Staff

Page last updated: 7/30/2010                   

Executive Team Curtis L. Decker, J.D., Executive Director
Judith Stickle	Janice Johnson Hunter	Eric Buehlmann	Nachama Wilker
Administrative Team Monica Ball Matt Hayden Charles Ndour Eugenia Wheeler Saad Rehman	Legal Team Ron Hager Jane Hudson David Hutt Elizabeth Priaulx Delores Scott Kenneth Shiotani Judith Storandt Amy Scherer	Policy Team Kuna Tavalin Cindy Smith	Training/Technical Assistance Team Cheryl Bates-Harris David Card Natasha Klepper
MONICA BALL - Program Support Specialist Monica is responsible for maintaining the listservs by posting messages and managing list membership. She assists attorneys with information for the Fiscal Management report, and provides support for the legal group in producing dockets and conducting research on Westlaw. She also coordinates information for yearly PPRs and needs assessments, and assists with conference duties, including on-site logistics for the Annual Conference. Monica came to us with five years experience working in nonprofits. Top of page
CHERYL BATES-HARRIS- Senior Disability Advocacy Specialist Cheryl’s responsibilities involve training and implementation of the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program. She has extensive experience and expertise in the Client Assistance Program (CAP), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), return-to-work issues (including job placement, Supported Employment, and job [reasonable] accommodations), and Social Security - including the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act. To this end, she was appointed last Fall by President Bush to serve on the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Committee. Cheryl has also worked in coalition with national groups on issues around Workforce Investment and the development of “One-Stops,” Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Welfare to Work, and other employment-related initiatives. She has over 18 years of experience working with people with disabilities and has conducted trainings for P&As and CAP on substantive CAP/VR, TANF, and Social Security issues. Top of page
ERIC BUEHLMANN - Director of Public Policy Eric has been with NDRN since March of 2007, first as a Senior Public Policy Analyst, now as the Director of Public Policy. In these roles he has worked to increase appropriations and enact legislation helpful to the P&A / CAP Systems. Prior to joining NDRN, from 1995-2007 Eric worked in Senator James Jeffords’ office in a variety of positions, ending with Legislative Counsel. While with Senator Jeffords, Eric worked on a number of issues including: campaign and election law, labor policy, banking and housing, and judiciary-related matters. Eric graduated from the Washington College of Law at American University in 1995 with a J.D., and from Lehigh University in 1990 with a degree in Accounting.
DAVID CARD - Publications and Communication Specialist David joined the NDRN staff in January 2010. David is responsible for all aspects of organizational communication including publications and reports, web content and media relations. He also provides training and technical assistance on communication matters to the P&A/CAP network and manages the communications listserv. Previously David served as Communications Director at Americans for Democratic Action and on the staff of National Stonewall Democrats. He holds a B.A. from SUNY Geneseo and M.A. in Anthropology from Binghamton University.
RON HAGER - Senior Staff Attorney Ron provides training and technical assistance to the P&A/CAP network on special education. He has specialized in disability law, particularly special education, since 1979, when he started his legal career in Buffalo as a VISTA attorney. After that, he was a Clinical Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School for nine years, supervising the Education Law Clinic. In 1991, Ron moved to Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) where he represented clients in a wide variety of disability-related cases. As part of NLS’s National AT Advocacy Project, Ron also was a frequent author on disability-law-related issues. He was co-chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on the Rights of People with Disabilities for four years, and was the President of the Board of Directors of Autistic Services, Inc., in Western New York, for 10 years. Ron earned a B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. Top of page
MATT HAYDEN - Information Systems Division Manager Matt Hayden joined the staff in the fall of 2003 as the Senior Information Systems Manager. Matt is responsible for the administration of the Disability Advocacy Database (DAD) System, as well as being a member of the DAD Committee, the NDRN Website & IT Support teams. Additional responsibilities include providing training and technical assistance on website accessibility, as well as data collection standards monitoring and support. Matt has eight years of experience in the computer/ networking industry. Previously, Matt was employed with the University of Alabama Law School and the Alabama P&A (ADAP) as a Technical Support Specialist. Top of page
JANE HUDSON - Senior Staff Attorney Jane provides technical assistance and training to P&As regarding abuse and neglect and access issues. She has extensive knowledge of the P&A acts, P&A access authority, investigations and seclusion and restraint. She facilitates the P&A Access Authority Workgroup, which meets monthly to discuss current access issues in the P&A network. Jane has a law degree from the University of Toledo, a master's degree in Counseling and Personnel from Western Michigan University, a master's degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the American University in Cairo (Egypt), and a bachelor's degree from Kalamazoo College in Michigan. She has practiced law for more than 20 years in a variety of settings. In the early 1990’s she was the PAIMI Coordinator for the Arizona Center for Disability Law. She also has expertise in employment law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. She has worked for NDRN for more than five years.Top of page
