Speaker Bios

Dr. Christina R. Carnahan is a Professor of Special Education in the School of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services at the University of Cincinnati. Christi has served as the director of the IDD Education Center for nearly ten years. She has extensive expertise in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in inclusive settings, including developing programs focused on employment supports for adolescents and young adults with IDD. Christi’s research interests include literacy and communication interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other complex communication and behavioral support needs and creating efficient and effective instructional practices across the lifespan. She has a strong history of mentoring students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Christi has published in journals such as Exceptional Children, Journal of Special Education, and Focus on Autism and Developmental Disabilities. She is the co-author of two books including Quality Literacy Instruction for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Facilitating Evidence Based Practice for Students with ASD: A Classroom Observation Tool for Building Quality Education. Christi and her husband have three children and enjoy traveling as a family.

Lisa Claypool is the Academic Coordinator for the Transition and Access Pathways (TAP) program. Her responsibilities include advising students, student academic course participation, supporting faculty, facilitating academic support and the development of executive functioning skills, and recruitment and admissions. She joined TAP in 2021. Lisa earned her B.S. in Mild to Moderate Educational Needs from Ohio University and her M.Ed. in Literacy Education from The Citadel. Lisa is a licensed intervention specialist and previously taught in middle and high schools in Charleston, South Carolina and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Katie Norland is the Director of the Transition and Access Pathways (TAP) program at the University of Cincinnati. She previously served as Director of Student Success Services at The College of the Florida Keys, where she led Project ACCESS and supported accessibility, career development, and student success. Katie serves as Secretary on the Board of the Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Association and as Vice Chair of Communication for the Great Lakes Inclusive Postsecondary Education Alliance (GLIPSEA). She is also a Technical Assistance Consultant with the Think College National Coordinating Center and a Strategic Planning Facilitator for the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities. Katie is passionate about advocating for students with disabilities and expanding access to inclusive postsecondary education.

Kerri Wolfer, MSW, LISW, is the Campus Life Coordinator for the Transition and Access Pathways (TAP) program at the University of Cincinnati. A Licensed Independent Social Worker with 30 years of professional experience, Kerri holds a Master of Social Work from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Miami University. She leads the development, management, and research of TAP’s social and independent living instruction and initiatives. She also contributes to the program’s strategic planning and works across the university to promote accessible, inclusive college experiences for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kerri recruits, trains, and supervises more than 30 student coaches annually, supporting their growth as future professionals. Driven by a strong commitment to inclusion, she works to create a sense of belonging for all students within the university community.

Dr. Amie Duncan is a clinical psychologist in the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She has been working with children, adolescents, and young adults with autism for over 20 years. Dr. Duncan specializes in helping autistic adolescents develop the necessary skills to make a successful transition to the adult world in the areas of employment, college, independent living and community participation. Her main area of research focuses on developing and evaluating an intervention that targets daily living skills such as hygiene, cooking, laundry, and money management skills in autistic adolescents. She also has developed an intervention targeting executive functioning skills such as organization, planning, and prioritizing for adolescents with autism in both the school and clinic settings. She currently has funding through NIH and has previously had funding through the Department of Defense, NICHD, and the Department of Education.

Kate Doyle is an associate professor in special education and the special education program coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. She has been in higher education for 10 years. Dr. Doyle is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and a licensed intervention specialist. Preceding to her roles in higher education, Dr. Doyle taught in the public-school system for 12 years and worked in the adult developmental disability system for 3 years. She has worked in center-based services, home-based services, and in the community with individuals with disabilities across the lifespan. Her research interests include teacher recruitment and retention, STEM instruction for students with disabilities, developing academic and social communication interventions for individuals with significant disabilities, as well as teacher and paraprofessional training.

Andrea Ford is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Cincinnati. Her research interests include early language development and support of young children with disabilities in routine settings, focusing on autism. She seeks to partner with early childhood educational teams to increase the uptake and use of evidence-based, neurodiversity affirming support strategies. 

Alissa Otani-Cole works in OCALI's Lifespan Transitions Center as a transition to adulthood consultant. She has worked as an aide at her kids' elementary school and spent more than 16 years in vocational rehabilitation for Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities as a counselor and supervisor. She has supported the work around OCALI's Pre-Employment Transition Services curriculum development with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities.

