Keynote Presenters
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
Dr. Dana Childress 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.
Breakout Session Presenters
Melissa Anderson
Melissa Anderson is the Statewide Project Manager for UCP Huntsville’s Childcare Enhancement with a Purpose Program (CCEP). CCEP provides free training and technical assistance in an effort to support the successful inclusion of all children in early childhood settings. Melissa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of South Alabama and provided speech therapy in both Texas and Alabama school systems for six years before joining UCP Huntsville as a Developmental Specialist 18 years ago. Most recently, Melissa has also been working with DHR’s UCP Special Needs Childcare Subsidy, which assists eligible families in locating and funding quality care in DHR-licensed centers throughout the state of Alabama.
Rian Anglin, MD, FAAP
Dr. Rian Anglin is a board-certified pediatrician who has served the Auburn community for the past decade. She completed her undergraduate degree at Auburn University, her medical degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, and her pediatric residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Seeing the need to do more than treat children once they become sick, Dr. Anglin focuses on the whole child to build a comprehensive wellness plan customized to each individual’s history, needs, and goals. Caring for neurodiverse children is a passion of Dr. Anglin’s, as she works to ensure they reach their full potential. She is honored to help guide parents and young children through the stages of growth and development. Dr. Anglin enjoys reading, running, and all things Disney.
Shauna Ashley, PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Shauna Ashley received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (pre-medical program) from Oregon Institute of Technology, Master of Arts in Teaching from Willamette University, and Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences from University of Oregon. Dr. Ashley completed her Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Sciences at Faulkner University with an emphasis in pediatric feeding. Her areas of specialty include adult language, cognition, swallowing, voice, fluency/pediatric fluency, feeding/swallowing, and issues related to autism (Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist). She serves on thesis committees and as an academic advisor. Dr. Ashley has worked as an SLP for 10 years with the last four years in academia and a university clinic and the previous six years in skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities (in-patient rehab), home health (out-patient rehab), schools, and early intervention. She is currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Faulkner University.
Stephanie Bear, Ed. S., CCC-SLP
Stephanie Bear is an education specialist with the Alabama State Department of Education in Special Education Services, focusing on preschool special education, speech-language impairment, English learners with special needs, and monitoring. She is the special education contact for Regions 4 and 10. Prior to joining the State Department in 2014, she served as a speech-language pathologist in Alabama and Georgia schools for fifteen years, with the last thirteen primarily in preschool.
Mary Coston Bell, MAE, ECSE
Mary Coston Bell received her Master in Early Childhood Special Education degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Mary Coston taught with Jefferson County Schools for four years before transitioning to early intervention as a Developmental Specialist at United Ability. Mary Coston currently serves as the program coordinator for Ability Connections, a new program on United Ability’s campus, which aims to connect and engage participating families to their community through accessible and inclusive community activities to facilitating parent-caregiver support groups. Mary Coston’s passion for serving children with special needs and their families originated from her close relationship with her sister, Betts, who has special needs.
Blaklie Blevins, MS, CCC-SLP
Blaklie H Blevins, MS CCC-SLP earned her bachelor’s degree (2000) and master’s degree (2002) in speech language pathology from the University of Montevallo. She is licensed through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Alabama Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA), and is a member of the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (SHAA). Blaklie is the owner of Talk2Me, Inc. and enjoys providing services to children in a variety of settings. She is employed with Alabama Pediatric Services and Team for Kids, where she provides outpatient services to children with a variety of speech/language disorders. Blaklie also provides early intervention services for ages birth to three. Upon being invited to participate in the Alabama Part C Autism Mentorship Initiative, Blaklie has worked to collaborate with a cohort of professionals to expand the identification and service provision within natural environments for children with characteristics of autism.
Autumn M. Bobo, OTR/L
Autumn M. Bobo, OTR/L earned her occupational therapy degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1998. Autumn is certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association (ALOTA). She is the owner of TEAM Rehabilitation, Inc. which serves children throughout Calhoun and surrounding counties with early intervention and school-based services. Autumn also owns and operates TEAM For Kids which provides outpatient OT and speech services to children in these areas. She utilizes her 24 years of pediatric experience along with additional certifications to assist children reach their full potential. Autumn was selected to join the Alabama Part C Autism Initiative in the initial cohort. She has worked closely with professionals across the state as an Alabama Part C Autism Mentor to encourage early identification and service provision for children with delays in social communication.
Desira Bolden-Keith, MEd
Desira Bolden-Keith is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in the field of early childhood education. With a master’s degree in education and over 20 years of hands-on experience, Desira has dedicated her career to shaping the minds of young learners and empowering educators. Her various roles include classroom teacher, curriculum developer, and mentor. Her deep understanding of child development principles and educational best practices has earned her recognition as a leader in the field. In addition to her extensive practical experience, Desira is also a certified professional development trainer. She has conducted numerous workshops and training sessions for educators, parents, and childcare providers, sharing her expertise and empowering others to create enriching learning environments for young children.
Sylvia Bowen, JD
Sylvia Bowen was born and raised in a third world country where children with special health care needs were not given a chance at all. The quality of life was dismal at best and parents did not have a support system at all. Having had a baby with Trisomy 18, the information received from medical personnel was gloomy at best. Those moments were eerily familiar, and she knew she had to rise up and be a different kind of advocate for her daughter. Although she leaned heavily on her legal background, she knew there were parents and caregivers that did not have the boldness to effectively participate in their children’s care. To that end, she enrolled in the Master in Public Health program with a concentration in maternal and child leadership and policy to support others walking the journey she and her family walked. Sylvia feels it is the greatest honor to be a voice to the voiceless, one that far surpasses any other accolades in her life.
Amy Brakenhoff
Amy Brakenhoff works with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. She is a mentor coach who serves as the Birth to Eight Trauma Informed Specialist Administrator and assists children from birth to eight years old and the adults who support them. Amy has a passion sharing Conscious Discipline strategies and specializes in working with children with challenging behaviors. She is a member of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education’s CONNECT Team. Seeing the best in others and supporting their strengths is Amy’s passion and expertise. Linking brain research with strategies that support executive function, while helping others understand the why behind it all, is the goal of her work.
Brandi Brown, MS
Brandi Brown graduated from Jacksonville State University in 2005 with a B.S. in Psychology and from Arizona State University in 2017 with a M.S. in Family and Human Development. She currently works for the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. She began her career with the Calhoun-Cleburne Mental Health Agency in Anniston, AL as a Case Manager. She then went to work for East Central AL UCP as an Early Intervention Special Instructor. She has worked in many different roles and capacities within Alabama’s Early Intervention system over the last 14 years (e.g., Special Instructor, Service Coordinator, District Early Intervention Coordinator, State Monitor, CSPD/Training Coordinator). She has also served as the ADRS Staff Development & Training Coordinator. Brandi is certified in the Routines-Based Interview and Routines-Based Home Visiting with the Evidence-Based International Early Intervention Office.
