Name: Lucy CarpenterCity: Plano,
TX
Employer:
DARS - Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Transition Vocational Rehabilitation
Counselor (TVRC)
Reason for being involved in this project:
I would love to help in any way possible to see that adults with
intellectual and development disabilities have quality housing.
Email:Lucy.Carpenter@dars.state.tx.us
Name: Frances Espinoza
City: Dallas,
TX
Employer: North Texas Fair Housing Center, Executive Director
Email:fespinoza@northtexasfairhousing.org
Name: Fern Gimenez
City: Allen,
TX
Employer:
LIfepath Systems, Inc. Collin County. Director of IDD
Services.
Email: fgimenez@lifepathsystems.org
Name:Richard Kurz
City: Frisco, TX
Employer: Chief Financial Officer of small and larger public and private companies, Certified Public Accountant. (Retired)
Reason for being involved in this project: Father of a child with special needs
Email: richkurzsr@gmail.com
Name: Sue Makuta
Employer: For the past 25 years taught
preschool for 4/5 year-olds. Accountant in Colorado, Wyoming, California
and Texas.
Volunteer History: Plano Special Olympics; ARC of Plano
President /Board Member; PISD Special Ed Advisory Committee Rep (7 years);
Pres. of Parent Literacy Committee for PISD Special Ed; one of 6 founding
members of PISD Parent's Committee for development of the Strategic Curriculum
for PISD Special Ed; and many varied committees and activities at PISD schools
my sons attended; Juvenile Diabetes Association. John and Sue were nominated for the Texas
Governor's Volunteers of the Year Award.
Reason for being involved in this
project: This
is the next level of need for my son, and other adults with intellectual
disabilities, in our community. We have worked very hard to help our son
have opportunities to realize his potential and try to be as independent,
social and happy as possible. As we get older, the concern rises for
him to have an affordable, safe, social and supported housing option where
he can live as independently as possible and enjoy his life.
Email: keoniku@verizon.net
Name: Donna Manhart
City: Rowlett , Texas
Employer: City of Garland, Senior Engineer
Volunteer history: Tutor Northlake Elementary 3yr,
Career Days Speaker for TSPE 2yr, TSPE Secretary 2yr, TSPE Membership2yr, TSPE
Engineer of the Year Selection Committee2011, HOA President 1yr, HOA board
member 3years, HOA newsletter.
Reason for being involved in this
project: I have a
son with Angelman Syndrome that needs to be part of a program that will meet
his needs. The DFW area does not have a program that is suited for his
disability.
Email: dmanhart@verizon.net
Name: Roseanne Terry
City: Richardson, Texas
Employer: Outcome Engineering, Research Librarian
Reason for being involved in this
project: We have an
adopted son from Russia who came to us with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome , the #1
preventable birth defect. The alcohol crosses through the mother's
placenta and bathes the developing brain in toxins. Sadly, once the
damage is done, there is no 'cure' only prevention of secondary disabilities
such as depression and substance abuse. The child may present with an
array of disabilities, depending on when and how much alcohol was
consumed. Our son can be somewhat independent, but needs supervision for
his medications, finances, social activities, and to prevent victimization.
Email: forum00@aol.com
Resume: LinkedIn
Name:
Gaylen and Mike Tharp
City: Plano, TX
Gaylen’s
Employer: Self employed as a special needs educational
consultant and social skills teacher.
Mike’s
Employer: Compliance Manager at AH Belo
Volunteer
history: Plano Kiwanis Club's Angels League. Plano Parks & Recreation's Therapeutic
Recreation programs. Local home school organization (Collin County
Homeschoolers Sharing Adventures in Learning) board member.
Reason
for being involved in this project:
We're interested in being involved in a housing project for the possible
future benefit of our 19-year-old son and other kids I've worked with.
We've thought about opening our own group home along with some sort of
community that would also offer social and enrichment opportunities.
Email:
shakyes@aol.com
Name: Sherry Wacasey
City: Greater Dallas Area
Employer: Arc of Dallas, Executive Director
Email: swacasey@arcdallas.org
Resume:LinkedIn