Nichole Arp

Program Manager - P2P CO

Coloradan, Mom to 4 including a teen son with ASD and a teen daughter with ASD and an auto-immune illness. I recently became the Program Manager at Parent to Parent of CO after being a project coordinator for 3 years.

Marion Cosgrove Rauch

Ohio F2F/P2P Coordinator

I am a wife as well as mother to twin young men, both living with disabilities. While my background is actually in art, my focus and passion shifted to the world of disability after my children were born. These days I am a Family Support/Community Engagement Specialist for the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, where I coordinate both the Ohio Family to Family and Parent to Parent programs. I like to think my artistic creativity aids me in finding those unusual workarounds that can be of help to families, especially as they navigate an experience with which I can fully empathize.

Megan Garvin

Project Coordinator, EMPOWER

I'm a mom to two boys, one with epilepsy, autism and ADHD, Peloton devotee, animal lover, and audiobook addict.

Nicole Lindsay

Database and Communications Coordinator, Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania

I live in the Northeast region of Pennsylvania with my husband and our two children, ages 9 and 7. I began as a regional coordinator with Parent to Parent of PA in March of 2020 and switched roles to database and communications coordinator in July of 2023. Our family's journey with speech impairment and hearing loss brought me to this position, and I am honored to be part of such a wonderful organization!

Chastity DiFranceso

Supervisor at Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania

I am a wife, mother to four children and grandmother of two. Oh, and I can't forget our Bernedoodle (our fifth child and perpetual toddler). My journey with Parent to Parent of PA began in 2009 when our fourth child was born. It was an unexpected path and I found myself longing to have a parent to talk to who could relate. I was matched to two peer supporters. It was such a wonderful experience that I began to volunteer as a supporter three years later. In 2016, the opportunity to become a Regional Coordinator presented itself and I found it to be a very rewarding position. Currently, I Supervise and train staff. It is a privilege and honor to continue to be a part of a team that so passionately work to provide support to families all across Pennsylvania.

amy holbert

Amy Holbert, LISW-CP, MSW

Amy Holbert is a licensed, clinical social worker (LISW-CP) with over twenty years of experience working in the maternal, child health field. Currently, she is the Chief Executive Officer of Family Connection of SC, SC’s Parent Training and Information Center under IDEA. Family Connection provides peer support, educational resources, and healthcare navigation services for families, statewide, that have a child with a disability or chronic health need. Amy is Governor appointed to serve on SC’s Interagency Coordinating Council and she has been appointed by the State Superintendent of Education to serve as Co-Chair of SC’s Advisory Council for Educating Students with Disabilities. Her current work on the SC Children’s Justice Act Task Force, is focused on improving identification of children in foster care that have a disability and assisting in the professional development for those working in the child welfare system. She currently serves as a national ARPY Ambassador for the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) at the University of NC, Chapel Hill, promoting the use of the DEC’s Recommended Practices. Amy is passionate about improving the lives of children and their families. The life lessons of being a parent to two children with medical and behavioral health needs, has shaped her career path and choices.

Lily Brown

Co Executive Director, P2P USA

Lily Brown experienced firsthand the “magic in the match” of parent to parent support after her daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at age 3. As Co Executive Director for Parent to Parent USA, she is dedicated to strengthening the Parent to Parent community so that no parent feels alone, ever. She draws on her entrepreneurial background to scale operations using a combination of volunteer talent and technology. Lily lives in central Pennsylvania with her husband, David, and their daughter, Suzie.

Marsha Quinn

Co Executive Director, P2P USA

Marsha brings over 20 years experience in nonprofit marketing and Early Intervention/Part C to Parent to Parent USA’s member organizations. She works to grow access to our unique peer support model by acquiring new emerging members and increasing capacity to current and future partners through relationship building and engagement.

