PRESENTERS
2015 Virginia AER Conference
Amy J. Armstrong: Amy Armstrong, Ph.D., CRC, is Chairperson of the Department of
Rehabilitation Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She has
decades of experience as a rehabilitation educator, researcher, and practitioner.
ajarmstr@vcu.edu
Daniel Ashman: Daniel Ashman is the Youth Services Coordinator at the Virginia Rehabilitation
Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired in Richmond. He received his bachelor’s degree in Fine
and Professional Arts with a concentration in Painting from Kent State University and obtained
his National Certification in Literary Braille from Louisiana Tech University in 2008. He is active
as a consultant on accessibility projects with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts including braille
transcription, docent training, and art classes for youth who are blind and vision impaired.
daniel.ashman@dbvi.virginia.gov
Lisa Auwarter: Lisa Auwarter graduated from Kutztown University in 1984. She has been
teaching in the field of visual impairment and blindness since that time. Her experience
includes 9 years of teaching as a TVI, graduate school at the PA College of Optometry to gain
her master’s degree in O&M, 2 more years as an O&M Instructor at VSDB and the remaining
years as an Education Specialist/O&M Instructor/Education Coordinator at DBVI. She is an
INSITE trainer through Utah State. lisa.auwarter@dbvi.virginia.gov
Kimberly Avila: Kimberly Avila is a Ph.D candidate in education at George Mason University
and currently coordinates the Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Vision
Impairment. Kimberly is also a doctoral fellow with the National Leadership Consortium in
Sensory Disabilities and is conducting her dissertation research in the area of orientation and
mobility and pedestrian safety issues for persons with blindness and visual impairment.
kavila@masonlive.gmu.edu
Cynthia Bachofer: Cynthia Bachofer, Ph.D., CLVT, is the lead teacher for low vision support
across all programs at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Austin, TX (2008present). She completed her doctorate at Vanderbilt University in 2013. The title of her
dissertation is Long-Term Use of Optical Devices by Young Adults with Low Vision. Her
teaching interests include use of optical devices, print reading strategies, and psycho-social
issues for students with low vision. She previously served as a teacher of students with visual
impairments and as a consultant with Project Providing Access to the Visual Environment
(PAVE), from 2001-2008, at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Ms. Bachofer has also served
as a literacy project leader with VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) in Nashville and as an
English instructor at both the secondary and post-secondary level in Kansas.
bachoferc@tsbvi.edu
Jen Bensaid: Jen Bensaid is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) for Fairfax County Public
Schools and the Virginia Infant/Toddler Connection. Jen was a Special Education pre-school
teacher before becoming a TVI. jlbensaid@fcps.edu
Andrea Bodnari: Andrea Bodnari is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired for Fairfax County
Public Schools. She received her B.S. degree from Kutztown University in elementary education
and visual impairment. She received her M.S. in Orientation and Mobility from Salus University.
Yourtsvi@gmail.com
Mario Bonds: Mario Arnauz Bonds is an accomplished singer/songwriter, author and actor. He
is a professionally trained singer, speaks Spanish fluently, and plays the piano and guitar. He
graduated from George Mason University in 2010 with a degree in journalism. Mario was
working as a program assistant for the U.S. Department of Transportation when he learned
about NBC Universal’s The Glee Project opportunity from Michele Weil, a retired Fairfax County
TVI and Orientation & Mobility Specialist. Mario@mabspeaks.com
Laura Bozeman: Laura Bozeman is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Vision
Studies program at UMass Boston. She holds a Ph.D. in Visual Impairment and Multiple
Disabilities from the University of Texas and has been in the profession for 41 years. Dr.
Bozeman has taught in American Samoa, Saipan, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, New
Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, China, Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland. She currently lives in
Massachusetts. laura.bozeman@umb.edu
Mark W. Bragg: Mark W. Bragg, CVRT, has over 30 years of experience in providing services
to the blind and over 15 years experience in working with blind and visually impaired inmates.
mark.bragg@dbvi.virginia.gov
Sarah Bussey: Sarah Bussey, COMS, CVRT, CTVI, earned her undergraduate degree in Visual
Impairments from Florida State University and her two master’s degrees in Orientation &
Mobility and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy from Hunter College. Over the past eight years,
Sarah has worked for the Perkins School for the Blind, NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually
Impaired, Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision and the Savannah-Chatham School
System. She is employed by Allied Instructional Services as an Instructional Specialist.
sbussey@alliedinstructional.com
Melissa Caudill: Melissa Caudill is a Transition Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired. She received her master’s in
Rehabilitation Counseling from University of North Carolina and spent two years in the field of
vocational rehabilitation for individuals with visual impairments. She lives in Roanoke, VA.
