Michigan
Disability Rights Coalition (MDRC)
Meet Our Staff
Members
Use the following to help scroll down this page:
Norman
G. DeLisle, Jr. | Kathryn
Wyeth |Wade Handrich | RoAnne
Chaney | Teresa Christmas | Melinda Haus | Carolyn Lejuste | Joe Longcor | Theresa
Squires| Aimee Sterk |
Norman G. DeLisle, Jr. has been the Executive Director of Michigan Disability Rights Coalition since 1997, and has worked in disability advocacy since 1970. Norm has been a part of, and has worked with, Michigan's disability community in a wide variety of settings from school systems to medical programs and legal services. His educational background is in psychology with graduate work in developmental learning and Montessori. His work has always focused on the broad community of people with disabilities, and their long quest for self-determination and community inclusion. Norm has learned from personal experience what it is like to be disempowered and cut off from the support of friends and family. He believes that the true role of professional knowledge is to effectively catalyze the deepest hopes and dreams of all people. Human services systems are at their best for both consumer and provider when they do not forget this basic goal.
Norm has driven MDRC's effort to make web technologies a tool of education and advocacy for Michigan's disability community. In particular, he has used standards-based web design as the core of truly accessible web sites.
Kathryn Wakeman Wyeth
Kathryn Wakeman Wyeth is a program manager for Michigan Disability Rights Coalition. One of her major roles is directing the Michigan's Assistive Technology Project. She also imitated and directed the "Many Faces, One Voice" Digital Storytelling Project in 2007. Ms. Wyeth also works with a variety of internal ad-hoc and administrative teams. Kathryn has supported the work of grassroots groups in increasing access to Assistive Technology since 1997. She served as MDRC's Operation Director for seven years, approximately five of these years with Corrie Bair. Ms. Wyeth has extensive experience with presentations and in developing training for groups. She brings experience with issues related to remote/virtual office staff support needs, and skills in use of the internet as a communication, research and advocacy tool and in accessible web design.
Ms. Wyeth has over 25 years experience working with people with disabilities and families on both a state-wide and local level. She has worked with MDRC since 1994, initially as Education and Rights Coordinator, working primarily with a project designed to bring Michigan Rehabilitation Services staff together with people with disabilities in local teams working on issues which impacted employment. Prior to this she worked for Copper Country Mental Health for 9 years promoting person-centered planning through Community Supported Living Arrangements and inclusion in the community. She served as a governor - appointed member of the Statewide Independent Living Council for two terms ending in 2009 and as the vice chair of the council for one term. Ms. Wyeth previously served as a governor appointed member of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council representing local groups around the state (RICCs).
Wade Handrich
He began his career with MDRC in 2005 in the position of Administrative Accountant & Program Assistant, and as such came to assist the Administrative Director in the financial responsibilities for the organization. He is now responsible for the majority of the financial tasks. Wade has a B.A. in accounting from Goshen College.
His experience working for another Non-Profit makes him a good fit for MDRC. As part of his previous employment he spent considerable time in Africa. As a result of this he acquired a passion for travel and continues to have travel as a goal to experience.
RoAnne Chaney
RoAnne Chaney is a Program Manger for the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition. Her areas of expertise are Long-Term Care, community integration, and meaningful consumer involvement.
RoAnne has vast experience in disability and health care issues here in Michigan. Previously, she was a Senior Program Officer with the Center for Health Care Strategies in Princeton, New Jersey where she worked on Medicaid managed care issues. RoAnne was the Associate Director of the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living for ten years where she and a team developed a collaborative interagency process to assist individuals with a variety of significant disabilities leave nursing home settings to live in the community. RoAnne has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a Master of Public Administration from Eastern Michigan University.
Teresa Christmas, Office and Communications Coordinator.
Teresa can be reached at extension 315.
Melinda Haus
Melinda Haus has advocated for disability rights for 10 years. She has worked at Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc. and was a co-founder of the Michigan State University Council for Students with Disabilities.
Melinda first joined MDRC as an MSW intern in August 2005 and joined our staff as the Leadership Development Coordinator in January 2006. Melinda is currently finishing up her Masters Degree in Social Work and her long-time goal is to start a non-profit organization that enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Carolyn Lejuste
Carolyn Lejuste, PhD has worked in the field of disability rights since 1978. With over 20 years experience of organizing both in her professional and private life, Carolyn has understood community organizing as a powerful tool of change. Carolyn values continuing education, and was recently certified by the Fielding Institute in Dialogue, Deliberation, and Public Engagement.
Carolyn founded the Center for Disability Leadership (CDL), a W.K. Kellogg funded project from 1993 to 1996. CDL was structured after the SALT program at Highlander Education and Research Center. Many of the people who attended the CDL workshops continue to be active in Michigan's disability rights advocacy community.
Joe Longcor
Joe Longcor started in April 2005 as the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG)Project Manager. The purpose of the MIG project is to develop policy recommendations, conduct analyses necessary, and complete the planning necessary for Michigan to remove barriers and build infrastructure to effectively support the employment of individuals with disabilities. Joe is responsible for coordinating the efforts of multiple administrations within MDCH (Michigan Department of COmmunity Health), other state agencies, consumers and advocates and other stakeholders and other grant staff and contractors; ensuring that the work plan is followed and goals are achieved, and operating the grant within its budget.
This position is located at and will work under the direction of Michigan Department of Community Health's Office of Consumer-Directed Home and Community-Based Services.
Theresa Squires, Leadership Development Coordinator
She works on the Connections for Community Leadership and Proud of Myself grants, to help people with disabilities, specifically those with developmental disabilities become leaders. Theresa also works on the Including Our Neighbors grant and the Informed Communities grant.
She is a Certified Peer Support Specialist. Theresa proudly identifies as a member of the Disability Community, and she is passionate about disability culture, history, and pride. Previously to working at MDRC, she served one year as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
Aimee Sterk
Aimee Sterk is a Project Coordinator with MDRC. She is dividing her time between the AT project, Building Your Financial Future, and Walk & Roll and other fundraising activities.
Most recently, Aimee worked with the Michigan Department of Community Health overseeing the implementation of the Money Follows the Person grant. Prior to that, many of us got to know her in the nearly four years she worked for Lakeshore Center for Independent Living. Aimee can be reached at MDRC, extension 329.