JANICE K. JOHNSON HUNTER - Deputy Executive Director for Legal Services Janice K. Johnson Hunter began her legal career practicing with the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau where she represented hundreds of clients in matters involving public benefits, housing, and consumer law for over 7 years. Ms. Hunter later joined the Maryland Disability Law Center as a managing attorney where she divided her time between management activities and a law practice in special education for over 7 years. During her tenure at MDLC Ms. Hunter served as Deputy Director of Legal Work and also as Interim Director. Her professional experience also includes stints as a public policy advocate with the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the Archdiocese of Washington-D.C. Catholic Conference. Joining NDRN in 2007, Ms. Hunter is responsible for supervising the NDRN legal staff and the legally-based technical assistance activities of NDRN and for monitoring the delivery of technical assistance by outside consultants to the P&A network. She also provides direct technical assistance and collaborates with the NDRN Director of Training to develop training programs to meet identified needs of the P&As. ..Top of page
DAVID HUTT - Senior Staff Attorney David manages the Social Security Administration Employer Representative Payee Review Project, provides training and technical assistance to the  P&A/CAP network on employment law and vocational rehabilitation issues, and assists in overseeing training and technical assistance to CAP.  David also works on issues related to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  Prior to joining NDRN, David was the PABSS staff attorney at Legal Services of Central New York, and worked on cases under both the CAP and PAIR programs.  In these capacities, David dealt with cases involving employment discrimination, vocational rehabilitation, Medicaid, consumer debt, and accessibility including successful litigation and trial experience in federal court. He has also advised clients on various return to work issues such as social security benefits planning, the Ticket to Work program, self-advocacy with the New York State vocational rehabilitation agency, and conducted training programs on employment law and the Ticket to Work program. He has interned with other nonprofit organizations and government agencies including the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. David earned a B.A. from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., and holds a J.D. and Ph.D. in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo.    Top of page NATASHA KLEPPER - Development Coordinator Natasha joined the NDRN staff in January 2010. Natasha is responsible for providing the board with development strategies, researching grants and writing proposals, coordinating fundraising events including our yearly “Spotlight on Rights” Gala. She also provides training and technical assistance to the P&A/CAP network on matters involving social networking. Prior to arriving at NDRN, Natasha actively volunteered with Southern California Special Olympics as a coach. Natasha also worked for 6 years as a parent advocate in California. She provided assistance to parents of children with disabilities, attended Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and provided information about educational services and rights available to children with disabilities. More recently Natasha became a certified Paralegal and worked with a Special Education Attorney providing legal assistance, research and meeting with potential clients. She is excited to be returning to NDRN after working here as a Public Policy intern in the fall of 2007.
CHARLES JUSTIN NDOUR- Information Technology / Administrative Support Charles is a member of the IT Support and NDRN Website teams. He has more than ten years of experience in network administration and technical support. He previously served as Technical Support Engineer and Technical Trainer at ATI (Alliance Technologie Informatique) in Dakar, Senegal, Africa. Charles has bachelors degrees in Mathematics and Physics, and Computer Science from Dakar Institute of Technology, Senegal. He also holds the following certifications: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE); Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT); Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA); Microsoft Certified Professional + Internet (MCP+ I). Top of page
ELIZABETH PRIAULX - Senior Disability Legal Specialist Elizabeth provides assistance to P&As related to community integration, with a focus on Medicaid litigation, the implementation of the Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court Decision, and enforcement of advance directives. Additionally, Elizabeth is a legal consultant to the New Freedom Initiative: State Coalitions to Promote Community-Based Care, an initiative of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). In this role, she assists states and territories in their efforts to promote community integration supports and services for adults and children with mental illnesses. Elizabeth began working formally as a disability advocate in 1986, at United Cerebral Palsy Association and also worked as a researcher at the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Elizabeth received a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University and a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at American University in Washington, D.C.  Top of page
SAAD REHMAN - Assistant Accountant Saad joined NDRN in January 2010. Saad assists in managing the fiscal operations of NDRN. He also provides support on the Social Security Administration Employer Representative Payee Review Project. In 2009 Saad earned his B.S. in Accounting from the Raj Soin College of Business at Wright State University. During his time at Wright State, Saad served as a University Ambassador where he had the opportunity to provide valuable information to prospective students with disabilities regarding university programs and services.
AMY SCHERER - Disability Advocacy Specialist Amy is the Disability Advocacy Specialist for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Client Assistance Program (CAP). Prior to arriving at NDRN, Amy worked for 7 years at a vocational training facility for individuals with a variety of disabilities in Atlanta, Georgia. She worked primarily with VR clients as both a case manager and as a certified vocational evaluator. More recently, Amy received a law degree from Saint Louis University. She is happy to be returning to NDRN after working here as a law intern in the summer of 2008.
