PARENTS AVAILABLE TO HELP - Key Persons
Andrea Richardson, CCHW, CTC Health Information Specialist Andrea is a loving wife and a proud mother of 3 beautiful children resides in Hartford CT and is a graduate holding a Bachelor's of Science degree in business administration with over 10 years of working experience with young adults within the Hartford community and is an active member of the CT Children's Medical Center Family Advisory Board. Contact Andrea at arichardson@pathct.org
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
Ann is the mother of five children and a Job Developer and Job Coach for Transitional Employment Unlimited (TEU), an organization that provides vocational options and supports to individuals with disabilities in the community. Prior to TEU, Ann provided consulting, advocacy, and facilitation services to families and individuals in the special education process, IDEA, and Section 504 rights, with a focus on Transition and Post-secondary options. Ann was inspired to follow this career path after advocating for her own children who had a variety of special healthcare and learning challenges.
Carmina is Co-Executive Director (2004-present). She is a wife and mother of 3 boys. Her son Carlo is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Carmina got involved when Carl was in the Birth to Three and went on to serve on a variety of state councils, committees, and boards. Carmina was a 2013 graduate of Partners in Policy Making. Her professional interests include; Autism Awareness to First Responders and extended Family Members and Collaboration of all Statewide Family organizations, so that parents will be able to access the most information to become the best advocate for their child and to make sure that their child is receiving the utmost services that they can. Current committees include: Board President of National Parent to Parent USA. Member, Community of Practice Committee; Chair: Family Leadership & Mentoring Committee, Member, and Connecticut Autism Action Coalition.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Cindy recently became a School Adjustment Counselor at the Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, while in CT is serving as a Communication Facilitator and a Sign Language Instructor. Prior to WRSD, Cindy worked for almost four decades at the American School for the Deaf (ASD) in West Hartford, Connecticut. Cindy has worked successfully with students, parents, teachers, administration, and support staff to ensure the maximum potential of all student-oriented programs was reached through overseeing student IEP/PPT meetings and involvement with student-focused agencies.
As the Director and/or Administrative Liaison for Parent Advisory Committees, Family Education Programs and Services, Outreach Networking, Multi-Cultural Affairs, and Litigious Matters for the school, Cindy developed a respected presence in a wide-reaching network of individuals concerned with children in the world of special education.
Job Titles:
- CCHW, GAL, YMHFA, QTPR, CTC, CCtLC Cultural Competence Linguistic Ambassador / Bilingual ( Spanish ) Health Information Specialist
Doris is a mother to twin boys who began her journey with PATH after taking our Listener Training in 2012. Doris is dedicated to amplifying the voices as a community advocate for the underserved. She currently serves on the following boards: Keep the Promise Coalition Co-Chair, USH Co-Chair Accessibility & Inclusion Ministry, Children in Placement GAL & Board, CCMC Family Advisory Council & Behavioral Team, DD Council Lifecourse Linguistics Ambassador & Board, Bureau of Education State Advisory Council, Yale PRCH Latino Colectivo, CT Family First Prevention Community Team, CT 2020 Census Complete Count Committee, CT Emergency Support Function (ESF) #15 (Public Information and External Affairs) Diverse Communities Task Force.
Emily Ball, CTC Youth Outreach Coordinator Emily is a self-advocate dedicated to helping the youth of our state learn how to self-advocate. After more than 10 years as a member and coordinator of CT Kids as Self Advocates, she is now involved in the National Youth as Self Advocates (YASA) organization, where she is a member of the board. Emily graduated from Manchester Community College in 2018 with an A.S. degree as a Disability Specialist. Since then, she has been involved in a number of transition symposiums and conferences in CT, DE, and NC, both on the planning committees and as a keynote panel speaker. Emily also spearheaded a program through the Univesity of Connecticut, teaching children about disability, by reading the story of a wheelchair-using raccoon and talking about herseld and her own experiences as a person with disabilities. In 2020, Emily completed the Youth Mental Health First Aid training. She also participated in the Family Voices Telehealth Academy webinar class. Contact Emily at eball@pathct.org
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Erin joined the PATH board of directors in 2017 after previously volunteering with PATH. She works as the Research Intake Coordinator for the Autism Program at the Yale Child Study Center, acting as the liaison between families and clinicians. Erin is passionate about her job and loves being able to help families.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
James joined the PATH's Board of Directors in 2017. As a person diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, he is greatly interested in ensuring people with disabilities are represented on PATH's Board and in helping them build great lives more broadly. James earned his bachelor's degree in environmental policy at Middlebury College in 2011, and his master's degree in social work from Quinnipiac University in 2020. He currently works as a case manager for people receiving services on DSS's acquired brain injury waiver. In addition, he was appointed to the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities in 2016 and became its Chair in 2018. Most recently, he became president of the Connecticut Community Empowerment Foundation, which operates ReRead Books & More, a used bookstore in Cheshire dedicated to employing young people with disabilities in a fully inclusive work environment.