Joylee Cain, Ed.S.
A proud graduate of Auburn University, Mrs. Cain serves as the Director of Special Education for the Enterprise City School System. Over the past 20 plus years, Mrs. Cain has served as a collaborative and self-contained special education teacher at both the elementary and secondary levels, a special education and general education teacher at a residential treatment facility, a district education specialist for special education, and special education coordinator for secondary and gifted. She has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in special education, mild learning and behavior disorders; a Master of Education degree in School Psychometry from Troy University; and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from University of West Florida. Mrs. Cain enjoys spending her free time with her family out on their farm, Magnolia Oaks, just outside of Enterprise.
Julie Carden, MS
Julie Carden has worked in Early Intervention for 17 years in various capacities. She has been a program director, Service Coordinator, evaluator, Journey 2 trainer, ICC member, Personnel Prep subcommittee chair, and RBI Coach. She currently assists with the Early Intervention and Preschool Conference planning committee and serves as Service Coordinator and internal monitor for the WISE EI program. Prior to working in EI, Julie worked for over five years for a Neuropsychologist administering and scoring neuropsychological and psychological testing for children and adults with brain injuries, strokes, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, chronic pain, and other neurological and psychological issues. She has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and currently lives in Huntsville, Alabama.
Kameron C. Carden, PhD, CCC/SLP, LSLS Cert. AVEd.
Dr. Kameron C. Carden has over 15 years of experience working with children who are deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH) as a speech-language pathologist and listening and spoken language specialist. As a practitioner, she has taught in oral preschool programs, served children and their families through early intervention, and provided outreach services to students and their teachers in public school settings throughout the state of Alabama. Dr. Carden currently serves as a research associate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alabama. Additionally, she is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Carden is a board member of the Division for Communication, Language, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DCD) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and she also serves on Alabama’s Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) as a parent of a child who is D/HH. Dr. Carden is the proud sister of an adult cochlear implant user and the aunt/fairy godmother of two young cochlear implant users.
Misty Champion
Misty Champion is an Early Intervention Service Coordinator at UCP Huntsville & Tennessee Valley. Misty has a BSW in Social Work and has worked in the social services field for twenty-four years. She has served children and families in the areas of child abuse and neglect, therapeutic foster care, in-home parenting with reunified families, and early intervention. Misty and her husband Martin reside in Huntsville and are the parents of two daughters.
Kaelyn Christian
Kaelyn Christian is the State Director for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Alabama. She is passionate about growing, promoting, and sustaining this incredible program so that all children 0 – 5 years old in Alabama can benefit from the national initiative. Prior to joining DPIL in April of 2024, she spent a decade focusing on early literacy services in public libraries.
Tracy Cieniewicz
Tracy Cieniewicz has worked in the disability field for 17 years with UCP Huntsville. Her professional experience includes fundraising, grant writing, program development, assistive technology, public relations, and website administration. She currently serves as Lifespan Services Director and leads Alabama Lifespan Respite, a statewide program of UCP Huntsville and staffing entity to the governor-appointed Alabama Lifespan Respite Coalition. In this role, Tracy oversees administration of program staff and activities, program development, grant management, legislative communication, and Coalition activities to benefit unpaid family caregivers. Tracy is a graduate of the University of North Alabama and Leadership Huntsville. She and her husband John are the proud parents of Delaney and share their home with three awesome cats, Sweetie Pie, Eleanor and Olive. Tracy enjoys reading, antiquing, and trips to the beach, and her favorite holiday is Halloween.
Isabella Cimins
Isabella has her B.A. in Social Work with a Hispanic background. She has worked with different populations and would like to help Hispanic families gain more support in her Mobile, AL community.
Stephanie Collum, MS, CCC-SLP
Stephanie Collum received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Harding University in 2011 and her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Harding University in 2013. She has been at Faulkner since 2020, and prior to that she served as a contract SLP for the city school system in Fayetteville, TN. Her areas of emphasis include working with pediatrics treating speech sound disorders and language disorders. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor, as well as Assistant Program Director for the residential master’s SLP program.
Brandi Ellis, PhD
Dr. Ellis is a licensed clinical psychologist at the UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics in Birmingham, Alabama. She is currently involved in the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Clinic and conducts comprehensive autism evaluations for children and adolescents. In addition, she is the co-leader of the Behavior Intervention Clinic with Dr. Sarah Olivas, which provides evidence-based behavioral interventions for children and families including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). She also assists with neurodevelopmental evaluations and trainee supervision for research involving patients with rare disorders (e.g., Tuberous Sclerosis Complex). Dr. Ellis is a certified PCIT therapist and has assisted with PCIT training workshops. Dr. Ellis received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern Mississippi and her master’s and doctoral degrees through the University of Southern Mississippi Clinical Psychology program. Dr. Ellis completed her predoctoral internship at the UAB Psychology Internship Training Consortium as a LEND trainee and was a LEND postdoctoral fellow at UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics. Dr. Ellis is a co-author on a group treatment manual for college students with executive function difficulties, A Transdiagnostic Approach to Develop Organization, Attention, and Learning Skills: The GOALS Treatment Manual for College Students. Her current research interests include PCIT implementation, modifications, and effectiveness.
Summer Ensor, MS, CCC-SLP
Summer attended the University of Alabama for both her undergraduate and graduate-level degrees, receiving her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in 2022. Summer has specific training in NICU/infant dysphagia, pediatric dysphagia, and pediatric feeding. Currently, Summer provides speech therapy interventions at The Bailey Center, LLC in Prattville, AL with specific interests in pediatric feeding/dysphagia, targeting pediatric feeding disorder, texture aversions, chewing/advancement of solids, bottle feeding, and dysphagia interventions.
Marisa Estrada
Marisa Estrada has a BS in Psychology and serves as an inclusion consultant with UCP Huntsville’s Child Care Enhancement with a Purpose. She has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education for eight years through the roles of a teacher, director, developmental therapist, and inclusion coach in Nashville, Tennessee. She lives in Madison, Alabama with her partner and two children.
Gay Finn, MA
Gay has over 28 years of experience in public education. She was a first-grade teacher, a second-grade teacher, and a school-based reading coach for 10 years. She then served as a regional reading coach with the Alabama Reading Initiative. After two years in these regional positions, Gay became an Education Specialist and later an Education Administrator with the Alabama State Department of Education. She then worked with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education as the Assistant Director of the Office of School Readiness. Gay currently serves as the Early Language and Literacy Coordinator for the Talk With Me Baby initiative at the Alabama Partnership for Children. Gay earned her B.S. degree from the University of Alabama in Business Management, her master’s degree from the University of Montevallo in Elementary Education, and a master’s degree from the University of Alabama in Educational Administration, PK-12.
