CHAIRPERSONS (SMALL BIOS/ TESTIMONIALS)
Team of advisors
National Family Committee Chairperson:
Candy Sheehan, Dallas TX
Candy Sheehan is a wife and mother who has been given incredible opportunities and challenges in her life. She is a fifth generation Texan and has lived in Coppell 26 years with her husband Tom. They have two children Zac, 24 years old, born with developmental disabilities, and Alissa, now a junior at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Zac now lives happily in a home owned by Community Options and volunteers at Presbyterian Hospital.
After the birth of her son Candy knew knowledge meant empowerment. She became an advocate not only for her son but for all children with special needs. Candy was accepted into the first class of Partners in Policymaking in Texas. Candy helped write and pass legislation at the state and federal level as well as became a nationally recognized leader as a parent advocate.
In 1994 Candy made the decision to influence policy in her hometown. She won an election to the City Council and was elected in 1997 to be the first female Mayor of Coppell. She served her city for six years as Mayor. In 2003 she chose not to run for re-election to spend more time with her children in high school.
Her County Commissioner recently appointed Candy to the board of an agency of the state, Dallas Metrocare, which serves people with disabilities.
Candy is a certified challenge course facilitator and conducts leadership trainings for adults and students.
Candy is a breast cancer survivor! During her chemotherapy treatments in 2007 she trained and finished Ironman Florida. She is now training for Ironman Louisville in 2010.
Nancy Hamilton, Columbia, SC
My name is Nancy D. Hamilton. I was born and spent the younger part of my life in Canada. My family then moved to Georgia where I grew up. I came to South Carolina to attend Columbia College and received a B.S. in education and then attended the University of South Carolina where I earned a Masters plus 30 also in education. I have been a teacher in the public schools for 29 years which has been and still is a constant blessing in my life. I have a passion for what I do and feel very fortunate to have a job that brings me such pleasure.
After teaching for about twelve years, my son John entered my life as a special needs adoption. He was and is a constant miracle who teaches me more about life than I would ever have learned on my own…..another life blessing!
I enjoy reading, walking, traveling and spending time with family and “extended family.”
Jackie Johnson, Pittsburgh, PA
My name is Jacqueline Johnson and I am a mother of a 40 year old daughter and a 32 year son. At age 15 months my son was diagnosed with infantile autism. In addition, he was diagnosed with social-emotional disorder, mental retardation, and speech deficit. At this time in our lives, I had received my BS in Elementary Education and opted to pursue my Masters in Education. I believed that the psychiatrist, psychologists and many other doctors could help with my ignorance in this matter. As a mother I joined every group I could, just to learn more. After trying what I thought was all I could do, I enrolled my son at the age of five, in a public school of special education. My son graduated at age 21 from the Pittsburgh Public School system, who helped me tremendously as we pioneered for my son’s education. After my son turned 21, and after long talks and meetings, I finally allowed him to enter an agency to explore independent living. Currently he resides in a home owned by Community Options.
Loria Richardson, Nashville, TN
Loria Richardson has worked in Disability Advocacy and training since
1996. She is the parent of two sons with disabilities. Loria graduated
Partners in Policymaking in 1997-98, and Vanderbilt’s MIND/LEND Program
in 2009. Loria has learned from her own mistakes and formal education, how
to work towards meaningful collaboration and resolutions. Loria is a
Project Specialist with The Arc of Tennessee, specializing in Secondary
Transition. She lives in the Tennessee countryside with her husband, John.
Kimberly Pisinski, Farmington, CT
My name is Kimberly Pisinski and I am a Connecticut attorney in private practice, and a consultant for national and local organizations, including ARC, BIAC, Community Options, and Lawyers for Children America. I practice only in the areas of disability law, special education (advocating at PPTs, mediation, and due process), expulsions, bullying, discrimination, criminal defense for persons with disabilities, and brain injury matters. I attended American University and the University of South Carolina for my undergraduate and graduate courses. I attended Seattle University School of Law for my legal training and Lehigh University’s Special Education Law program with Dr. Perry Zirkel for additional training in special education law.
Up until July 2003 I was the managing partner of a special education and disability law practice at a medium-size law firm. Prior to this, I was a litigator and trial attorney. I have over 20 years of experience with persons with disabilities, from my prior career as a therapist in New York City to my personal experience as a guardian to and advocate for my brother. From 2003 until 2005 I was a part-time Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut’s Center for Developmental Disabilities. Specifically, I teach extensively about special education law, transition planning, positive behavioral supports, No Child Left Behind, creating effective IEPs, school-family collaboration, and ADA.
Martha Globus-Rodriguez, Wayne, NJ
Rhonda Logsdon, Bowling Green, KY
My name is Rhonda Logsdon and I have 3 siblings who have a disability. My twin sister had a severe learning disability and as an adult was diagnosed with Bipolar. She attended college and was just 1 class shy of bachelor’s degree; she is now in heaven watching over us. My brother has cerebral palsy and is legally blind. He was educated in all regular classes and graduated with honors and has finished 1 year of college. My other brother has ADHD and has an associate degree and is successfully employed. All three had IEP’s in school. I am a foster/adoptive mom and my son was a special needs adoption due to birth family history. I work for the Parent Training and Information (PTI) project for Kentucky, KY-SPIN, Inc. I am very involved and believe that persons with disabilities and their families should have the access and information in order to make the best decisions for their family.
Dottie Bartolino, Moorestown, NJ
My name is Dottie Bartolino and I have lived in Ewing, NJ for over 33 years. My daughters are Nicole, who is 33years old and has lived in a Community Option home in Beachwood, NJ for over 9 years, and Brooke who is 30 years old and is an occupational therapist. Twenty-Four years ago I started to substitute as a teacher’s assistant in the preschool program for Mercer County Special School District. They asked me if I would like to work full time, I said “YES”. I thought that the experience that I had acquired since Nicole’s traumatic birth causing her to have cerebral palsy and cognitive delays would help me and the children in the program. I have loved my job and working with so many devoted people. Being a parent of a child with a disability also helped the staff that I work with better understand the many problems parents face daily in addition to the many educational problems.
Liz Sanchez, San Antonio, TX
Jennifer Boergesson, Syracuse, NY
Claudia Land, New York, NY
