I am currently a postdoctoral associate at Duke University with research interests at the intersection of machine learning and quantum information theory. I spend all of my free time with my wonderful child or working on neurodiversity-related initiatives. My special interest is working to develop more neurodiversity-affirming healthcare systems and educational practices. I currently co-facilitate a peer discussion group for neurodivergent individuals; and have also co-led several presentations on autism and neurodiversity for medical professionals, mental health clinicians, and academic staff respectively. I am constantly grateful to Neurodiversity Connections at Duke for the opportunity to become more involved in autism-related advocacy. My hope is that we can develop a world where everyone's unique perspective and way of communicating is valued and respected, and where all kinds of diversity are celebrated.

Corey is a mom of two wonderful children. One was born premature and has had high support needs ever since.  Corey has had moments of great success and great failure in navigating therapies and medical care, ultimately giving her a perspective unique to those who have not had to raise a child with high support needs that has multiple diagnoses.

She holds a Master of Public Health in Community Health and Health Behavior from the University of Buffalo, State University of New York and a Bachelor of Science from SUNY Brockport with a major in Psychology and Business Administration minor. She has nearly 10 years of experience leading projects focused on professional development and leadership and is skilled at program planning, implementation, evaluation and building strong relationships with diverse individuals and institutions.

As a board member she is excited to marry both her personal and professional experience to help children access quality therapies in a neurodiversity affirming environment.

Mimi received her B.A. in Graphic Design from North Carolina State University, but quickly discovered a love for marketing post-graduation. She spent the first half of her career marketing the retail and health industries, before becoming a proud mom to a bouncing baby boy in 2010. Several months into motherhood, she discovered that her son actually wasn't very "bouncy" at all. At 18 months, he was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. From that point on, marketing became more than just a profession. Mimi applied her experience to create a startup e-commerce business from the ground up, in order to accommodate a busy schedule of therapies, doctor visits, and hospital stays. She also applied marketing to her personal life, as she discovered a passion for advocacy and education. Mimi has spent the past decade fundraising for treatment, educating about SMA, promoting inclusion, and openly sharing her family's journey in hopes of normalizing how disabled people are viewed. Mimi is now a mom of two boys, and marketer at PPD, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific. She finds great reward working in the clinical research industry that has given her own family so much hope over the years.

Valerie is a mom of three! Despite having a different ability, she was able to obtain a degree in Psychology and a Master's in Social Work from Stony Brook University. She has her license in social work and worked in counseling for a couple of non for profits. Presently, she is a public speaker and has her first children's book, "Violet's Victory" coming out in Spring 2022.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Shreyas is a proud Arizonan majoring in public policy and statistics. He seeks to develop innovative policies to help neurodiverse people lead an independent life. At the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, Shreyas initiated a program to create inclusive science learning opportunities for autistic children that has won a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation. He also advocates for greater accessibility on campus through Duke Disability Alliance, Duke Student Government, and Neurodiversity Connections. In the future, Shreyas will continue this work by reforming healthcare delivery for populations with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He has pursued this career with internships at state and federal governments. During the pandemic, Shreyas interned with Arizona Medicaid where he informed the rollout of telehealth and helped protect members with developmental disabilities from exposure to COVID-19. After graduation, he plans to enroll in a joint MD/MPH degree so he can work at the intersection of long-term care, patient advocacy, and data-informed policymaking. In his spare time, Shreyas enjoys hiking, listening to podcasts, and skateboarding.

My name is Kerri I’m an adult who has lived experience with PT and OT growing up. I was born with a congenital heart defect and cerebral palsy. My experience as a child and teen led to my career and passion of being a mental health specialist for children and teens with chronic illness and disability. When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, relaxing, being outdoors and traveling.

Katie is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a certified ADA specialist and works with UNC's Disability Services office to help provide accommodations and adaptations for students on campus. In addition, Katie loves to advocate for and educate others about the ADA law, both within her community and the OT profession (she’s a self proclaimed ADA nerd). As a person who uses a wheelchair, she has a passion for ensuring that other disabled people have access to the same meaningful activities as everyone else! She has traveled to 6 of the 7 continents (Antarctica is not ADA compliant) and has been on over 10 different international mission trips to serve disabled people. Her favorite occupations include rooting for her New York Yankees, UNC Tar Heels and USC Trojans, traveling, spending time with friends and family, cooking, reading, and engaging in a competitive game of musical chairs.