Shaunte Johnson

Educator, Leader and Advocate for adolescence with ID/IDD

Co-founder of Inner Enso. Inner Enso is an event and consulting company that specializes in individual and community alignment, healing, connection, impact, and advocacy. Wife, homeschool mother to 3 amazing children, former professional athlete, healer, connector, and community advocate.

Dana Yarbrough

Center for Family Involvement @ VCU

Dana Yarbrough is the assistant director of the Partnership for People with Disabilities, Virginia's university center for excellence in developmental disabilities located at Virginia Commonwealth University. Among her many roles at VCU, Dana directs the Center for Family Involvement (Virginia’s P2P USA Alliance Member) and its initiatives statewide to support diverse families of children and young adults with developmental disabilities to become effective advocates for their children and leaders for systems change. A proud, founding member of P2P USA, Dana is also the mother of a 29 year old daughter who in spite of significant physical, intellectual and physical disabilities owns her own dog boarding business. Dana holds a masters in non-profit transformational leadership and a masters in special education secondary transition.

Mauretta Copeland

Working with families in my community to become better advocates for their children

Mauretta J. Copeland, learned to navigate the complex medical and special education systems as a result of one of her two adult children being diagnosed with a developmental disability. She worked as family faculty with VCU's VA LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) program and co-taught courses around family centered care. Currently she works as a Cultural Broker to the African American community at VCU's Partnership for People with Disabilities Center for Family Involvement, working alongside families from diverse backgrounds, collaborating with professionals and providing community training around disability related topics. Mauretta Copeland has a BS in Communications from Old Dominion University. She is a volunteer at the Autism Society of Central Virginia and has served on various state/local, national boards and committees such as Parent 2 Parent USA, ARC South of the James, VA Caregivers Coalition, and Chesterfield Local Human rights committee to name a few.

Edgar Gamba

Cultural Broker for the LatinX community at the Center for Family Involvement

Edgar Gamba is a father of two teenagers who more than his children are his best friends. He is a specialist in continuous improvement and quality management. His son was diagnosed with developmental delays when he was one year old, a few years later his son was diagnosed with learning disabilities and Autism. This changed dramatically the family life. Since then Edgar has dedicated himself to understanding and learning about neurodevelopmental disorders and doing everything he can do to improve his son’s life. Edgar has a post baccalaureate in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities from the Virginia LEND program at the Virginia Commonwealth University . He is a Family Navigator focused in Spanish-Speaking communities. He has worked as a freelance interpreter for the Department of Mental Health at Chesterfield County and served as advisor and family support for schools, helping families with low proficiency in English. Currently he is working as a Cultural Broker for the LatinX community at the Center for Family Involvement.

Angela Donley

Fundraising and Program Development Coordinator

Angela Donley grew up in a small town in Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Agriculture. The world of disability and a change in direction entered her life when her son Jackson was diagnosed with autism at the age of 20 months beginning her journey in autism and advocacy for children and families. Angela works for the Oklahoma Family Network supporting families, providing professional and family training, and is currently working in the role of Fundraising and Program Development Coordinator. Angela is a 2012 graduate of Partners in Policymaking and also a 2015 LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Fellow in the family discipline. In 2018 she was appointed by the Oklahoma Speaker of the House to the Oklahoma Commission of Children and Youth to represent all children with disabilities in Oklahoma. Angela currently has an appointment as a STABLE account ambassador for the Oklahoma State Treasurers’ office to help families understand ABLE accounts. She also serves on various other committees providing the parent perspective and voice on training, family professional partnerships, and the importance of parent-to-parent support.

Sarah Holland

Director, P2P of PA

Sarah Holland is the new Director and is excited to have come full circle from when she was part of the original staff and worked as a Regional Coordinator who helped launch the program all those decades ago.