Elizabeth Wietmarschen, M.Ed, is a transition to adulthood consultant at the OCALI Lifespan Transitions Center. She has worked with youth and young adults with disabilities in various capacities from providing direct care to supervising and training professionals in the field. She has extensive experience in developing programs that help promote successful post school outcomes for youth with disabilities and has a deep working knowledge of developing transition plans by using age-appropriate transition assessments. Wietmarschen is a licensed intervention specialist with her transition to work endorsement and a Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador.

Amanda Tipkemper is an independent consultant with 20 years of experience in special education best practices, program design, non-profit management and strategic planning. Known for her compassionate approach and innovative solutions, Amanda has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential.

Sara Birkofer is the Assistant Director of Gallery and Accessibility Programming at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Sara graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2010 with a BA in Art History and a Certificate in European Studies. She then acquired a certificate in Advanced French Language and History from La Sorbonne in Paris as well as Cambridge’s Certificate to teach English as a Foreign Language.  

Sara has worked in multiple roles for ten years at her home museum, always seeking ways to welcome visitors. She continues her journey to inspire visitors of all ages, abilities, and demographics to connect with art through in-gallery and art making programming. 

She is the founding chair of the Interdepartmental Staff Accessibility Committee and the Accessibility Community Advisory Council.  Sara was awarded the 2018 Cincinnati Faces of Autism Community Partnership Award and the 2019 Kennedy Center LEAD Award for Emerging Leaders. She also spear-headed the way for the museum to be awarded the Disability Pride March Community Partner award in 2020, along with Art Possible's Community Partner Award in 2024.  Sara has attended LEAD four times and most recently presented at the 2024 Conference in Seattle. 

Sara serves on the Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Arts Educators executive comittee. She also serves on the board for the Northside Community Council and the Ohio Museums Association Accessibility Committee.

Alycia Champion is a dedicated mother of three adult children; her 26-year-old son Max is profoundly impacted by autism. Her personal experience has shaped a lifelong passion for supporting families of individuals with disabilities. With decades of hands-on insight and advocacy, she has become a trusted resource and guide for countless parents navigating the complexities of raising a child with special needs.

Professionally, she serves as a Parent Resource Coordinator in a Forest Hills School District, where she empowers families by connecting them with the tools, services, and support networks they need. Recognizing the gap in services as children transition to adulthood, she co-founded Maine Champion Coaching that extends this vital support into the adult world—bridging a critical gap for families seeking continued guidance beyond the school years.

Her unique combination of lived experience and professional expertise allows her to walk alongside families with empathy, insight, and unwavering commitment. Whether in schools or the broader community, she remains a tireless advocate for inclusion, dignity, and meaningful support for individuals with disabilities and those who love them.

Janet Maine is a dedicated entrepreneur, retired parent mentor, and proud mother of Matthew, who has Down Syndrome. With a passion for advocacy, she has spent years supporting families navigating the challenges and joys of raising children with special needs. As the owner of her own business, Maine Champion Coaching, she brings a unique blend of compassion, resilience, and leadership to everything she does. Her journey as both a parent and mentor continues, as she remains committed to creating inclusive spaces and helping others find strength through community and shared experience.

Emily Kendall is the co-founder and president of EmpowerMe Living, a real estate company focused on changing the housing landscape for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Emily is a highly experienced marketing and sales professional with a twenty-year career focused on high-growth companies. She spent over ten years in commercial real estate, leading the sales team for a student housing company that went public, and then overseeing the marketing strategy for a multi-billion-dollar equity raise at a grocery-anchored shopping center company. She spent the last three years helping female-founded venture capital firms raise equity before co-founding EmpowerMe Living with her husband and partner, Mark. Emily is mom of three kids and stepmom of three. Emily graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with dual degrees in Business Administration and Spanish.

Stephanie Cole, M.Ed, is a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual. Her and her team specialize in guiding families with special needs dependents through the complexities of financial planning. With a background in special education and over a decade of experience supporting diverse learners, Stephanie brings both professional expertise and personal compassion to her work. She partners with families to create comprehensive strategies that balance current care needs with long-term security, including special needs trusts, government benefits, and legacy planning. Her mission is to help families gain clarity, confidence, and peace of mind in building a financial future that supports their loved one’s lifelong well-being.