Debra Florea
Debra Florea has worked with the Alabama Department of Mental Health for 34 years. She has served as an Early Intervention monitor and Early Intervention Coordinator for the past 10 years. Debra has extensive experience in outcomes training using the Routines-Based Interview model. She graduated from the University of South Alabama with a BA in psychology.
Sonia Free
Sonia Free is an Early Childhood Specialist Trainer with Child Care Central, located in Talladega, Alabama. She has worked with Child Care Central for six years. Sonia has worked in the early childhood field for over 10 years. Sonia holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix. Sonia Free is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas. She relocated to Alabama and has resided in Anniston, Alabama for the past 15 years. She is a mother of two children.
Jennifer Fuller
Jennifer Fuller has been working with Deaf, Blind, and Special Needs for 10+ years at AIDB. She has been married for 24 years and is the mother of two boys (ages 16 and 17), and has two wonderful dogs.
Stacy Gaither, MS
Stacy Gaither is an Early Childhood Specialist Trainer with Child Care Central. She has worked with Child Care Central for two years and in the field of early childhood education for the past twenty years. She has previously worked as an elementary school principal and teacher. Stacy holds a master’s degree in early childhood education and a bachelor’s degree in social work and elementary education from Jacksonville State University. She and her husband currently reside in Munford where they are active members of their community and church.
Andi Gillen
Andi Gillen has been the director of RISE Center in Tuscaloosa for nine years. She enjoys promoting evidence-based practices in the field of early childhood education and preschool education.
Sharion Gordon, MEd
Sharion Gordon is a Developmental Specialist at WISE in Mobile. She has 12 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. Specializing in child development, she supports families in early intervention by providing parent coaching and sharing resources to help their child achieve their developmental milestones.
Mark E. Gormley, Jr., MD
Mark E. Gormley, Jr., MD, is a pediatric rehabilitation medicine physician at Gillette Children’s and a trustee on the board for United Cerebral Palsy. He also serves as a member of the UCP Research Council. Dr. Gormley treats children and adolescents who have cerebral palsy, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular disorders, and other conditions, with a special interest in spasticity management. He joined Gillette in 1993. Dr. Gormley received his medical degree at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Ky. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Tufts Affiliated Hospitals in Boston and completed a fellowship in pediatric rehabilitation medicine and traumatic brain injury at the University of Michigan Medical Center.
Karla Greene
Karla was raised in Texas and Chihuahua Mexico and has a bachelor’s in industrial engineering. She is a mother of three, with twins on the autism spectrum. Her experience includes teaching at a preschool as well as working as a community translator and interpreter for early intervention and outpatient speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. She experienced early intervention services firsthand as her twins received OT and ST services. She is well-versed in the school system’s transition services and Individualized Education Programs.
Heather Griffin, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS, Cert. AVT
Heather Griffin is a speech-language pathologist and certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist at Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education (WISE) in Mobile. Heather has been providing early intervention services in the Mobile area for over 16 years.
Kristi Guest, PhD
Dr. Kristi Guest is the Director for the UAB Early Head Start Program, Research Coordinator for the Alabama University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, and is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Pediatrics. Dr. Guest has directed and coordinated several large, multisite, federally funded research projects focusing on multiple populations including children living in poverty, at-risk for abuse and neglect, autistic children, and children of adolescent mothers. She serves on the District II Central Alabama Early Intervention Council and is on the planning committee for the Alabama Early Intervention & Preschool Conference.
Angie Gulledge
Angie Gulledge graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education. She has 25 years of classroom experience, teaching primarily ages 2-5 in preschool and kindergarten settings. In 2019, she accepted a position as an Early Intervention Service Coordinator and Developmental Specialist with United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile. She currently serves the Mobile and central Alabama areas and is a mentor for the Early Intervention Autism Initiative. Angie is married to The Reverend Rob Gulledge and they reside in Mobile. They were EI parents many years ago when their oldest son was born with a vision impairment. She always appreciated parents who guided her on that journey. Today, she loves coaching her EI families and sees it as a chance to “give back” to others. Angie and Rob have three adult children. When she is not helping her EI families, she enjoys traveling, reading, trying a new recipe, and spending time with family and friends.
Shelby Hall, MS, CCC-SLP
Shelby is a speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of experience, working primarily with the Early Intervention population. She graduated from the University of Alabama. She currently contracts with Tri-County Agency for Intellectual Disabilities to provide Early Intervention Services for Fayette, Lamar, and Marion counties. Shelby recently joined the Alabama Part C Autism Initiative and looks forward to continuing to advocate for neurodiversity affirming practices.
Shanté Hamm, LMSW
Shanté Hamm is a Licensed Master Social Worker who serves as the Family and Community Services Coordinator with the UAB Early Head Start Program. She has enjoyed working with this program for over 13 years, serving children and their families in their homes of Jefferson, St. Clair, and Walker Counties. She has over 20 years of experience serving young children in various capacities. She earned both her BS in Human Environmental Sciences and her Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama. Roll Tide!
Kendall Hampton
Kendall Hampton has worked with children and families in several capacities since earning a BS from the University of Alabama’s College of Human Environmental Sciences in 2003 with a major in Human Development and Family Studies. She initially served hospitalized children and their families as a Certified Child Life Specialist. Kendall then shifted to serving families of babies and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities as a Developmental Specialist within the Alabama Early Intervention System. Currently Kendall fulfills multiple roles working remotely from Huntsville, AL. She is an Early Language and Literacy Facilitator for the Alabama Partnership for Children’s Talk With Me Baby program, a Mentor for the Alabama Part C Autism Initiative, and a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Owner of Rested Families, LLC.
Baylor Harris
Baylor Harris serves as a teacher assistant in the oldest preschool class at RISE Center. She is creative and attentive to the interest of the children in her class. She has the unique ability of transforming objects such as boxes, tubes and other items into exciting activities in her classroom.
Beth Herndon, MCD, CCC-SLP
Beth Herndon serves as an education specialist at the Alabama State Department of Education in Special Education Services. She is the due process coordinator and also assists with Indicator 12. Prior to joining the Special Education Services team, Beth was a speech-language pathologist for 25 years and served the last 12 years in the public schools. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Communication Disorders from Auburn University.
Abby Hicks, MA
Abby Hicks, M.A. CO, received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from Biola University and her master’s degree in Family Counseling from Denver Seminary. Abby is an Early Intervention Service Coordinator, Developmental Specialist, and the Director of Village Early Intervention. She also serves as a Mentor for the Alabama Part C Autism Initiative. A native of Colorado, Abby has lived all over the country including Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver and Ft. Lauderdale and currently lives in Birmingham with her husband and their four teenage children. Her first experience with Early Intervention was as an EI “mom” for some of her own children, and she has since been working in EI for 14 years and loves supporting children and their families.