DELORES SCOTT - Senior Staff Attorney Ms. Scott is responsible for spearheading the efforts of the P&As to ensure election access to individuals with disabilities under the Help American Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and oversee voting training and technical assistance to the P&A System. Ms. Scott has been with NDRN since 2006 serving as the Project Manager for the Katrina Aid Today program where she worked with state P&As providing case management services to individuals with disabilities impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Delores joined NDRN with over 10 years of experience working with adjudicated youth and providing technical assistance to case managers in obtaining services for their clients with disabilities. She has practiced as a Special Education attorney and has served as an administrative due process hearing officer in the State of Maryland. Ms. Scott received a J.D. from the David A. Clarke School of Law, University of the District of Columbia, and a Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security from George Washington University. Top of page
KENNETH SHIOTANI - Senior Staff Attorney Ken received his undergraduate degree from New York University and his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. He started his career as a VISTA attorney in Yonkers, NY, in an elder law project and then worked for more than 20 years in civil legal services for low income people in urban and rural programs. He worked at the Broome Legal Assistance Corporation in Binghamton, NY, at Southern Tier Legal Services in Bath, NY, at Monroe County Legal Assistance Corporation in Rochester, NY and most recently at the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau in Riverdale, MD. He has represented many clients with disabilities in disability, housing, and public benefits cases in both individual cases and in impact litigation. His focus here is on ADA Titles I, II, and III, and Fair Housing. Ken is also the key staff person on issues related to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Top of page
CINDY SMITH - Mental Health Public Policy Associate Cindy joined the staff of NDRN in March 2010 as the Mental Health Policy Associate. Prior to joining NDRN, she spent almost two years as the public policy specialist at Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In 2005, Cindy graduated from the Syracuse University with a J.D., M.S. in Cultural Foundations in Education, and C.A.S. in Disability Studies. Cindy is also a current Ph.D. student in Special Education at Syracuse University. During law school, Cindy interned at Legal Services of Central New York and Equip for Equality. She has also worked as an adjunct professor teaching an education law course and as a researcher at university based centers conducting applied social policy and legal research on employment, education and community integration issues.
JUDITH STICKLE - Deputy Executive Director for Finance/Administration Judy has been managing the fiscal affairs of NDRN since 1992, and has over 20 years experience in nonprofit financial management / accounting, including both state and federal contracts and grants. She has broadened her foundation of finance-based knowledge by attending continuing education training seminars on such topics as: Audits for Non-Profits; OMB A-133 Audits; Financial Management for Contracts; and Accounting for Grants. Judy has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southeastern University and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Maryland. Top of page
JUDITH (“Judie”) STORANDT- Senior Staff Attorney Judie is NDRN's specialist for criminal justice and juvenile justice issues. Before joining NDRN in 2005, she was the Advocate General for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for six years, managing an office that conducts abuse and neglect investigations in public ICFs/MR and in all juvenile residential facilities, including correctional institutions. Her JD is from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she participated in its Prisoner Assistance Clinic. Her legal career includes: working for the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, where she represented the Minnesota Department of Corrections; working for private law firms in Minnesota and Indiana; Director of the non-profit Louisiana Capital Defense Project; representing people on death row in Louisiana, Indiana and Oklahoma for 13 years; and a solo practice in Indiana focusing on criminal defense and prisoner civil-rights litigation. She earned her BA, MA and PhD (in Spanish and Comparative Literature) from the University of Wisconsin.Top of page
KUNA TAVALIN - Public Policy Analyst Kuna comes to NDRN with nearly 5 years of experience on Capitol Hill. In 2004 she joined the staff of Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords, working in a variety of capacities and including as a Legislative Assistant for such issues as early childhood education, housing, TANF, and childcare. After Senator Jeffords retired in 2006, Kuna joined the staff of Senator Sherrod Brown, working on policy surrounding transportation, housing, and anti-poverty initiatives. A graduate of Brandeis University, Kuna is now a Public Policy Analyst for NDRN, working to advance Congressional action in the realm of disabilities..Top of page
EUGENIA WHEELER - Executive Assistant/Office Manager Eugenia works on day-to-day operations. She is responsible for procurement of office supplies, updating data base files, administrative task, compiling all conference materials and assisting with logistical planning for the annual conference and other meetings. Top of page
NACHAMA L. WILKER - Deputy Executive Director for Training and Technical Assistance Nachama is responsible for overseeing the training and technical assistance activities of NDRN, supervising the in-house advocacy and publications staff, as well as providing technical assistance on management, governance, and fiscal issues. Earlier in her career, Nachama was an organizational development consultant with advocacy organizations on issues ranging from strategic planning, fundraising, board development, outcome-based program evaluation, financial management, and public education. She also served as Program Director and then Associate Director of the Genetic Alliance, a coalition of more than 600 organizations representing families, consumer advocates, and health professionals working to improve the health of all by integrating consumers and families into the development of quality genetic healthcare, public awareness, and informed public policies. She holds a BS from Hampshire College in Physics and Public Policy. Nachama's interest in the work of NDRN and the P&As comes in part from her personal experiences as a wife and mother of individuals who, among other things, have special health care needs. Top of page