Bekka Matthews

Missouri Family to Family CtLC Navigator, Sibling Advocate, Mom of 5

I was born and raised in a small town in southwest Missouri. I graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a degree in history. While there, I also studied at Oxford University. My husband and I now live in northwest Missouri with our 5 children. I have a heart for service and am very active in our community. Throughout my life, I have gravitated towards serving those in the community with special needs. This passion was instilled in me at a very young age. My younger brother, Jamin, has autism, and I grew up learning the importance of being an advocate for people with disabilities. I had spent considerable time both volunteering and working with individuals with IDD, and now I am fortunate to have a career in the field. I truly believe having a brother with autism helped mold me into the person I am today.

Zipporah Levi-Shackleford

Busy mom of 4, Entrepreneur, Disability & Mental Health Advocate

Dr. Zipporah Levi-Shackleford, a disability and mental health advocate with a Doctorate in education and certifications in Positive Behavior Supports, Disability Leadership, and Autism Spectrum Disorders, founded and consults for the Creative Approach Development Center in Richmond, VA. She helps individuals and families overcome challenges and improve independence, while also providing training to businesses and organizations on supporting people with disabilities and mental health impairments. Zipporah has spoken and trained nationwide on these topics and serves on multiple non-profit and state boards.

Emily Whiting

Co-Founder and Executive Hope Director of Charlotte’s Hope Foundation, Inc.

Emily K. Whiting is a beacon of hope for parents and caregivers of children with complex medical needs. She meets them at their greatest time of need and empowers them to relentlessly pursue the best care for their child and family’s medical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Raising her own child with an ultra-rare disease requiring more than 20 specialists, 17 surgeries, and three hospital systems to manage, Emily knows the healing power of hope first-hand. Emily is Co-Founder and Executive Hope Director of nonprofit Charlotte’s Hope Foundation, Inc. Emily is a professional speaker addressing topics such as pediatric complex care, the power of hope and compassionate care to medical audiences. She is the author of She is Charlotte: A Mother’s Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Journey with her Child with Medical Complexities, and podcast host of Empowered by Hope.

Robin Dodds

Educator, Mom, Cat Lover

Robin Dodds is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Special Education at California State University, Los Angeles. She lives in a tiny cabin in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California where a momma bear and her two cubs cause mischief every trash day.

Vicki Hunting

Vicki Hunting, Senior Manager, Operations and Growth at Expecting Health

I am a passionate family advocate working hard in systems of care to ensure families have access to the best information possible when they need it, in a format they can understand to make the best decisions for their family. I’m drawn to supporting families who have children with special healthcare needs and working to ensure systems that support them are infused with the family voice and continuously improved. I live in Des Moines, Iowa, and my husband and I are the parents of a young adult with special healthcare needs.

Kelly Randall

Parent Leader Program Coordinator - Raising Special Kids

Kelly’s experience, as a parent with a child with autism seeking help from Raising Special Kids, was so positive that she became a Parent Leader Volunteer soon after. She was hired as a staff member in 2015 and loves that she can help other families who are going through a similar journey. As Parent Leader Program Director, Kelly oversees parent leadership training and volunteer activities. She is Arizona’s F2F HIC Project Director and is a member of the P2P USA data committee. Kelly has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, a Master’s Degree in Economics and is an Arizona Partners in Leadership graduate. Kelly and her husband Mike have two adult sons.

Rebecca Stickler

Family to Family Regional Network Coordinator

Family to Family Regional Network Coordinator Western/Blue Ridge Region Center for Family Involvement

Marcia O'Malley

Meet Marcia: Director of P2P of NV, small business owner, and a devoted parent to Ian, a young man with Down syndrome.

Marcia's most important role is being the parent to Ian, a 26-year old young man who has Down syndrome and is currently in treatment for leukemia. When not caregiving, she works as the Director of P2P of Nevada and manages her video production business, Mindful Media Services. Marcia lives in Reno, Nevada with her husband, Rick and Ian.