Jamie Hill, NCC, LPC, ECMH-E
Jamie Hill is an Alabama native and licensed professional counselor specializing in child mental health and child trauma. For the past 25 years, she has worked with children and adolescents in a variety of settings, including public schools, community mental health, child advocacy centers and inpatient psychiatric care. She graduated from the University of Montevallo in 1996. She is a nationally certified counselor and endorsed as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist through First 5 Alabama. Jamie worked as an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with the Alabama Department of Mental Health since January 2020 and recently shifted to become a member of the Connect team with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.
Mandy Hilsmier, Ph.D.
Dr. Mandy Hilsmier is a professor of Special Education and has been at Samford University since the fall of 2004. Her areas of research focus on students with reading and behavioral challenges, assessment and evaluation of students with disabilities, managing challenging behavior in the classroom, functional behavioral assessment, and ways to train teachers how to use function-based thinking to improve individual student behavior.
Stephanie Holderby
Stephanie Holderby currently serves as the Chief Program Officer for United Ability in Birmingham Alabama. She has 25 years of management experience in the service, retail, and healthcare industries. She feels privileged to have served as manager for a single program of five people to multiple departments and businesses of 550+. She has had responsibility for more than $25M in revenues annually and over $100M in project development and partnerships. She is an ongoing learner and participates in leadership development, employee engagement, mentorship, and consumer engagement training programs.
Michael Kelley
Michael Kelley is a graduate of Andalusia High School, and Troy State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. He graduated from the Mobile Police Department in 2000 and has been an officer for 25 years, 23 as a patrol officer and 2 as a crime scene officer. He has been a sergeant for 15 years serving in some of the most complex and busiest areas of the city. Michael now serves in the CSI unit and responds to high profile crime scenes. Michael is committed to safety and educating citizens in the community. He is married to Tabitha Kelley and they have 2 sons.
Jennifer Kilgo, PhD
Dr. Jennifer L. Kilgo is a University Professor and Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Her focus at UAB is on interdisciplinary preparation of professionals representing multiple disciplines through federally funded grants, referred to as Project TransTeam. She has published widely in the area of teaming and interprofessional preparation and has presented at a variety of conferences on the state and national levels. Jennifer has served in national leadership roles such as President of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC). She has worked with young children with delays and disabilities, families, and other community stakeholders throughout her career as an early interventionist, early childhood special educator, and professor at the University of Hawaii, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and UAB.
Jessica Letson
Jessica Letson is the Director of the Early Intervention Program at United Ability. She leads a team of four physical therapists, three occupational therapists, five speech therapists, two developmental specialists, and 12 service coordinators. United Ability’s Early Intervention program serves approximately 430 families each month totaling approximately 800 each year and is one of the largest programs in the state of Alabama, serving families across five counties. She began her career with United Ability as a service coordinator and has since worked in various roles within the organization, becoming Director of Early Intervention in May of 2024.
Savannah Loudin
Savannah Loudin is an Inclusion Consultant with UCP Huntsville’s Childcare Enhancement with a Purpose Program, where she leads initiatives to cultivate inclusive environments for individuals with diverse abilities. Her academic journey began with a degree in Psychology from the University of North Alabama, laying a solid foundation for her career in inclusion and support services. She brings over 14 years of diverse experience to her role, having served as an ABA therapist for eight years where she specialized in applied behavior analysis to support individuals with developmental challenges. Additionally, Savannah spent six years teaching pre-kindergarten, further honing her skills in early childhood education and inclusive teaching practices. Her professional repertoire also includes working as a job coach for adults on the Autism spectrum, providing tailored support to enhance their employment opportunities and workplace integration. This breadth of experience across various age groups and settings has endowed her with a unique perspective on fostering inclusivity at all life stages. Passionate about helping people reach their full potential, her dedication extends into every aspect of her work. Her commitment to creating inclusive environments is driven by a belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Mallory Manning, MS, CCC-SLP
Mallory Manning has been a licensed speech-language pathologist for over a decade. She graduated from the University of Alabama. She is the owner of Discovery Speech Therapy, LLC in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where she specializes in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric feeding and communication disorders. She serves Early Intervention families under Community Service Programs of West Alabama. Mallory is an autism mentor through the Part C Autism Initiative project.
Glinda Mauldin, ClinScD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Glinda Mauldin, ClinScD, CCC-SLP earned her bachelor’s degree (2003) and master’s degree (2006) in speech language pathology from the University of Central Arkansas. She earned her doctorate degree (2021) from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She is licensed through the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Alabama Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA) and is a member of the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (SHAA). She is also a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist
Anna Ruth McCalley, MS, OT
Anna Ruth McCalley has spent the last 18 years working in pediatrics across a variety of settings, currently with most of her work being Early Intervention/home visits. She has over 10 years of experience working with infants and toddlers with Congenital Heart Disease in the CVICU and CCU at Children’s of Alabama. As part of the CVICU team, Anna Ruth was an integral part of implementing neurodevelopmental protocols in the CVICU. She has certifications in neonatal feeding, neonatal massage, and has presented at international conferences on topics pertaining to infant feeding and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Working in EI and with families impacted by CHD is special to Anna Ruth, as she has a 13-year-old daughter who has Down Syndrome and underwent heart surgery as an infant.
Kathy McDonald, MA Ed.
Kathy McDonald works with the Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) as a Read Right from the Start Facilitator. She has degrees in Child Development, Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and is a Reading Specialist. She also holds an endorsement in Early Childhood Mental Health and is a PDS Specialist for the Council for Professional Recognition. Prior to APC, Kathy worked with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education as an Education Specialist and traveled the United States as a Professional Development Specialist/Trainer for Teaching Strategies. Kathy brings a total of 30+ years’ experience in the field of education in teaching, coaching, mentoring, administration, and professional development.
Ragan McLeod, PhD
Dr. Ragan McLeod began her career teaching general and special education classes in a public PreK – fifth grade school in Arlington, Virginia. After teaching for six years, she returned to Vanderbilt University to obtain her PhD in special education with an early childhood focus. Dr. McLeod has coached pre-service and in-service teachers to implement effective practices in early childhood classrooms and currently develops materials and provides training and technical assistance related to Practice-Based Coaching for the Head Start National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning (NCEDTL). She is an Associate Professor and coordinator of the early childhood special education program at the University of Alabama in the Special Education and Multiple Abilities department. Her research foci are language and literacy interventions for young children at risk and professional development to support teachers to implement evidence-based practices.
