CAC Members
BIOS
SELF-ADVOCATES:
Tom Brownlee, CHAIR
I have been a strong self-advocate for many years. I have served on many boards, as well as on several councils and committeess over the past few years. I have become a local and national speaker, and have gotten involved in doing some legislative advocacy. I have gone to Washington DC many times and talked to local representatives on disability related issues. I am currently the CAC Chair. My encouragment for other self-advocates is that "You can make a difference where you live."
Tina Peck, Secretary
I am a mother of two beautiful children. I attend school at USU and also work on campus. I have worked with people with disabilities for many years and advocate for equal access for others as well as myself.
Blake & Robin Savage
Blake and Robin have been members of the CAC their entire married life; Blake for the past six years, and Robin for the past two years. They were both raised on their family farms, and have learned the value of hard work. Blake holds down three different jobs: working as a custodian at South Cache Middle School; running his own greenhouse business, selling vegetable plants for gardening; and working as a DJ at dances. Robin keeps busy as a homemaker and works as a lunchroom aide at some of the local schools when needed. She loves gardening and helps Blake with their greenhouse business. Surrounded by family on both sides, they have a strong support group. Together they have built a successful, independent, and happy life.
Kelly Holt
Kelly has been active in the self-advocacy movement for several years. She received the 2011 Champions of Equal Opportunity Award from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. Kelly currently serves as a Board member of the Utah Disability Law Center. She is self-employed and lives with her sister and father.
Benjamin Ballam, Vice-Chair
FAMILY REPRESENTATIVES:
Shaunaleen Crapo
Mathew Bone
Mathew Bone worked in television production for about ten years, then switched careers to computer software support. He is a proud husband and father of two children. He has served as the Vice Chair of the Utah State Democratic Party Disability caucus. His work with that caucus, as well as his own family, have made him very aware of issues that affect both the mentally and physically disabled. He has also been an active Scout leader for many years.
Laura Anderson
Laura Anderson is a long time advocate for people with autism and President-Elect of the Autism Council of Utah. She is also the co-coordinator of the Big MAKS (Mothers of Autistic Kids) and serves on many more committees for autism. She recently won the Angels for Autism award at the Autism Speaks conference. Laura is the mother of a son who has autism.
Shannon Howard
Dena M. Marriott
Dena Marriott is the mother of two wonderful young men and a beautiful daughter-in-law. She is an alumnus of Utah State University having graduated with BS and MA degrees in Political Science. In 2011 she completed mediation training and has been working to become a Utah State Court rostered mediator. Having a son with developmental disabilities, she and her family have been active in Special Olympics as coaches and volunteers, and also with Common Ground. She is continually looking for new research and resources that will help her son and others with disabilities live the most independent and productive life possible.
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES:
Adina Zahradnikova, Executive Director, Utah Disability Law Center
Adina has recently been named the Director of the Utah Disability Law Center. She is fluent in four languages and holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Al. I. Cuza University College of Law in Iasi, Romania. She lives in Salt Lake City.
Claire Mantonya, Executive Director, Utah Developmental Disabilities Council
Claire has many years of experience working for the Division of Services for People with Disabilities, supporting People First and building self-advocate leadership around the state. She worked for three years as the Family Support and Respite Manager for Easter Seals Utah and also had an aunt with disabilities who lived with her family as she was growing up in central Ohio. Claire has an undergraduate degree in Natural Resourcdes from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Adult Education from Ohio State University.
NON-VOTING- EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:
BRYCE FIFIELD
Dr. Bryce Fifield assumed the position as Director of the Center for Disabilities in July of 2008. Dr. Fifield is a graduate of Utah State University where he received both his bachelor's degree in psychology and his master's degree in counseling and school psychology. His doctorate in special education and rehabilitation is from the University of Oregon. He has had a diverse career since earning his master's degree at USU. He was a school psychologist in Shelley, Idaho, a researcher in Arizona and Oregon, and an Associate Director of the Idaho Center on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Idaho. Prior to coming to the Center for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Fifield served as the executive director of the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, located at Minot State University.
CYNDI ROWLAND
Dr. Rowland is the Associate Director at the CPD. She directs several grants that focus on the use of technology and the preparation of personnel. She is the Executive Director of WebAIM (Keeping Web Accessibility In Mind)which offers training, technical assistance, and services to make the Web a more accessible place for individuals who have disabilities. Dr. Rowland is extensively involved in the National Center for Disability and Access to Education where she is the Technology Director. She is the Principle Investigator of 2 federally funded projects. One explores issues of cognitive disability and Web design. This OSERS Steppingstones project is developing a suite of tools to add to the popular WAVE evaluator to assist in the evaluation of the cognitive load of a webpage. The other project is funded by FIPSE to develop self-study and other materials suitable for institutions of higher education and accreditation bodies to assist in the continuous improvement of their web accessibility efforts. Dr. Rowland chairs both the Website Committee and the International Committee at the Center for Persons with Disabilities. She is also the Director of KSAR, an award-winning media production facility (winner of 15 Telly Awards).
GORDON RICHINS
I serve as the Consumer Liaison for the CPD and my responsibilities include improving the relationship between projects, programs, and personnel at the CPD, persons with disabilities, and organizations that serve people with disabilities. I provide staff support for the CPD Consumer Advisory Council. I am an active member of the AUCD, Co-Chair of the Council on Community Advocacy (COCA) representing the CPD, and Chair of the OPTIONS for Independence, a local Independent Living Center. I am also involved with several local and statewide organizations within the disability community.
JEFF SHEEN
Jeff Sheen received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology with a Minor in Social Work from Utah State University in May of 1999. He completed his Master of Social Work Degree at the University of Utah in May 2002. Jeff is currently a Training and Development Specialist at the Center for Persons with Disabilities where he has worked since 2001. Jeff has a particular interest in community development and has been involved in directing and evaluating a number of projects designed to improve community resources for individuals with disabilities and their families. During the past eight years Jeff has also had multiple opportunities to develop and provide training on a wide variety of disability related issues to local, state, and national audiences. Some of Jeff's current projects include the Utah SSDI 1 for 2 Pilot Project, Becoming Leaders for Tomorrow: Youth Transition, Coordinated Family Support: A Medical Home for Children with Special Health Care Needs, and Emergency Preparedness for Spanish Speaking Families and Individuals with Disabilities. Additionally, Jeff serves on the CPD Administrative Team and is a consultant on several other state and national projects.
