Betsy Prince
Betsy graduated with a master’s degree in Special Education and spent the first years of her professional career as a teacher of children with multiple disabilities and advocating for their full inclusion and participation in communities throughout their lifetimes. Throughout her career, Betsy has directed various training and leadership development programs aimed at empowering people with disabilities and their families to impact policy and legislation. She has Served as Director of Partners in Policymaking of Alabama, Director of the Family Advisory Board for Civitan International Research Center, and Executive Director for the Arc of Alabama. Betsy has retired from the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services after 25 years and served as Director of Alabama’s Early Intervention System. As a mother of a young man who had significant intellectual and multiple disabilities, she has long been an advocate for those requiring extensive, complex systems of care.
Dana Childress, PhD
Dana Childress, PhD is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Early Childhood Special Education at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia, USA. She has worked in the field of early intervention (EI) for more than 29 years as an early interventionist, service coordinator, supervisor, training facilitator and consultant. Dana is the author of Pause and Reflect: Your Guide to a Deeper Understanding of Early Intervention Practice (2021), and co-author of Family-Centered Early Intervention: Supporting Infants and Toddlers in Natural Environments (2015). Her interests include adult learning and EI service delivery, family centered practices, elevating the identity of special instructors and service coordinators, and bridging the research to practice gap through interactive professional development. She regularly consults with state and local programs on EI professional development topics.
Dr. Karockas “Doc Rock” Watkins
Dr. Watkins holds multiple degrees including a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Kettering University, a Master of Theology, 2 Doctorate Degrees, one in Theology and the other in Philosophy, both from North Carolina’s College of Theology and is a Graduate of Vanderbilt University’s Executive Development Institute in Business Excellence. He’s an expert in Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Professional Development, and Executive Coaching. He’s certified as “Train-the-Trainer” in Emotional Intelligence and has taught thousands of people around the world. Dr. Watkins is currently the CEO of Vision Excellence Company, a worldwide leadership consulting and professional development company as well as the CEO of Ability Plus Inc., an organization that provides housing, 24hr care and life enhancing programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr Watkins is an accomplished author of three books, “God-A-Tude”, “No Bad Days” and Attitude Determines Altitude, as well as co-author of several other books. He passionately serves his community as an executive board member on multiple boards within the community including Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Drake State Technical & Community College Foundation Board, Huntsville Hospital Foundation Board, Alabama A&M University Industry Cluster Board, and others.