Cadi Dart brings expertise in transition services to the IDD Education Center team. A decade ago, she collaborated with colleagues, community partners, and local school districts to pilot the CEES program, establishing a high-quality transition program for high school students with disabilities at the University of Cincinnati. After serving as the Director of CEES for 10 years, Cadi now holds the position of Associate Director of Employment Services. In this role, she focuses exclusively on expanding and enhancing employment services within the IDD Education Center. Throughout her tenure, Cadi has led numerous initiatives aimed at increasing access to technical training for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her strong emphasis on the development of STEM-based training platforms has significantly transformed the center’s employment services. Cadi remains committed to advancing workforce development initiatives that create meaningful employment opportunities for the individuals served by the center. Outside of work, Cadi enjoys spending time with her husband, Garrick, and their two sons, Noah and Julian, in Clarksville, Ohio. An avid traveler and adventurer, she seizes every opportunity to explore the world and share its wonders with her children.

Owner and lead consultant of Tom Galperin Consulting, Tom has over a quarter century of experience working in the Autism and Developmental Disability field.  He has worked with persons on the Spectrum from toddlers to retirement age, from Moderate Intellectual Disability to Genius-level IQ, and in various settings including Supported Employment, Behavioral Crisis Units, Home and Community Supports, and University Programs.  Mr. Galperin has worked with professionals in the field from across the United States and from around the globe, including Europe, Asia, and South America.  He is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with a Supervision designation (LISW-S) in the State of Ohio, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of Kentucky, and is a TEACCH Certified Practitioner.

Dr. Sarah Rose Vitale-Santana is a neurodevelopmental and behavioral psychologist within the Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Statistics from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI and her MS and PsyD from Mercer University’s College of Health Professions in Atlanta, GA.  She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida before transitioning to her fellowship at CCHMC. In her current role, she provides diagnostic evaluations for children ages 0-18 to assess for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, developmental/intellectual disabilities, ADHD, etc., in addition to providing treatment such as Parent-Child interaction therapy (PCIT) and general parent behavior management training to address disruptive/challenging behaviors and behavioral feeding therapy to address restrictive eating habits/inappropriate mealtime behaviors.

Jason Harris is an advocate, consultant, and founder of Jason’s Connection, a platform that connects more than 300,000 people through disability culture, resources, and stories. As an Autistic self-advocate, he brings both personal experience and academic expertise to his work.

He holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Foundations of Education and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Disability Studies from Syracuse University. Jason has worked with the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University College of Law and served as Director of Strategic Operations at LADD, a service agency in Cincinnati, OH. From 2021–2022, he was a LEND Disability Advocacy Fellow at the University of Cincinnati.

Today, Jason continues his work in the field as an independent consultant, helping organizations and communities strengthen inclusion, accessibility, and disability representation.

Samantha Kelly is a passionate advocate, coach, and the founder of Beyond Neurodiversity. As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, Samantha brings both lived experience and deep empathy to her work, helping organizations create more equitable, accessible, and neurodivergent-affirming spaces. Her own diagnosis sparked a mission: to make sure others feel seen, valued, and supported in the workplace and beyond. Today, Samantha blends storytelling, research, and humor to shift how we think about brains, behaviors, and belonging. She’s spoken to HR leaders, justice professionals, and educators across the country — and she’s just getting started.

Maureen began work with OCECD in October of 2024. She is the Information Specialist/Trainer for the Southwest Office, assisting families in Butler, Hamilton, and Preble counties. Maureen graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a Bachelor of Philosophy & a Minor in Special Education. She went on to get her Master of Science in Family Students and Human Services through Kansas State University. Maureen has previously worked with military families through Child Youth School Services (CYSS programming), as well as worked professionally for Miami University (Oxford).

Maureen has three children. Her eldest has apraxia and uses a communication device as her preferred method of communication. She also has autism, ADHD, anxiety, and a global delay. Maureen was one of the founding families for a non-profit parent support organization for her local school district which supports children with disabilities and/or learning differences and those who are on the journey with them. She has been very active as a volunteer, working alongside families, her community, and the school to promote a culture of inclusion for all children in her district. Maureen also volunteers as a Girl Scout troop leader and has always been active in working with children and families throughout her life. She looks forward to working with families in her region to continue the mission of OCECD.