Melissa.Caudill@dbvi.virginia.gov
Wanda Council: Wanda Council has over 30 years experience in public education. Prior to her
current position at the Virginia Department of Education, Ms. Council provided leadership for
Newport News Public Schools as the Special Education Program Supervisor for
Speech/Language Impairment, Deaf/Hearing Impairment, Blind/Visual Impairment and
Occupational/Physical Therapy. She also worked as an Instructional Specialist and SpeechLanguage Pathologist for the York County School Division. She served on various state and
local advisory committees focused on policies and professional development for special
education and related services. Ms. Council earned a B.S. in Special Education (Communicative
Disorders), a M.S. in Education (Speech Pathology/Audiology) from Old Dominion University,
and an Education Specialist Degree in Administration from George Washington University.
Wanda.Council@doe.virginia.gov
Donna Cox: Donna Cox is an Education Coordinator with the Virginia Department for the Blind
and Vision Impaired. She received an Ed.S. in Supervision/Administration from George
Washington University and a master’s degree in Visual Impairments from Northern Illinois
University. She is certified as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Intellectually Disabled and
in Early Intervention. Donna has worked for 20 years in the field of special education (15 in the
field of visual impairments) and currently lives in Isle of Wight County, VA.
Donna.Cox@dbvi.virginia.gov
Susan Denissen: Susan Denissen is a Health Education Specialist with a background of 20
plus years of nursing. She is a health education instructor with the Virginia Department for the
Blind and Vision Impaired. Susan works in-house with students with chronic health conditions,
with a big focus on diabetic care management. She also sees clients in the field throughout
Virginia in their homes for introduction of adaptive techniques. She started with the
Department for the Blind in 1993 and worked for about 10 years before relocating to the
Virginia Beach area, where she was employed with the correctional department, a military
school, and finally the Norfolk Department of Public Health. In 2009, she returned to the work
she had enjoyed and loved the most at DBVI teaching a variety of health education topics.
susan.denissen@dbvi.virginia.gov
David DeNotaris: David DeNotaris is the Director of the PA Bureau of Blindness and Visual
Services. He has an M.A. in Administration Supervision, Leadership Training and Development
from Montclair State University, NJ. He has assisted in the development of cutting-edge
transition initiatives that have been recognized as emerging practices by the Federal
Department of Education. He has been recognized as the "Outstanding Speaker of the Year" by
the National Speaker Association and is a published author of "Feeling Your Way through Life"
and "Keep Your Ear on the Ball." ddenotaris@pa.gov
Judith M. Dixon: Judith M. Dixon is the Consumer Relations Officer at the National Library
Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. Dr. Dixon earned a B.A.
from Stetson University in 1974; an M.A. from Adelphi University in 1976; and a Ph.D. in clinical
psychology from Adelphi in 1980. Dr. Dixon was the 2005 recipient of the Francis Joseph
Campbell Award from the American Library Association for her many years of work in the field
of library service for blind and physically handicapped persons and for her pioneering efforts in
the area of electronic braille materials on the Internet through the NLS service, Web-Braille. She
was the 2009 recipient of the American Foundation for the Blind's Gallagher Award for serving
as an outstanding role model to others who have vision loss. She served as Chair of the Braille
Authority of North America (BANA) from 2007 - 2011 and Secretary of the International Council
on English Braille from 2008 to the present. jdix@loc.gov
Julie Durando: Dr. Julie Durando directs the Virginia Project for Children and Young Adults
with Deaf-Blindness (VDBP) at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia
Commonwealth University. Prior to moving to Virginia in 2009, she served children with multiple
disabilities and sensory impairments including deaf-blindness for eight years as both a
classroom and itinerant teacher in central Florida. She completed her doctorate in education in
special education from the University of Northern Colorado as a National Center for Leadership
in Visual Impairment Fellow. Dr. Durando’s research and writing focused on early braille literacy
experiences and instruction for children with sensory impairments and multiple disabilities.