Rosalba Calleros

Rosalba Calleros, Texas Parent to Parent, Executive Director

Rosalba is the Executive Director and Family Support Coordinator with Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P). Prior to TxP2P she worked as a parent educator at Children's Disabilities Information Coalition (CDIC) in El Paso, Texas. In May 2009, she received her master's degree in Bilingual Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. Rosalba has a daughter born in 2012 and a son born in 1999 who introduced her to the disability world. This experience has taught her that parent-to-parent support is extremely important for the families of children with disabilities and has inspired her to provide support to other families since 2007. Rosalba's main mission is to encourage parents to feel empowered and help their children to reach their highest potential with meaningful lives.

Martha Aguilar

Family Support Coordinator, Texas P2P

Martha Carolina Aguilar is mother of three, including a young adult and two teenagers. She was inspired by her youngest child, Angela, who has Down syndrome, to focus her career path on empowering the disability community. Fourteen years ago, she founded "RGV Discover Life" in the Rio Grande Valley, helping parents of children with disabilities. A decade ago, she moved to Austin, joining "Texas Parent to Parent" (TxP2P). Today, Martha serves as the Family Support Coordinator at TxP2P, where her unwavering dedication empowers countless families. Her mission is to ensure that all children, regardless of ability, can thrive.

Sarah Goldman

Sarah Goldman MSW, APSW, CRS

Sarah Goldman is a Manager of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs programming at Children's Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Children's Wisconsin is the proud alliance member of Parent to Parent USA in Wisconsin. While the program serves Statewide, the staff are uniquely located in a Nationally Ranked Trauma 1 Healthcare setting. Located in the State's most economically vulnerable county, Parent to Parent of Wisconsin provides or refers parents and caregivers to resources that can help meet their basic and person-centered needs. Sarah is a Certified Resource Specialist and is excited to share information and opportunity about the practice of Information, Referral and Follow-up.

Lisa Anderson

Lisa Anderson is the Statewide Parent to Parent Manager for Family Connection of SC

Lisa Anderson is the Manager for the Statewide Parent to Parent Program for Family Connection of SC. She is a graduate of Spartanburg Community College in Early Childhood and has worked for Family Connection for 28 years. Working with families that have children with special needs was always a passion of hers before she was blessed with a child of her own. She is married and has 2 children, a son, and a daughter. Her daughter is on the autism spectrum and has a chromosome deletion. She has 3 grandsons who are her Pride & Joy.

Cindy Saylor

Program Quality Manager

As the Program Quality Manager for Parent to Parent of Georgia, Cindy Saylor conducts follow-up calls and oversees the collection of survey data for client services and the supporting parent program. She tracks and compiles data to be included in reports and also manages the training of new Supporting Parents. Cindy has worked to support families of children and young adults with disabilities for the past 18 years.

Pat Cameron

Program Director, Family TIES of Massachusetts

With more than 40 years of experience in early childhood education, her focus has been on early childhood special education and young children’s social emotional development. Prior to her current position, Cameron was the Sr. Technical Assistance Specialist at the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS) providing T&TA to states, tribes, and territories with SAMHSA’s Project LAUNCH grants. She has also worked at the MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) as the 619 Coordinator for Preschool Special Education as well as the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in Early Learning Services.

MeKesha Barr

Wife, mom, and special education advocate.

MeKesha Barr is a Data Information Specialist for Parent to Parent of Georgia. Her journey into the special needs community began after her then 2-year-old son was diagnosed with Autism. As a military spouse, her family had to move around a lot. She quickly realized that her greatest resource was other special needs parents in the communities in which she lived. MeKesha became involved with Parent to Parent when her family was stationed in Washington State. Upon her husband’s retirement from the Army, she decided to continue her volunteer work as a Supporting Parent with Parent to Parent of Georgia. She uses the knowledge she’s gained from raising a child with special needs and her experience as an educator and military spouse to support other families on their journey. MeKesha is a proud graduate of The University of Georgia.