Ashley McLeroy, MSME
In 2010, Ashley McLeroy began working with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services as a Rehabilitation Engineer. Her role was to evaluate consumers of all ages with various disabilities in any environment and recommend AT systems or accommodations to enhance their abilities. While serving in that role she also enjoyed teaching others about Rehab Engineering through public speaking and offering job exploration opportunities for engineering students. In December 2022, she stepped into the role of director for the Alabama AT Act program, Accessing Potential Through Assistive Technology (APT AT). She hopes to use her experience working with individuals with disabilities in the community and her knowledge of AT to develop a valuable resource that can expand the state’s capacity to provide AT services.
Helen Lee Miles, Au.D., CCC-A
Dr. Helen Lee Miles is a pediatric audiologist with the Woolley Institute for Spoken Language Education (WISE) in Birmingham, Alabama. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders from the University of Alabama and her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Memphis. During graduate school, she completed her internship in Birmingham at the UAB Civitan Sparks Clinics, which is a multidisciplinary clinic that provides services to children and adults with a variety of learning disabilities, developmental delays, or behavioral challenges. She collaborated with St. Jude’s Research Hospital during her graduate research to study speech perception in noise for bilingual children. After graduation, she moved back to the Birmingham area with her husband, Graham, and dog named Gibson. Prior to joining WISE, she started her career in an ENT setting. Now, Dr. Miles provides educational audiology services in multiple school districts in the state. She also travels with the WISE Mobile Resource for Kids (MRKS) conducting school hearing screenings, newborn hearing screening follow-up, and diagnostic evaluations through partnerships with school districts, Alabama Department of Public Health, and Children’s Rehabilitation Services at locations across central and north Alabama. She is passionate about serving children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. In her spare time, she is often spending quality time with friends and family, enjoying a good book, or holding a paintbrush.
Aida Miles, EdD, MMSc, RDN, LD, CSP, FAND
Dr. Aida Miles is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN) with 37 years of pediatric nutrition experience. Dr. Miles is the Director of the Leadership Education in Pediatric Nutrition training program at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Miles is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UAB in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, with a secondary appointment in the Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics. Dr. Miles is the nutrition faculty for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program at UAB. In this capacity she trains future RDNs and health professionals on the unique nutritional needs of children and youth with disabilities.
Margie Gutrich Mizera, PT, DPT, PCS
Dr. Mizera has been a practicing pediatric physical therapist for more than 40 years. She received her BS in Physical Therapy at the University of Illinois, and her Transitional Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Governors State. Margie was the Co-Director of a private pediatric practice for 27 years, before joining the staff at La Rabida Children’s Hospital eight years ago. She is an adjunct faculty member at Governors State University, and has advanced training in NDT, manual therapy, and myofascial release.
MaryBeth Moses, PT, MS, PCS, NTMTC
Mary Beth Moses is a physical therapist who has been practicing in the area of pediatrics and early intervention for 35 years. She received her Masters of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama Birmingham and is a Specialist Certified in Pediatric Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists since 1994. She is Neonatal Touch & Massage Therapist Certified and is certified as a level A practitioner in Dynamic Movement Intervention. She has trained in infant assessment using the General Movement Assessments, TIMP, and HINE. Mary Beth has worked in school systems, early intervention programs, outpatient physical therapy, inpatient physical therapy and gait analysis. She has worked with programs such as the ARC of Shelby County, Children’s of Alabama, and is currently employed full time by The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs. Mary Beth worked as Adjunct Faculty at UAB teaching classes on walking, gait analysis and pediatric treatment from 1995-2003, and taught as Adjunct Faculty teaching pediatric content at Samford University from 2016-2021. She has participated in research projects related to Identifying abnormal movement patterns in Very Low Birth Weight Infants, and Gait Analysis and Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy. She has also presented on a variety of topics related to Pediatric Physical Therapy at Alabama Physical Therapy Conferences and Alabama Early Intervention Conferences.
Courtney O’Grady, PhD
Dr. Courtney O’Grady is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Alabama. She holds a Ph.D. in Special Education, focused on early childhood. She has extensive preschool teaching experience as well as in the professional preparation of inclusive early childhood educators. This practical experience has informed her research, as she understands the needs and concerns of early educators and the gaps in available support. Her research seeks to disrupt deficit narratives about children and families, and advance equity for young children with disabilities through perceptions, practices, and preparation that center inclusion.
Sarah Olivas, PsyD
Dr. Sarah Olivas is a licensed clinical psychologist at the UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics in Birmingham, Alabama. She is currently involved in the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Clinic and conducts comprehensive autism evaluations for children and adolescents. In addition, she is the co-leader of the Behavior Intervention Clinic with Dr. Brandi Ellis, which provides evidence-based behavioral interventions for children and families including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). She also assists with the coordination of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) at UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics. Dr. Olivas is a certified PCIT therapist and has assisted with PCIT training workshops. Dr. Olivas received her bachelor’s degree at Kennesaw State University and her master’s and doctoral degrees at Mercer University in Clinical Health Psychology and Clinical Psychology, respectively. Dr. Olivas completed her predoctoral internship at the UAB Psychology Internship Training Consortium as a LEND trainee and was a LEND postdoctoral fellow at UAB Civitan-Sparks Clinics. She is credentialed as a Health Service Psychologist through the National Register and is an active member of many professional organizations. Her research interests include PCIT implementation, modifications, and effectiveness, as well as research related to neurodiversity and effectiveness of assessment feedback to families.
Deborah Owens
Deborah Owens has attended the Early Intervention and Preschool Conference as a parent, professional and presenter. Besides being the WeeCats Preschool teacher for the past 24 years, Ms. Owens has also served as developmental specialist and teacher trainer for the Enterprise City School System. Ms. Owens is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in special education. Over the past 25 plus years, Ms. Owens has made contributions to the field of education through teaching resource and self-contained classes from Pre-K to 9th grade, curriculum development, and professional development for teachers. Ms. Owens has presented at several conferences on Managing Family Engagement after Early Intervention, Engineering Preschool Environments, Inclusive Preschool Settings, Successful Behavior Strategies to Implement in the Preschool Setting, Data Collection, and Simulated Workplace Environments. Ms. Owens is the owner of The Fancy Fork-Contemporary Etiquette and enjoys spending her free time in etiquette classes and tea parties. She enjoys two beautiful grandboys and the beach.
Travis Parden
Travis has served in Emergency Services for 32 years with service time at Newman’s Ambulance, Southflite, USA; Saraland Fire Department; Mobile Fire Department and Rural Metro at BASF Fire in McIntosh. Travis is currently the Assistant Fire Chief at BASF. Travis believes in safety education and is also a certified CPR instructor. He has been married for 32 years to his wife Karen, and they have two sons, Max and Miller.