jdurando@vcu.edu
Tyler Ferro: Tyler Ferro is a 3rd year Ph.D. student at Virginia Commonwealth University. He
received a B.S. in Computer Engineering and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Southern
Illinois University in 2010. He received a M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of
Oxford in 2011. ferrot@vcu.edu
Mary Filicetti: Mary Filicetti is currently a Teacher of the Visually Impaired at Fairfax County
Public Schools. Mary has been working in the field for 10 years, and also works with Columbia
Lighthouse for the Blind. msfilicetti@fcps.edu
Lori Floyd: Lori Floyd is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired. She has a bachelor's degree in
Early Education and Psychology with an Endorsement in Visual Impairments from Averett
University. She also has her certification in Early Intervention (EI). She has worked for 21 Years
in the field of Special Education/Visual Impairments for Henry County Public Schools. In
addition, she works as an EI for Danville/Pittsylvania County and Martinsville/Henry County. She
currently resides in Pittsylvania County, VA. lfloyd@henry.k12.va.us
Michael Fish: Michael Fish, M.Ed., TVI, Computer and Technology Instructor, VRCBVI.
Michael.Fish@dbvi.virginia.gov
Lukas Franck: Lukas Franck is a guide dog trainer (GDMI) and COMS. He has been working
for the Seeing Eye for over 30 years, and has been particularly active in the area of
Environmental Access. He is also a computer geek! lfranck@seeingeye.org
Sherman Gifford: Sherman Gifford is Vice President of The Choice Group, which provides
vocational services to clients of the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, as
well the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. He earned his master’s in
Rehabilitation Counseling from VCU and has worked in the field of rehabilitation for 20 years.
Sherman is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified
Work Incentives Specialist. At The Choice Group, he manages the Work Incentives Specialist
Advocacy program and the Ticket to Work program. Sherman has served as an officer of the
Virginia Rehabilitation Association and the Virginia Rehabilitation Counselors Association, and
currently serves on the board of the National Employment Network Association.
sherman.gifford@thechoicegroup.com
Michael D. Goehring: Michael D. Goehring, Field Representative for Guiding Eyes for the
Blind, has 26 years experience in the field of training dogs to assist those with a disability. Mike
has worked with clients in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Hong Kong assessing individuals for
appropriateness in use of a guide dog as well as to provide training and after care services.
Mike recently presented at the IGDF conference in Tokyo, the International AER conference and
Assistance Dogs International. mgoehring@guidingeyes.org
Julia Halpern-Gold: Julia Halpern-Gold is a Boston College graduate and has been in the field
for over 30 years. She has worked with ages 3 to 102 in every setting imaginable. Currently she
is a Blind Rehabilitation Specialist/Low Vision Therapist at the Hampton VA Medical Center.
juliahg3@verizon.net
Melanie Hughes: Melanie Hughes received her M.S. from the PA College of Optometry (now
Salus University) in 1996 and has been happily teaching O&M for DBVI for the past 18 years.
Melanie.Hughes@dbvi.virginia.gov
Judy Hurst: Judy Hurst recently retired as a teacher of the visually impaired for Marion County
schools (after decades of teaching). Prior to that she worked for the WV School for the Blind
and is currently acting as their Short Course teacher one week each month. For the past 13
years she has been camp director for Camp Independence in Wheeling, WV. She also teaches
online braille for WVU. In 1998 she was named the winner of the AER Alfred Allen Award.
eyenobrl@yahoo.com
Natalie Jordan: Natalie Jordan, COMS, is a North Carolina native. She is a 2005 graduate of
UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. in exercise and sports science and a 2009 graduate of North
Carolina Central University with a M.Ed. in orientation and mobility. She served as an
orientation and mobility instructor with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness and Visual
Services from 2010 until 2013. She currently lives in Hampton, VA, and works for the
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired in Norfolk, VA, as a COMS.
natalie.jordan@dbvi.virginia.gov
Jennifer Kennedy: Jennifer Kennedy is the Lead Orientation and Mobility instructor at the
Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired. She oversees a department of
seven and provides direct instruction to blind Virginian’s of all ages. She received her bachelor's
degree in Communication Studies from Kent State University and obtained her master's degree
in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Orientation and Mobility from Louisiana Tech
University. She currently sits on the board of the National Association of Blind Rehabilitation
Professionals and is a member of the National Orientation and Mobility Trainers (NOMCT)
committee. jennifer.kennedy@dbvi.virginia.gov
Olga Kochurova: Dr. Kochurova earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Virginia
Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She earned a Doctorate degree in Optometry and a
Masters in Vision Science from State University of New York College of Optometry in 2014. Dr.
