Community Services Panelists
Able Eyes
Meegan Winters
Meegan spent 11 years in the school districts as an ASD teacher, Teacher Consultant, Assistive Technology Coirdinator, and Assistant Principal prior to starting Able Eyes.
Meegan’s undergrad work was done at CMU, Master’s at Oakland University, and Admin work was completed at Pennies State. Personally, Meegan is married with 2 boys and prefers any activity that involves yoga pants and Converse!
Able Eyes is a virtual accessibility tool allowing individuals with disabilities an opportunity to explore public locations virtually prior to physically visiting. This can be done to decrease anxiety (possibly for those on the spectrum) and/or assess accessibilty (for those with physical disabilities).
ASD Smart Kids
Dr. Michael Carrauthers
Dr. Carrauthers is the Executive Director of ASD Smart Kids, a business that assists in providing resources to parents with children on the Autism Spectrum, providing professional development to schools and schools districts for instructors who are mainstreaming students with Autism into regular education classes and to provide ABA Therapy for children with Autism. Dr. Carrauthers holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Wayne State University and has 30 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal, principal, and central office administrator in K-12 education. In his capacity as a K-12 central office administrator, Dr. Carrauthers has coordinated and has supervised and evaluated curriculum and has delivered supervision for district and state assessments, which include NWEA-Map, Performance Series, M-STEP, MI-ACCESS, WIDA, PSAT, SAT, and ACT. Dr. Carrauthers has been married for 25 years to his wife Wendy, and they have one son Brandon, who has Autism who attends the University of Michigan-Dearborn majoring in chemistry.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a brain-based disorder characterized by social-communication challenges and restricted repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests. This presentation is designed for instructors who are mainstreaming student with ASD into their regular education classrooms and will discuss how to identify specific behavioral characteristics with these students and the implementation of tools and strategies to improve their learning and classroom experience.
Community Living Services, Inc.
Helen Long-Eady
Helen Long-Eady is a graduate of Michigan State University with degrees (BA, MA) in Speech & Language and Audiology. She's worked in the human services and the mental health field for over 30 years including positions as Audiologist, Support Services Coordinator, Supports Coordination Manager, Recipient Rights Director and presently Director, CLS Customer Services & Intake Department . In addition to the customer service functions, she's responsible for ensuring the cultural needs of the CLS enrollees and their families are addressed when attempting to access services & supports.
Attendees/participants will become knowledgeable of the process for accessing mental health services in Wayne County particularly services and supports for those with a developmental disability.
disABILITY CONNECTIONS /Jackson County ISD
Holly Peterson
Holly worked as an administrator in retirement housing until the birth of her second child Sally who was eventually diagnosed with Mitochondrial Myopathy, a seizure disorder and labeled SXI / AI. (Sal is 26 now and recently graduated into a lovely "self-determined" young lady) This changed the focus of her work.
Having been a parent consultant to Children's Special Health Care Services, Center for Educational Networking and as an Evaluator for Early On; In 1997, she spearheaded and serves as director for the Parent Education & Resource Center in Jackson County which contracts services to disAbility Connections and the Jackson County ISD. She also operates a social group for adults with disabilities (numbering 100) called the GOGOs.
Officing within the center based setting at Kit Young and Lyle Torrant Centers, Holly provides ongoing resource assistance and direction for county staff along with working one on one with students and families to provide peer supports, access equipment and services of need, understanding how resources work together, future planning, assisting with guardianship and alternatives, SSI, etc serving as a part of each students transition team.
Holly and Jeff work diligently in their community to promote needs and spearhead projects serving families, adults and children with special needs.