Celia Schloemer

Celia Schloemer, Parent, Sibling, Aunt and Child

Celia Schloemer, MA, DDBP Senior Community Engagement Specialist, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. However, in this space she is the mother of Clare, growing advocate for people with lived experience. Ms. Schloemer's perspective is multifaceted and includes that of a child, a sibling, a sister-in-law, an aunt and mom to individuals with disabilities. In her present position she supports individuals with disability and their families across the life span by connecting them to resources, assisting them in accessing information and offering trainings that improve outcomes.

Clare Schloemer

Person with Lived Experience

Clare is a 30 year old non-binary woman on the autism spectrum here to share their lived experience.

Sarah Buffie

Sarah Buffie is a trauma consultant helping people understand how we get on the healing journey together!

Sarah Buffie MSW, LSW, founding director of Soul Bird Consulting believes that nothing has the power to heal like supportive relationships. Specializing in trauma-responsive care, she helps organizations and individuals disrupt current models of thinking by building empathy and understanding around the effects of trauma. Sarah has worked in community organizing- specifically, Asset Based Community Development, for over two decades and has a deep passion for her work. Her focus is to spread awareness about how trauma affects the brain, body, and behavioral patterns and then teach effective approaches for developing resilience within the people organizations strive to serve, and the people closest to the work, caregivers, and direct providers.

Destiney Kinsey

Destiney Kinsey is dedicated to helping individuals go from stuck to "unstuck."

Destiney is a highly regarded public speaker with 8+ years of experience as a licensed therapist, personal development coach, program manager and mental health educator. Destiney works with individuals, groups, and organizations to understand the impacts of mental health, boundaries, goal-setting and empowerment. Destiney also works with universities to prepare social work students for post-grad career opportunities. Destiney offers keynote speaker services, workshop facilitation, breakout sessions and more! She specializes in equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to identify their goals, uncover their obstacles and create realistic actions plans so they can grow and thrive. When Destiney speaks at your event, you are guaranteed to leave feeling engaged, inspired and empowered.

Irma Otero

Parent to Parent of Wisconsin Program Coordinator

Irma Otero is a child of migrant Mexican parents that settled in Nekoosa, WI in the late 1970s, at a time when interpreters were not so readily available to non-English speaking families. Her mother only spoke Spanish for years so Irma and her siblings served as interpreter for her until she learned English. At 19 years old Irma was hired at Family Health/La Clinica, which was a clinic established to serve the migrant/uninsured community of Wild Rose, WI. Working at the La Clinica is where she found her passion for helping underserved communities. She improved her medical interpreting skills there and also at Marshfield Clinic where she was employed as a Spanish Medical Interpreter. At almost 40 years old she received her Associate in Applied Science, Respiratory Therapy degree from Midstate Technical College and became the first in her family to receive a college degree. Irma moved to the Milwaukee area in September of 2019 and has been working for Children's Wisconsin since January of 2020 where she continued to help families in the Daniel M. Soref Family Resource Center. Irma became the Parent to Parent of Wisconsin Program Coordinator in April of 2023 where she continues to advocate for families and seek ways to help the Spanish speaking community through the program. Her goal is make the program more inclusive and to bring more diversity to the Parent to Parent of Wisconsin Support Parents through outreach and connecting with the community.

Valerie Dill

Valerie Dill is the statewide Program Manager for Parent to Parent of NYS.

Valerie Dill is the Statewide Program Manager for Parent to Parent of NYS. Valerie has worked for Parent to Parent for 12 years, starting out as a part time Regional Coordinator. As the Program Manager for Family Support Services, her goals include helping Regional Coordinators reach as many families as possible to provide resources, guidance and support. Valerie takes pride in helping parents, ensuring that every parent is heard, and understands they are not alone. Valerie’s passion for connecting with special needs families started almost 19 years ago with the birth of her son, Parker, who was born with a visual impairment, the genetic disorder Galatosemia and later received an autism diagnosis. Having a child with both physical and developmental disabilities motivated Valerie to get involved with her local special need community, to advocate for not only her child and herself, but all children and all families.