Kochurova is now completing residency training in Low Vision at the Hampton VA Medical
Center. kochurova14@gmail.com
Morina Lamb: Morina Lamb is a TVI with Harrisonburg City Public Schools but comes from a
military background and considers being a TVI her 3rd career. Morina graduated from James
Madison University and became a teacher of the visually impaired through the consortium with
George Mason University. Making her own assistive technology is a passion for Morina; she is
always striving for ways to help her students especially those with more complex needs.
mlamb@harrisonburg.k12.va.us
David A. Lojkovic: David A. Lojkovic is the Project Coordinator for the Virginia Project for
Children and Young Adults with Deaf-Blindness at the Partnership for Persons with Disabilities at
VCU. Additionally, he is an adjunct faculty member at Trinity Washington University and George
Mason University. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Special Education from George Mason University
and has a M.Ed. from Ohio University, a M.A. from New York University, and a B.A. from
University of Chicago. He resides in the District of Columbia. dalojkovic@vcu.edu
Elizabeth A. Martinez: Elizabeth A. Martinez is in her 10th year as a Special Education
Supervisor and Vision Program Supervisor for Loudoun County Public Schools. She has written
for publications and, periodically, teaches graduate courses in special education. She earned her
Ph.D. in special education from the University of Virginia. elizabeth.martinez@lcps.org
Sara Mateyka: Sara Mateyka is the Lead Transition Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the
Virginia Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). She has been with DBVI for over
eight years. Sara received her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the Medical
College of Virginia through Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005. She received her B.S.
from Longwood College in psychology in 1998. Sara.Mateyka@dbvi.virginia.gov
Robert McCulley: Robert McCulley has 34 continuous years of experience in the field of visual
impairments. With the closing of the nation’s first graduate program in Orientation and Mobility
at Boston College, Robert provided regional leadership in re-establishing the graduate program
of studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Over the past 22 years, Robert’s
leadership and service to the University and professional community expanded a single federally
funded grant into a multi-state regional collaborative. As founding Director of the Northeast
Regional Center for Vision Education (NERCVE), the University has raised over twelve million
dollars in grants and contracts. With the recent award of three new five year federal grants, the
Vision Studies Program is beginning a new partnership with the University of Puerto Rico and
George Mason University within the Commonwealth of Virginia. robert.mcculley@umb.edu
Mary Nelle McLennan: Mary Nelle McLennan, with a M.A. in education of students who are
blind, is currently Executive Advisor to the President of the American Printing House for the
Blind (APH). She serves as APH’s representative to the Braille Authority of North America
(BANA) and is Vice-Chair of BANA. Prior to that, Mary Nelle served as the APH’s Vice President
of Products and Services. And before that, she served as the Braille Editor at APH after 15
years as a classroom teacher at the Tennessee School for the Blind. Throughout her career,
Mary Nelle has volunteered tremendous amounts of time and energy to professional
organizations, boards, committees, and projects on state, national, and international levels.
Mary Nelle’s contributions have been recognized by her peers through a number of awards,
which include the Mary K. Bauman Award, AER’s highest award for leadership in education of
students who are blind or visually impaired. For her 16 years of work as creator and editor of
the quarterly column “SPRINGBOARD” in the professional journal RE:view, she was awarded
the 2010 C. Warren Bledsoe Special Recognition Award for excellence in writing and publication.