Monya Peppers, MS, CCC-SLP
Monya Peppers is a Speech-Language Pathologist with more than two decades of experience working with students to improve educational outcomes by building communication, academic, and social skills. She currently works for Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education (WISE) as a preschool SLP, an early interventionist, and service provider for school-aged students with listening differences seeking listening and spoken language outcomes. She has experience in private and public-school settings. Monya received an undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Montevallo and a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Alabama A&M University. She currently holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and a state license from the Alabama Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. She is currently pursuing certification as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist through the Alexander Graham Bell Association. Monya is passionate about building strong communication skills in all students, as an investment in our students’ futures, as well as in our community’s future.
Tabitha Perry, MEd
Tabitha Perry obtained her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Montevallo. She began her work in Early Intervention in 2013 at as a Service Coordinator and Developmental Specialist at EIEIO in Prattville, AL. In 2015, she became a District EI Coordinator in Birmingham and obtained her Master of Education from American InterContinental University. In 2020, she became an Early Intervention Program Monitor, a position that enables her to continue providing training and support to early interventionists across the state. Early Intervention is not just a profession, it’s a ministry!
Debra Pierce
Debra Pierce retired after 30 years as a classroom teacher in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades. She is AMSTI trained and served as an Auburn TEAM MATH presenter. She has worked with HIPPY in Alexander City, Alabama for 16 years.
Pamela Ramsey, MCD, CCC-SLP
Pamela Ramsey is a speech-language pathologist with over 35 years of experience. She graduated from Auburn University. Pamela served children in the public school setting for 25 years. She is the founder of TALK–Teaching Awesome Little Kids where she currently serves families in East Alabama for Alabama’s Early Intervention System focusing on giving toddlers the gift of communication. She is an Autism Mentor through the Alabama Early Intervention Part C Autism Initiative Project.
Michelle Raybon, MEd
Michelle Raybon is the Executive Director of the Alabama Partnership for Children. Prior to this position, she served as Director of the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Alabama Scholarship program for almost 19 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Development with a concentration in Infants and Toddlers from Auburn University and a Master of Education from the University of West Alabama. Michelle has experience working as an Infant and Toddler teacher, state funded Pre-K teacher, administrator of a childcare center and private preschool/elementary school, and childcare trainer.
Danielle Waldrep Rich, PhD, CCC-SLP
Dr. Danielle Waldrep Rich is an Associate Professor at Faulkner Christian University. She has been in academia for over 20 years in speech language pathology. Dr. Rich has been a speech pathologist for 26 years and has practiced with children as young as four weeks and adults up to 104 years of age. Dr. Rich specializes in dysphagia, language disorders, speech sound disorders, children on the Autism Spectrum, and those children who are medically fragile. Dr. Rich enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She has two very spoiled Jack Russell Terriers and loves to travel with her puppies and husband.
Sabrina Robinson, MA
Sabrina holds a master’s degree in Education, with a minor in Child Development, and a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked in various educational roles for the past 40+ years. Sabrina currently serves as the Program Director for Child Care Central Quality, a division of TCR Child Care Corporation. Sabrina is also a Professional Development Specialist for the CDA council, as well as a NAFCC Accreditation Observer.
Theresa H. Rodgers, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, L-SLP, EdS (LD)
Theresa H. Rodgers, MA, CCC-SLP, EdS (LD) is the owner of SLP Consulting Services LLC and a speech-language pathologist in the Baton Rouge metro area. A board-certified specialist in child language as well as a certified teacher of students with learning disabilities, she has many years of experience in administration and supervision including as the former Chief Administrative Officer for a government entity, special educator supervisor, and special education coordinator for a public school system. Theresa was the 2020 President of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the 2012-2014 ASHA VP for Government Relations and Public Policy. She also served as president of the Council for State Association Presidents, National Council of State Boards of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Theresa is a former chair of the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, ASHA’s Council for Clinical Certification and the ASHA Board of Ethics. Additionally, she was a member of ASHA’s recent Code of Ethics Revision Task Force. An ASHA Fellow, Theresa is a frequent presenter at international, national, and state conferences.
Lynn Roebuck, MS, CCC-SLP
Lynn Roebuck began her career as a speech-language pathologist with United Cerebral Palsy of Birmingham in 1997, which is now known as United Ability. She has specialized in serving children with complex communication needs and augmentative/alternative communication. She is the 2004 Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama AAC Professional Award recipient and the 2015 Alan K. Percy Diamond Award recipient for her work with individuals with Rett Syndrome. She is an AAC specialist and is an active presenter on behalf of United Ability to students, families, and professionals. Lynn has created the ADAPT&PLAY program as a component of Accessing Potential Through Assistive Technology (APT AT).
Billy Ronilo, MS, PT
Billy is a pediatric Physical Therapist with 22 years of experience, with the last 19 working for Children’s Rehabilitation Service (CRS) in the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation. He participates in CRS clinics and wrap-around care and community visits for families. He previously worked as a contract provider for Early Intervention services in both Georgia and Alabama. He is the current Physical Therapy faculty advisor for the TransTeam grant program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham that includes Early Childhood Special Education, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy students training to provide services in Part B and Part C.
Cynthia Sampson
Cindi Sampson serves as a teacher assistant in the oldest preschool class at RISE Center. She is energetic, innovative and creative. She believes children learn through play and contributes significantly to the design of activities in her classroom that motivate and encourage her preschoolers.
Cheryl Scales
Cheryl Scales is a former veteran teacher in early childhood, having taught grades Pre-K through second for more than 20 years. She is also a master certified trainer for the state of SC, specializing in human growth/development, special needs, and curriculum implementation. Currently Cheryl is the Parenting Program Coordinator for the HIPPY program with South Carolina First Steps. Her passion is to work with children, families, and communities.
Kate Scarborough, PhD
Dr. Kate Scarborough brings nearly 20 years of early childhood experience as a classroom teacher, preschool administrator, and university faculty. She is an advocate for developmentally appropriate early learning and works tirelessly to share ways to develop early childhood skills using engaging, joyful strategies! Dr. Scarborough holds a PhD in Early Childhood Education, MEd in Administration and Supervision, and BS in Elementary Education.
Susan Sellers, JD
Susan Sellers joined United Ability as Chief Executive Officer in April 2021. After law school, she began her career in the public policy division of the National Center for Victims of Crime in Washington, DC. Returning to Texas, she served two nonprofits before becoming Executive Director of Communities in Schools Central Texas. Following her husband’s transfer to New Orleans in 2000, she spent the next 14 years focused on nonprofit infrastructure and effectiveness as a consultant, coach and volunteer resource. Of special note, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she managed a forty million-dollar federal initiative to place 8,000 families back in their homes. She was then hired by New Orleans’ Metropolitan Human Services District to restructure mental health, addictive disorder, and developmental disability services in New Orleans and other Louisiana parishes. Prior to coming to United Ability, she was President of the St. Vincent’s Foundation of Alabama.
