiated Grant Program, National Institute on Disability, Rehabilitation and Research, Washington, DC
August 2003 Peer Review Panel, Research and Training Center Grant Program, National Institute on Disability, Rehabilitation and Research, Washington, DC
January 2003 Peer Review Panel, Independent Living Center Grant Program, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Washington DC