She also received the 2011 Pennsylvania-Delaware AER Chapter’s Outstanding Service Award
and earlier the Exceptional Service Award from the Kentucky Chapter of AER. In 2011, Mary
Nelle was honored by her colleagues and friends with a stone on the Wall of Tribute which is
associated with the Hall of Fame housed at APH. She travels nationally and internationally as a
consultant, trainer, speaker, and facilitator. She is the recent widow of fellow vision professional
Dr. Richard Welsh. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA. mary.nelle@earthlink.net
Dianne Pawluk: Dianne Pawluk is currently an Associate Professor in the VCU Biomedical
Engineering Department. She received a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of
Alberta in 1989. She received an M.S. in Computing and Information Science from Queen’s
University in 1991. She received a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University in
1997. dtpawluk@vcu.edu
Debbie Pfeiffer: As the wife of an Air Force Officer, Dr. Debbie Pfeiffer travelled for 21 years,
holding positions in the field of deafness: teacher, interpreter, speech/language pathologist, and
administrator and working with individuals from birth through adulthood, many with additional
challenges to include blindness and visual impairment. She developed the Technical Assistance
Center for Deaf/Hard of Hearing at the Partnership for People with Disabilities, VCU, from 2001
through 2004. After that Debbie joined the Virginia Department of Education, where she
became the state specialist for the areas of deafness, blindness/visual impairment, deafblindness, and traumatic brain injury until 2013. Debbie is now the Director of Outreach
Services for the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, developing services to help schools
throughout the Commonwealth better meet the needs of all students with deafness, visual
impairment, or deaf-blindness. Debbie.pfeiffer@vsdb.k12.va.us
Gillian Pilcher: Gillian Pilcher is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) for Fairfax County
Public Schools. Gillian was a special education teacher for students with multiple disabilities
before becoming a TVI. She earned National Board Certification in 2005. gepilcher@fcps.edu
Sabra Pressman: Sabra Pressman has been with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for 15
years and has worked in the External Affairs Division for the past 10 years. She has been in her
present position as a Meaningful Access Specialist since 2008. This entails working with
individuals with low vision and blindness, testing tactile features to go on the next series of
U. S. currency as well as launching the currency reader program providing currency readers to
blind and low vision individuals. sabra.pressman@bep.gov
Christine Reid: Christine (Chris) Reid, Ph.D. CRC, is a full professor in the Department of
Rehabilitation Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She has
decades of experience as a rehabilitation educator, researcher, and practitioner. creid@vcu.edu
Mark Richert: Mark Richert, Esq., is the Director of American Foundation for the Blind's Public
Policy Center, Washington, D.C. He received his B.A. in both Philosophy and Political Science
from Stetson University, DeLand, FL, and his J.D. from the George Washington University
National Law Center. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1993. Prior to joining AFB,
he was the Executive Director of AERBVI. MRichert@afb.net
Stephanie Robbins: Stephanie Robbins has been in the field of assistive technology (AT) for
five years. She currently works as a Program Support Specialist for the Assistive Technology
Initiative (ATI) at George Mason University (GMU) providing student assessments and AT
training, writing reports for web compliance and providing results for Section 508 testing for
GMU websites and applications. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Assistive Technology
through GMU’s CEHD program. srobbin3@gmu.edu
Mackenzie Savaiano: Mackenzie Savaiano is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the
Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders and coordinates the graduate
program in Visual Impairments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Savaiano completed
her teacher certification program in English Education at New York University, and her master's
degree in teaching the visually impaired from CUNY Hunter College. She was a TVI in New York
for three years before moving to Nashville where she received her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt
University. Dr. Savaiano is the Chair-Elect of AER Division 10, Education Curriculum.
msavaiano2@unl.edu
Susan Schaffer: Susan Schaffer is the President of the National Council of Agencies for the
Blind. She is also the Director for the Office for Blindness and Vision, MD State Department of
Education: Division of Rehabilitation Services. susan.schaffer@maryland.gov
Rachel Schles: Rachel Schles earned her master’s degree in visual disabilities at Vanderbilt
University and is currently an itinerant TVI with Fairfax County Public Schools. Rachel also
serves as Chair of AER Division 10, Education Curriculum. Rachel was nominated for an
Outstanding New Teacher award in her first year of teaching. raschles@gmail.com
Valerie Schoenfeld: Valerie Schoenfeld has been a teacher of the visually impaired for the
past five years and is currently teaching in Loudoun County. She started her career as a teacher
of the deaf and hard of hearing where she began working with students who were deafblind.
