Dr. Ailey is a nurse educator and researcher with experience in developing and delivering health promotion interventions to adults with intellectual disabilities and in training frontline staff in health promotion. She works to ensure that nursing students have experience with adults with intellectual disabilities. She is a member of Rush University Medical Center's ADA Task Force, the co-chair of the Rush Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Committee, and the Treasurer of the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities.

Dr. Allen has devoted the past 20 years to supporting people with I/DD through a variety of programs including employment, residential, social, sexual diversity, and other quality-of-life issues. He has written extensively on the intersection of intellectual disability and sexual expression and is the author of the path-breaking book, "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender people with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Retardation: Stories of the Rainbow Support Group," (Haworth Press, 2003). He is working on the forthcoming book, "Intellectual Disability and Sexuality: Understanding and Protecting Needs, Knowledge, and Rights," (Praeger Publishers).

Ms. Bancroft has been educating and entertaining nursing professionals for more than 25 years. Her style of teaching is one part pertinent new research, one part practical clinical application, and one part joy and 'belly-laugh' humor. You will leave her session intellectually renewed and invigorated, and better prepared to care for your patients. Barb has provided more than 2,200 continuing education seminars to health professionals throughout the US and Canada. She is the author of four books, and has taught Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Physical Assessment at the University of Virginia, the University of Arkansas, Loyola University of Chicago, and St. Xavier University of Chicago.

Ms Broda has been a nurse in the field of I/DD since 1993. She currently works as a Nurse Practitioner and Consultant for persons with I/DD who exhibit challenging behaviors with two teams in Canada (Solution-s in Ottawa, Ontario and SQETGC in Montréal, Québec). In 2010, she was appointed to the Nursing Faculty at McGill University in Montréal. She is a frequent speaker at the DDNA National conference and has most recently presented several videoconferences, which were broadcast provincially across Ontario. Ms. Broda is also a Past President of DDNA.

Dr. DeJoseph is a Primary Care physician with experience including addiction medicine and perinatal addictions. She is a consultant to the NJ/ NE FASD Center for Research and Education and the Mental Health Association in NJ. She has served on the NJ and Phila Task Forces on FASDs and on the National Task Force on FAS/FAE. She is active on the FASD Center for Excellence Expert Panel. Teaching experience includes multiple local and national engagements on FASDs, Women and Addiction, Strategies for Engaging Families affected by FASDs, and Brain Disease in Addiction. She has been a consultant to the CDC Northeast Regional Training Center, Seabrook House, and the ARC of Burlington County. Publications include contributing author in the CDC 2009 publication, "Preventing Alcohol Exposed Pregnancies, a Report of the National Task Force on FAS/FAE."

Ms Finck is a clinical specialist in psychiatric/ mental health nursing. She is the owner and president of Health Counseling Services, a nursing private practice that provides psychotherapy, nursing consultation, and education. For over 30 years, she has been involved in providing nursing consultation to group homes and day training centers for people with I/DD. Through Mental Health Counseling Services, an advanced practice psychiatric nursing clinic, she has a private psychotherapy practice offering individual therapy with a spiritual perspective. An author and educator, Ms. Finck's specialties include dysfunctional family systems, personality disorders, mental illness, professional boundaries, stress management, effective communication and relationships. She has taught college courses and professional workshops, and lectures extensively throughout the state of Minnesota.

Dr. Fischer completed his fellowship in gastroenterology in 1982, and has been in private practice since 1986. He has been a consultant to the Northern Virginia Training Center in Fairfax, Virginia, for more than 20 years, and a consultant to the Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg for more than 10 years.

Dr. Fletcher is the Founder and CEO of NADD (not-for-profit). He is the author of articles, book chapters, and books concerning mental health aspects in persons with intellectual disabilities. He has lectured across North America as well as in Europe on clinical issues concerning persons who have a dual diagnosis. Dr. Fletcher is the Chief Editor of the Diagnostic Manual - Intellectual Disability (DM-ID): A Textbook of Diagnosis of Mental Disorders in Persons with Intellectual Disability.

Ms Fossum works in community health nursing serving individuals with physical and cognitive challenges. A trained forensic nurse examiner certified in developmental disabilities, she serves clients once victimized who exhibit severe PTSD symptoms and other medical issues. She lectures about abuse and neglect recognition, and the role of the forensic nurse in the care of vulnerable populations.

Dr. David Fray is Chief of the Developmental Disabilities Division, Hawaii Department of Health providing statewide care to individuals with neurotrauma and I/DD. He is the Vice President of Education for the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. He is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics, John A Burns School of Medicine, LEND program. His professional interests are in health care policy, autism and geriatric care. He holds a long term care administrator board and license. His previous experience is as Assistant Director of Mental Health for the State of Arkansas, administrator of the Arkansas Health Center, and 14 years in a special needs dental practice.

Ms Hart is the Director of Child Life Services at Rush University Medical Center. She is known for her innovative work in using art to cope with illness and hospitalization. She is a founder and was on the Board of Directors of the Snow Cite Arts Foundation and was on the Board of Directors of Open Heart Magic. She is an author of the book "Therapeutic Play Activities for Hospitalized Children." Ms. Hart is an expert in using art and other activities to promote positive hospital experiences.

Kathleen Keating is the former Director of Nursing and Health Services for the New York State Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (formerly the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.) She has practiced in the field of developmental disabilities nursing for over 30 years. During that time, telephone triage has emerged as a critical task for registered professional nurses who work in the field. However, registered nurses are not taught this skill as part of their professional education. Recognizing the need for such training, Mrs. Keating teamed with a recognized expert in the area of telephone triage to develop a workshop specifically tailored to the needs of nurses in the field of I/DD nursing. Mrs. Keating has presented this curriculum more than 50 times both in her home state of New York, as well as in five other states, and at national conferences.