Katie McMillan

Family Support & Outreach Coordinator

HCA Healthcare | North Carolina Division

Isabella Chow Kai

Hello! I'm Isabella Chow Kai Reyes and I am a Research Assistant with Project BENEFIT.

I am a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Medical Anthropology and Chemistry. I am particularly interested in research regarding cultural health systems and how research in that field could serve to tailor existing health systems in a way that makes them most accessible and successful. I am passionate about a career in research as I believe it provides a platform to drive change and make a positive impact on society. I truly believe that better information can build a better world, and am committed to contribute to this mission through my work as a Research Assistant.

Blaise Morrison

I am an Assistant Professor and Rehabilitation Psychologist and Counselor in the UNC - Chapel Hill School of Medicine

I am an Assistant Professor and Rehabilitation Psychologist and Counselor in the Division of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling in the UNC - Chapel Hill School of Medicine. I have 13 years of clinical experience providing behavioral, psychological, and social supports to families affected by disability and chronic illness. I am an Adjunct Professor in the UNC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and regularly provide psychotherapy and facilitate support groups at the UNC Center for Rehabilitation Care. I also serve as the Research Coordinator for the UNC Family Support Program, which provides support, resources, and education to families of children with special needs throughout North Carolina. My past research experience focuses primarily on outcomes that are meaningful and important to stakeholders and their families, including quality of life, community participation, transition, and family/caregiver well-being. Increasing inclusion and access to effective healthcare services for marginalized disability communities is my primary goal.

Diana Cejas

Diana Cejas, MD, MPH

Diana M. Cejas, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and faculty of the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities. As a clinician, she cares for youth with a broad spectrum of developmental disabilities. She seeks to improve health outcomes in and to promote health equity and justice for this population through her research. Her current projects aim to increase engagement of multiply marginalized autistic youth in health services research and to understand the effects of ableism on the health of disabled children and their families. Since surviving cancer and a stroke during her residency, Dr. Cejas has devoted much of her career to patient advocacy and improving communication between healthcare providers and the disability community, particularly young disabled patients of color. Dr. Cejas shares her story and other commentary on disability and health via essays and other nonfiction.

Cindy Tomlinson

Family Engagement Manager

Cindy Tomlinson is a Family Education Specialist for Family Connection of SC, which is also SC’s Parent Training Information Center (PTI). For the last 18 years Cindy has been assisting families that have loved ones with special healthcare needs through education, training, case management and advocacy. She holds a B.S. from Coastal Carolina University and is the parent of a child with autism and mental health diagnosis. She is a mother of two children and uses her lived experience as she advocates for others.

Jena Martin

Director of Special Populations, Family Connection of SC

Director of Special Populations, Family Connection of SC

Julie Williamson

I'm Julie Williamson with the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Julie Williamson has 17 years of experience working in social services and public health in the state of Oklahoma. She currently works for the Oklahoma State Dept. of Health as a communications coordinator for a 9-county health district. Julie also serves as a THREAD (Trauma Hope Resilience Education ACEs and Diversity) Coordinator for an initiative within the state health department. Julie has a passion for expanding awareness about trauma and brain development and reducing behavioral health stigma. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and traveling.

Autumn Cooper

I'm Autumn Cooper with the Oklahoma State Department of Health

Autumn Cooper is the Trauma, Hope, Resilience, Education, and Diversity (THREAD) Director with the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In her current role she works closely with state leadership and community partners by sharing evidence-based trainings to strengthen connections and enhance service delivery that is trauma responsive and resilience oriented. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor, a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor, a doula, an Endorsed Infant Mental Health Specialist, a Community Resilience Trainer certified by ACE Interface and serves on the board of the Oklahoma Association of Infant Mental Health. Outside of work, she can be found connecting with nature, her children, grandchildren, partner, her core group of amazing friends, and two sweet dogs, Lorie and Gus.