Johence Smith, MS, Eds, LPC, NCC, IMH-E®
Johnece Smith is native and resident of Birmingham, Alabama. She works as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with the Alabama Department of Mental Health. In this role, she develops and implements new programs for families. Smith also collaborates with caregivers to share social-emotional activities that promote positive mental health and relationships. Her long-term aspirations include building her skills and tools for families, children, and adults that support holistic counseling and healthier communities.
Amanda G. Somdal, LCSW, LICSW-S
Amanda G. Somdal, LICSW-S, is the Director of the Office of Deaf Services, Alabama Department of Mental Health. Amanda has worked with the Deaf community for over 25 years in providing individual and family therapy, specializing in deaf batterers, deaf mental health, and sexual assault survivors. Amanda served on several boards, including the Advocacy Council for Abused Deaf Children, the National Human Trafficking and Disabilities Working Group, and the Association of Batterer’s Intervention Programs. Amanda loves giving workshops on various issues, from mental health issues, self-harm, sexual assault, and domestic violence to deaf culture and mental health interpreting. Amanda graduated from California State University, Northridge, and Gallaudet University.
Christine Smith
Christine Smith is the Director of Early Intervention and Therapy Services for United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile. She has served in multiple positions for UCP, including Special Instructor and Service Coordinator, in her 21 years of employment. Christine assists with the daily operations of their Early Intervention program, serving over 275 families each month in 16 counties. She supervises nine Service Coordinators and 25 direct service providers.
Rene Sprague RN, MSN, FNP-C
Rene Sprague has been in the special needs community in some capacity since she was a teenager. Nineteen years ago she adopted a baby, Elijah, and her journey into special needs parenting began. She founded the Bridge Program in 2017, which is a program that supports and educates parents with medically complex children and provides palliative support services. She is currently a nurse practitioner, mom to Elijah (19yo), Henry (15yo) and Lucy (11yo), and wife to Patrick. She is a member of the Governor appointed Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) for the state of Alabama and Alabama Rare. Her current passion is advocating for Medicaid expansion to increase support for the adult special needs community in the state of Alabama.
Michala Steele, MS
Michala Steele is the Statewide Project Coordinator for Childcare Enhancement with a Purpose at UCP Huntsville. Her background in Clinical Psychology and Education enables her to provide professional development training and technical assistance for providers in Lauderdale, Lawrence, Colbert, Marion, Franklin, and Winston County.
Holley Steele, PT, MS, NTMTC
Holley Steele has been a practicing pediatric physical therapist for 27 years, and this will mark her 20th year at The Bell Center for Early Intervention Services. Prior to joining the Bell Center staff, Holley’s professional experiences included time at Children’s Hospital, UAB, and the Shelby County School System. She has received specific training in multiple pediatric assessment and treatment tools, including the TIMP and AIMS assessment tools, as well as the General Movement Assessment. Holley has her Neonatal Touch and Massage Therapy Certification. She has participated in research including rhizotomy outcomes and constraint-induced therapy. Holley has presented at the local Early Intervention Conferences and to local pre-schools on a variety of early intervention topics. She has a strong passion for teaming within the transdisciplinary model and loves working closely with the families of the children at The Bell Center. Holley received her MS in Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and she received her BA in Biology from Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, GA.
Jennifer Street, LCSW-S
Jennifer Street, Founder of Life Renewal Counseling, has been in the field of Social Work since 2000 and is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor in several states. A graduate of both East Tennessee State University and Florida State University, Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree and a Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in clinical social work. Specializing in trauma, adolescence, women’s issues, and military treatment, Jennifer has worked with all different types of concerns including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-injury, combat trauma and abuse recovery. As a clinician and an educator, Jennifer has been a professor of Social Work at both the undergraduate and graduate levels since 2009. Jennifer is a certified trauma professional and is a Master Certified Accelerated Resolution Therapy Clinician. Jennifer is trained in the EAGALA method of equine assisted learning and therapy as well as Gottman’s couples therapy, Heart Math Biofeedback, Alpha-Stim, and Myndlift Neurofeedback. She is published related to her Department of Defense funded research on post-traumatic stress and is a recognized speaker and trainer in her field.
Jessica Strickland, BSE, LMSW
Jessica Strickland, BSE, LMSW, is a counselor and social worker with Cahaba Medical Care at their Ability Clinic located at United Ability in Birmingham. She has her bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary collaborative education from Samford University. In her brief tenure teaching, Jessica recognized her passion had shifted away from the classroom to supporting individual family units. She then became a Family Support Specialist with Alabama’s First Teacher Home Visiting program at United Ability while studying to get her Master in Social Work degree from the University of Alabama. Jessica believes she has found her niche working with individuals with disabilities and their families and enjoys equipping others with tools to support healthy individuals and families of various ability levels. She is specially certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Alpha-Stim, using these to assist clients in overcoming traumatic memories, anxiety, depression, and much more. Jessica is also a proud wife, having been married for the past 7.5 years, and a mother of two precious boys – ages 7 months and 2 years.
Chelsea T. Taylor, PhD, LPC, NCC
Dr. Chelsea T. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Psychology, a Master of Science Degree in Counseling, a Master of Philosophy degree in Developmental Psychology, as well as a PhD in Developmental Psychology. She has worked in the field of child development for eight years beginning in the Alabama Early Intervention System back in 2015. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling and a National Certified Counselor by the National Board of Certified Counselors. She joined the Alabama Department of Mental Health Office of Infant & Early Childhood Special Programs as an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (IECMHC) in February of 2023, providing mental health consultation in a variety of settings to include First Class Pre-K and early intervention. Her areas of expertise include autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, trauma, and developmental disabilities.
Susie Thomas, EdD, CTVI, COMS, NBCT
Dr. Susie Thomas has over 24 years of teaching experience which includes time as a secondary science teacher for general education as well as for students who are visually impaired. She has also served as an itinerant CTVI and COMS in the public school arena. She holds a BS in Secondary English and Biology, a MS in Special Education – Visual Impairments, and an EdD in Instructional Leadership. Dr. Thomas is also a Certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Certified Braille Transcriber, and a National Board Certified Teacher. She is currently working on her Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist Certification.
Barbara Thompson
Barbara Thompson is a HIPPY Coordinator. She retired after 28 years as a kindergarten teacher and academic coach. She is AMSTI trained in Math and served as a presenter as well as an Auburn TEAM MATH presenter. She taught as an adjunct professor at Auburn University and Central Alabama Community College. Barbara has been with HIPPY for 16 years.