Valerie has a graduate certificate in deafblindness from East Carolina University and was
awarded the honor of being one of the first Helen Keller Fellows. Most recently, she completed
her Master's in Special Education at George Mason University. valerie.schoenfeld@lcps.org
Joyce Sharp: Joyce Sharp has been the Training Coordinator with AIM-VA since its inception in
2006. Prior to this, she worked with the VATS program as a regional coordinator at the
University of Virginia and conducted popular assistive technology trainings in all areas of
activities of daily living. jsharp1@gmu.edu
Korey Singleton: Korey Singleton is the Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) Manager for
George Mason University (GMU). The ATI operates under the GMU's Compliance, Diversity, and
Ethics Office and is charged with providing equivalent access to electronic and information
technology resources for members of the GMU community, as well as visitors to GMU’s
campuses. This includes, but is not limited to, providing training and technical assistance
regarding the appropriate use of assistive technology, web compliance, document/media
accessibility, procurement, and software applications testing. For the past 18 years, he has
been supporting the use of assistive technology by individuals with disabilities in the home, in
the workplace, and in the classroom. ksinglet@gmu.edu
Denise Stephens: Denise Stephens, M.Ed., TVI, COMS, is an Educational Coordinator for the
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) in the Tidewater area of VA. She
holds certification as both an Orientation and Mobility Specialist and a Teacher of Students with
Visual Impairments. Denise has worked as an Itinerant Teacher of Students with Visual
Impairments and a Teacher and Instructional Assistant at Texas School for the Blind and Vision
Impaired. She has provided orientation and mobility instruction for children and adults in a
center-based program. Denise.Stephens@dbvi.virginia.gov
Stan Swaintek: Stan Swaintek, Director of Field Operations, Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness
and Vision Services.
Anna M. Swenson: Anna M. Swenson, M.Ed., is a retired teacher of the visually impaired who
currently serves as a braille literacy consultant to itinerant teachers of young braille readers in
the Fairfax County Public Schools. During her 34 year career, she taught reading in braille to
numerous children in both itinerant and resource room settings. Ms. Swenson has published
articles on teaching in the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, RE:view, and Teaching
Exceptional Children. She is currently working on the second edition of her book Beginning with
Braille: Firsthand Experiences with a Balanced Approach to Literacy to be published by the AFB
Press. annaswenson@cox.net
Pamela B. Teaster: Pamela B. Teaster is the Associate Director for Research at the Center for
Gerontology and a Professor in the Department of Human Development at Virginia Tech. She
established the Kentucky Justice Center for Elders and Vulnerable Adults and is the first
president of the Kentucky Guardianship Association. She is the Secretary General of the
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. She served as Director and
Chairperson of the Graduate Center for Gerontology/Department of Gerontology as well as the
Director of Doctoral Studies and Associate Dean for Research for College of Public Health at the
University of Kentucky. Her areas of scholarship include the mistreatment of elders and
vulnerable adults, public and private guardianship, end-of-life issues and decision making,
ethical treatment of vulnerable adults, human rights issues for vulnerable adults, public policy
and public affairs, public health ethics, and quality of life. She is the author of over 100 peerreviewed articles, reports, books, and book chapters. pteaster@vt.edu
Gay Tokumaru: Dr. Gay Tokumaru is the attending Optometrist in the Low Vision Clinic at the
Hampton VA Medical Center in Hampton, Virginia, as well as the Program Supervisor for the
Optometry Residency in Low Vision/Ocular Disease. Dr. Tokumaru graduated from Brown
University and the UC Berkeley School of Optometry and completed a VA residency in HospitalBased Optometry/Low Vision at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. Dr. Tokumaru is a Fellow of
the American Academy of Optometry and the Optometric Retina Society. Gay.tokumaru@va.gov
Michael Villafane: Michael Villafane, M.Ed., TVI, CVRT is a Computer and Technology
Instructor with DBVI. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a Master’s in Vision
Rehabilitation Therapy. Michael.Villafane@DBVI.Virginia.gov
Kara Zirkle: Kara Zirkle has 15 years experience working with individuals with disabilities.
Kara has worked at George Mason University as the IT Accessibility Coordinator for seven years.
She works to ensure that Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 compliance of electronic and information
technology (E&IT) is accessible to faculty, staff, students and the public both with and without
disabilities. kzirkle1@gmu.edu