Kevin Daly has worked with Connecticut families as a special education advocate for more than 20 years. Kevin is a frequent presenter at conferences and parent group meetings, speaking on topics related to special education and the educational rights of parents.
Kevin serves on several boards and committees including the Connecticut Special Education PTO Alliance, Benhaven School and the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities. He is a longtime member of the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys.
Kevin is the father of adult twins and he has two grandchildren. His son was a special education student for twelve years. Kevin and his wife live in Bristol.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Lorena joined the PATH board of directors in 2020 after previously working as a bilingual Health Informational Specialist for PATH and 15 years in digital marketing and online product management. Her son was born with several medical complexities including a rare genetic syndrome, hearing loss, and complications requiring the support of a trach/ventilator and g-tube. Together with her son, she spent 10 months in the ICUs at Boston Children's Hospital where she learned to advocate for him and continues to do so each day. She is passionate about helping others, especially families of children with complex medical needs in Connecticut who are making the transition home for the first time.
Job Titles:
- CCHW, CTC, QPR / Parent to Parent Coordinator, Parent Support Advocate and Communications Coordinator
Marni is a Parent Support Advocate in the Western, CT region. After spending two decades in publishing, she took on this role after seeing a great need in the community for parents to understand their child's special education plans and services. She was one of the founding members of the Brookfield Special Education Parent Teacher Organization, an organization with which she remains a board member. Marni has office hours with Pediatric Associates of Western Connecticut in Danbury, Connecticut, consulting with patients on educational advocacy and offering general parent support.
Marni received a QPR Suicide Prevention certification through the QPR Institute and is passionate about mental health reform in Connecticut. She is also the Chair of the Brookfield Youth Commission, a town board that identifies gaps in services to youth within the community. Marni has a Bachelor's degree from Western Connecticut State University in English and a background in social media marketing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Mary joined the PATH Board of Directors in 2019. As a sibling of a developmentally and intellectually disabled individual, she is very impassioned about the opportunity to advocate for her brother and other individuals in our state and across our country. Mary started the Connecticut Sibling Network in June 2016, which recently became a part of PATH Parent to Parent/Family Voices of Connecticut. She is a UCONN graduate and holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Hartford. For more than 10 years, she has worked at LEGO Systems Inc, currently as a Marketing Brand Manager. Her career and community ambitions are both very mission-driven and she strives to continue to learn and advocate for the people and things she cares most about.
Robin is the Recruiting & Administrative Office Coordinator for A.R. Mazzotta Employment Specialists. In this role, she supports the company with special projects and jumps in to assist branches during busy periods and vacation coverage. Robin has served on the Board of Directors since 2012.
Job Titles:
- President of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Legislative Committee for CAFAP
- President of the PATH Board of Directors
Ruth has served as the President of the PATH Board of Directors since 2013. A 25+ year veteran at Sikorsky Aircraft, Ruth is an Engineering Manager specializing in protected wiring systems for extreme Helicopter environments and managing the Wiring Installation Group. She and her husband Roy completed their family, adopting three amazing children with various learning and medical needs in 2001.
Ruth is a member of the Legislative Committee for CAFAP (CT Assn of Foster and Adoptive Parents) and a Parent Advocate with CPAC (CT Parent Advocacy Center). Ruth says, "becoming involved with PATH has felt like "coming home," a way to help other parents of children with challenges find the support and help they need, an opportunity that I see a blessing." Ruth and her daughter, and KASA member, Samantha, are also members of the CT Supported Decision Making Coalition.
Job Titles:
- Vice - President of the Board of Directors
Sue is a retired special education teacher and a single, adoptive special needs mom of 5. Sue is currently an appointed member of the DDS Regional Advisory and Planning Council (RAC) West Region.
Sue has served in the past as founder/director/coach of Region 16 Special Olympics, co-organizer of Cheshire Special Olympics, president of the Cheshire ARC, president of the Naugatuck Valley Society for Autistic Children, served on the CT Developmental Disabilities Council, and on the Special Education Resource Center's school inclusion advisory team for South Central Connecticut, and was a Board member of CT DDS Families First.
Sue has been with PATH since 2005. She is a graduate of Albertus Magnus College with her BS in Accounting. Sue has worked in the field for more than 25 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Representative
Victoria Nuss has been with KASA for about 5 years. She is also the companion for a young man with autism. She attends Naugatuck Valley Community College studying Visual Arts. Victoria has been part of Special Olympics since she was nine years old, competing in both swimming and skiing. She enjoys making art, playing piano, spending time with family and friends, and playing with her dogs. Victoria has a genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis. Check out PATH's genetic video for more information.