Veronica Valero
Veronica Valero is originally from México City and has been living in the USA for over 25 years. She works as a Spanish teacher, as well as a Spanish translator, for Early Intervention Programs in Escambia, Baldwin, and Mobile counties in Alabama. This allowed her to become very involved with her Hispanic community and their needs, and is the reason why she also works at RAN (Regional Autism Network) as the Hispanic Community Liaison. Her people, her community, and her roots have made her their voice when language is a barrier. She lives in Mobile and has two daughters, ages 22 and 21.
MacKenzie Van Atta, MA Ed.
MacKenzie Van Atta is the Lead Teacher in the Toddler B classroom at the RISE Center. She started her career in early childhood special education as a teacher assistant at RISE in 2021. After beginning graduate school in August of 2022, she was hired to be a lead teacher. She recently graduated from UAB with a master’s degree in early childhood special education and began working as a part-time professor at UA helping future educators complete their edTPA portfolios in addition to working full-time at RISE. MacKenzie is passionate about early childhood education and looks forward to a lifetime of learning and growing in this field.
Erica Walling MSPT, ATP, SMS
Erica is the manager of clinical education for the SE region of the United States. She is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience in rehabilitation for children and adults. She developed and managed a wheelchair and seating clinic in the Jacksonville Florida area. Erica worked with children, families and their primary therapists to determine the best mobility and alternative positioning equipment to best meet a child’s needs.
Ashlyn West, MS, CCC-SLP
Ashlyn is a Speech and Language Pathologist with an interest in early intervention and preschool education. She believes that family members make the best therapists and enjoys sharing ideas with families about ways to target therapy goals in daily family routines.
Denise Wilkes
Denise Wilkes is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, graduating from the University of Montevallo, with 31 years of experience working with this student population. Denise spent her first nine years in Jefferson County schools as a resource room Deaf Education teacher and 20 years in Shelby County as an itinerant teacher. She oversaw students from grades Pre-K 3 to 12, providing their direct services, as well as educating staff on their unique needs related to their hearing loss and use of assistive technology. Denise has worked with students who used ASL, Listening and Spoken Language, or a combination of both. Denise is now working with the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education (WISE) in Birmingham as an Early Intervention Service Coordinator and Developmental Specialist. She is passionate about seeing children with a hearing difference thrive at all ages.
Kathy Wilkins, M. Ed.
Kathy Wilkins is with the Alabama State Department of Education in Special Education Services. She is the regional specialist for Region 5, focusing on preschool special education, monitoring, and instructional support. She assists with the Temporary Special Education Certification and is the Indicator 12 contact. Prior to joining the State Department in June 2020, she was a preschool special education teacher in the Elmore County Schools for fifteen years. Before that, she taught special education in Montgomery County.
Joy Winchester
Joy Winchester has brought educational neuroscience to the world of birth-five, K-12 education, and adult education. Her passion to support the most vulnerable populations has included inmates, recovering addicts, and the homeless population. Joy has completed intense coursework in educational neuroscience through Johns Hopkins University, Butler University, and has earned an international certification in neuroscience and coaching to support adult learning. Joy speaks nationally on topics such as trauma, executive functioning skills and academics, challenging behavior, and motivation weaving the current issues with relevant research in neuroscience. In her current role as the behavioral coach/interventionist with Cullman County schools, she’s able to work at the student, teacher, and system levels to support teacher and student success through a neuroscience lens.
Lacey K. H. Wood, MA, IECMH Cert.
Lacey Wood, MA, is a Teacher of the Deaf who specializes in family-centered service provision, as well as in language acquisition and early development in deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children ages birth to five. She has taught DHH, Deaf Plus, and Deafblind children in the preschool setting, provided Early Intervention services to families with DHH children, and trained Early Intervention providers in how to best serve DHH children and families. She is currently providing Teacher of the Deaf services, professional mentorship, advocacy on behalf of DHH children and families, and Parent Support and Training to families of young DHH children throughout the state. She is a participant in state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention initiatives and works with Alabama Hands and Voices. She recently completed a state certification in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health at Troy University. She is fluent in American Sign Language and is actively engaged in “leveling up” her knowledge and application of Listening and Spoken Language practice. Guiding families as they nurture early language acquisition, relationships, and social-emotional development in their DHH children is her passion.
Presenter relevant financial and non-financial disclosures:
All presenter registration fees were waived by UCP Alabama.
The following presenters disclosed these relevant financial relationships:
Stephanie Bear, Ed. S., CCC-SLP
Presenter is a paid employee of the ALSDE and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Mary Costen Bell, MAE, ECSE
Presenter is a paid employee of United Ability and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Sylvia Bowen, JD
Presenter is a paid employee of the ADRS and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Julie Carden
Presenter is a contract employee of UCP of Alabama.
Kameron Carden, PhD, CCC/SLP, LSLS Cert. AVEd.
Presenter is a paid employee of the University of Alabama and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Dana Childress, PhD
Presenter is receiving an honorarium and hotel room for this presentation from the United Cerebral Palsy of Alabama.
Summer Ensor M.S., CCC-SLP
Presenter is a paid employee of the Bailey Center and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Sharion Gordon, M.Ed
Presenter is a paid employee of the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation
Mark Gormley, M.D
Presenter has received speaking fees for his teaching and presenter roles from Abbvie and Ipsen.
Heather Griffin, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS, Cert. AVT
Presenter is a paid employee of the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Ashley McLeroy, MSME
Presenter is a paid employee of the ADRS and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Helen Lee Miles, Au.D., CCC-A
Presenter is a paid employee of the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Margie Gutrich Mizera, PT, DPT, PCS
Presenter has received limited travel assistance from grant funding.
Monya Peppers, M.S., CCC-SLP
Presenter is a paid employee of the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
Jessica Presperin Pedersen OTD, BSOT, MBA, ATP/SMS, FAOTA
Presenter is a paid employee of Sunrise Medical and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation. Presenter has received limited travel assistance from grant funding.
Theresa Rodgers, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, L-SLP, EdS (LD)
Presenter is receiving an honorarium and hotel room for this presentation from the United Cerebral Palsy of Alabama.
Erica Walling MSPT, ATP, SMS
Presenter is a paid employee of Sunrise Medical and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation. Presenter has received limited travel assistance from grant funding.
Karockas Watkins, PhD
Presenter is receiving an honorarium for this presentation from the United Cerebral Palsy of Alabama.
Kathy Wilkins, M. Ed.
Presenter is a paid employee of the ALSDE and will be mentioning her place of employment in her presentation.
The following presenters disclosed these relevant non-financial relationships:
Kameron Carden, PhD, CCC/SLP, LSLS Cert. AVEd.
Presenter is a current board member of the Division of Communication, Language and Deaf/Hard of Hearing for the Council for Exceptional Children
Theresa Rodgers, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, L-SLP, EdS (LD)
Presenter was the former ASHA Board of Ethics chair, served four years on the ASHA Board of Ethics, and was a member of the Code Revision Task Force in 2022.