Bertha Young, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, DMR

Ms. Young has a Masters Degree in Education, majoring in Special Ed & a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biology.  She was an executive director of two residential support agencies for 18 years before working at DMR.  She pioneered a successful friendship program that was started in 1985 and continues today with many created friendships that continue to thrive.  She has been teaching on the value of friendships and how residential support agencies can support them for over 20 years.

Michael Seibold, Director of Community Services, Alternatives

Mr. Seibold has a Master of Arts Degree, majoring in Psychology & Spanish.  For 30 years, he has enjoyed partnering with others as a team builder, critical thinker and program innovator to find creative solutions to many non-profit challenges.  He serves as the chief operating officer of Alternatives Unlimited, Inc., a rehabilitation agency in Central Massachusetts with 45 programs and a budget of over $22 million.  His passion lies in forging partnerships to create flexible, personally tailored residential and vocational services for people with disabilities.  Expertise includes managing organizational change, implementing quality improvement and outcome management systems, and staff development strategies that "stick." Mr. Seibold has played a key role in articulating Alternatives' new approach to assisting individuals with disabilities to develop valued roles in the community.  Alternatives calls this multi-pronged approach to relationship building "Redefining Community . . .Discovering the value and gifts of every citizen."

Patricia  Pakos, MS is the Assistant Project Director for the ARC of Mass Transition Project.  She is the mother of three children; the youngest having been served under Chapter 766 until age 22.  Mrs. Pakos has been an active member of her PAC, serving as President for two years.  She is a past member of the Board of the Federation for Children with Special Needs.  She earned her master's degree in Severe Special Needs from Simmons College, focusing on Inclusion, and has worked as an Inclusion Facilitator.  Her interest in Transition led her to post-graduate study of the topic.

106.  Friends & Lovers (part 1)

206.  Friends & Lovers (part 2)

Patricia Carney, B.A. has more than twenty-five years experience in human services, working with people who have developmental disabilities. She worked for the Association for Community Living for 16 years as a residential staff person, program manager and Education Specialist. Pat has worked for the Department of Mental Retardation for the past seven years, first as a Quality Enhancement Specialist, then as Program Monitor for the Springfield/Westfield Area Office, and currently in the Office of Learning and Development in the Central/West region. Pat regularly presents at the DMR's annual Human Rights Conference covering topics of sexuality, relationship development and community membership. She is pursuing a Masters degree in Health Education at Worcester State College.

201.  Loss and Grief

Donna Macleod-Prior, B.A. is currently the Director of Individualized
Support Services at Alternatives in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.  Donna has extensive residential experience working with individuals in a wide variety of program models including Supported and Shared Living.  She also oversees a day habilitation program for elderly adults.  Prior to her 14 years at Alternatives, she worked at a school for children in London, which specialized in seizure disorders.  Donna was educated in Edinburgh and grew up in the Western Isles of Scotland.

Diane Gould is Senior Vice President at Advocates, Inc. where she has worked for over twenty years developing, providing and supervising supports for people with disabilities.  Services under her direction are based on a philosophy of empowerment and recovery, and driven by values involving self-determination, partnership, and a person-centered approach to services.  She is an LICSW social worker with twenty-five years of experience in community-based services including a broad range of clinical, residential and support services for people with developmental and psychiatric disabilities.   When she is not working, Diane enjoys running, music, traveling, and spending time outdoors.  She lives in Central Massachusetts with her family, including her dog and two cats, and follows the Red Sox, Patriots, and happily once again, the Boston Bruins.

202.  Adult Foster Care: Implementing Regulations

Jen Bergeron, Assistant Director, Residential and Adult Day Health Services, DMA

Richard Niedel, Masters of Social Work, is currently working for The Association For Community Living/Specialized Home Care as a placement team supervisor.  Rich has a Bachelors of Business Administration, Marketing, from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA and a Neuro Linguistic Programming Certification, NLP Practitioner / Consultant.  He has over 31 years of experience in the Human service field, with progressive experience in all facets of shared and supported living; expertise in program development, staff management, clinical services to individuals, training, and regulation compliance.

LuAnn Gardner, Shared Living Recruiter & Development Specialist, Alternatives

305.  Practical Ways to Stay Physically Fit

Larry Stalvey, HealthLearn Founder