Mr. Lavoy has a BS in Special Education and has worked in Human Services for more than 30 years. He has worked for Washington County Mental Health Services in Barre,Vermont since 1994 and is the Director of Communication Training and Resources. In 2006 he received a Certificate of Recognition as a Master Trainer in Facilitated Communication Training from Syracuse University. Mr. Lavoy provides training and technical assistance to individuals with complex communication needs, as well as their families, support staff, and teams. He has been a member of the Vermont Communication Task Force since 2000 providing statewide trainings, workshops, and conferences to enable adults with I/DD in Vermont to communicate, make social connections, and participate in community life more fully.

Ms. McGinness has work as an educator and administrator in the field of I/DD since 1987. She founded and is Executive Director of three agencies: 1) Select Temps, Inc. - which is a staffing support service, 2)Select Healthcare, Inc. - a licensed home health care agency that works with the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to provide respite and hospital support services for children and adults with I/DD, and 3)Select Human Services, Inc. - a voluntary, not-for-profit agency that provides Medicaid Service Coordination, Waiver-Respite, and At-Home Residential Habilitation Services for children and adults with I/DD. In addition to providing health outreach in the field and administering these agencies, Ms. McGinness provides training for in-house paraprofessional and professional staff, as well as staff for other health and human service agencies.

Ms. Moore is co-owner of Innovative Outcomes, Inc., a privately held Texas-based company that provides an array of services to individuals with I/DD in residential and home settings. An RN for more than 25 years, she has worked in the field of I/DD for more than 20 years and is certified in the specialty of I/DD nursing. She has served on the Board of Directors for the DDNA since January 2002, and currently serves as its President. During the past 20 years, she has developed a multitude of nursing and health systems designed to address the needs of persons with I/DD in a variety of living environments - including systems for assessing and determining nursing support needs, establishing effective health intervention plans, and training & education for unlicensed direct support personnel. A familiar presence at local, regional and national forums, Ms. Moore advances the discussion of common health issues facing persons with I/DD and the practice concerns of nurses who work in the specialty of I/DD nursing.

Dr. Jeffrey Okamoto is the medical director of the Developmental Disabilities Division for the State of Hawaii Department of Health. He Is board certified in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics and is the program director for the Fellowship program in this field for the University of Hawaii. He is currently a Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation Public Policy Fellow in Washington DC for 2010 to 2011.

Ms Parker is the nurse on the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network, a mobile crisis team funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. She has 43 years of experience in working with people with mental and intellectual disabilities. She has been in administration the majority of these years. She is presently the Director of Health Services at Trinity Services.

Dr. Rader is the Director of the Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center at Orange Grove Center, Chattanooga where he is responsible for the implementation of novel and innovative healthcare programs for people with I/DD. He is the Editor in Chief of Exceptional Parent Magazine and a Past President of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. He has been an advisor to five former US Surgeon Generals in the area of health and disability. He is on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Health and Disability.

Dr. Rickler is Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University. He is a behavioral neurologist who consults at a free-standing psychiatric hospital where he teaches neurology to psychiatric residents. For the past 15 years, Dr. Rickler's practice has focused largely on the neuropsychiatric treatment of adults with developmental disabilities. He consults to a number of the adult I/DD agencies in RI, in addition to treating their clients.

Kim Shontz, MSW, LCSW, is the Deputy Director of the Behavioral Health Program at Trinity Services and the Director of the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network, a mobile crisis team funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services to provide crisis support team services in Northern and Central regions of Illinois. She is the former Director of the Oak Center for Dual Diagnosis, an innovative program developed to provide service and supports to individuals who are dually diagnosed with a developmental disability and a serious mental illness.

Ms Stolwyk was the first nurse in the state of Missouri to obtain certification in developmental disabilities nurse. In 2010 she co-implemented a successful regional health conference to address the significant health disparities of adults with I/DD. For the last 8 years of her 36 year career, she is proud to have served at Immacolata Manor as Community RN for 31 adults with disabilities, constantly pursuing excellence with them, their families and staff.

Tracy Thresher is an advocate for people with disabilities. He lives and works in Vermont. Tracy began typing to communicate in 1990 and was one of the first individuals with autism at Washington County Mental Health Services (a community-based service provider) to be introduced to it. He has presented at local, statewide, and national workshops and conferences. He has consulted with local schools, is a member of the Vermont Statewide Standing Committee and has worked for the Green Mountain Self-Advocates in Montpelier, Vermont. In Vermont, he mentors teenagers and adults. Most recently, Tracy has consulted at Syracuse University as a lead trainer.

Carl Tyler MD, MS is a clinician-researcher in the Medicine Institute of the Cleveland Clinic. Presently he is also an R-25 National Cancer Institute-sponsored fellow in Practice-based Research Design and Methodology at Case Western Reserve University. For the past 20 years, his primary clinical and research focus has been to improve the health and health care of adults and elders with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) through health professions training, education, and clinical research. In collaboration with Anil Jain MD and the eResearch service of the Cleveland Clinic, he is examining health and health service delivery to persons with I/DD through analysis of electronic health records. Drawing on this data, future work will incorporate health information technologies and practice-based clinical innovation to improve the primary health care of persons with I/DD.

Ms. Wrobel has been a pharmacist specializing in the area of I/DD for more than 30 years. She is President and CEO of The Pharmaceutical Advisor, a company that provides healthcare materials and education on a variety of topics. She has served on many committees that advocate for the best healthcare possible for individuals with I/DD and has been a member of the local and national Developmental Disabilities Nursing Associations (DDNA) for many years. She currently is a member of the education committee for national DDNA. In addition to her work on a local level, Nanette has been a national and international speaker for more than 10 years, providing education on disease state and medication-related topics to a variety of organizations.