*Christy Coslet Center for Human Services Marshall, MO

2010 Board Elections

Please check the boxes of 4 candidates you would like to see serve on your APSE-MO board for the September2010- August2013 term.

NomineeOrganizationLocation

*Christy Coslet Center for Human Services Marshall, MO

*Mark OhrenbergServices for Independent Living Columbia, MO

*Darla Wilkerson Consulting Services & Information Network Kansas City, MO

Brian Garms Department of Mental Health St. Louis, MO

Manfred LeonhardNew Horizons Community Support Columbia, MO

Kelly OhrenbergHelping Hand of Goodwill Kansas City, MO

Lori Perdieu Department of Mental Health Kansas City, MO

Jennifer Turpin Learning Opportunities/Quality Works Monroe City, MO

*Denotes current APSE-MO board members with terms ending in August 2010 who are running for re-election.

Please review the individual bios beginning on the next page and return the first page of this ballot with your selections to:

or by mail to

Kathy Smith

Project RISE c/o Volunteer Services

Children’s MercyHospital

2401 Gillham Rd. Kansas City, MO 64108

COMPLETED BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 9/15/10

Board Candidates:

Christy Coslet – (Current Board Treasurer)

I have worked in the Human Services field for 16 years, starting at the MarshallHabilitationCenter in Marshall, Mo. From this experience I was able to obtain a position at the Center for Human Services, Marshall Cooperative Workshop, in 1997, where my experience with Employment Services began. I started as a job trainer on the workshop floor and performed this job for 3 years. I obtained knowledge in creating and implementing job related objectives and goals for individuals. In 2000, I changed positions and continued my work at CHS in the Community Living Department, providing community support to individuals wishing to obtain more independent living skills.

In March 2006, I transferred to the Sedalia office of the Center for Human Services, as the Lead Vocational Evaluator for the Community Rehabilitation Program. This was my first experience in assisting individuals to obtain community employment related goals. My job tasks included performing Vocational Evaluations and Employment Outcomes Services for individuals referred by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. In July of 2006, I was promoted to Supervisor of the CRP and in July 2007, again promoted to the Program Manager. I have completed several of the RCEP trainings and the Management Certificate Training Program offered through the RCEP program.

In February 2010, I relocated back to the Marshall office at the Center for Human Services and took a position as a Consumer Advocacy Services Professional, providing case management services. I currently have several individuals who reside at a previous habilitation center, which converted to on campus waiver homes in November 2009. I have met several people who have the desire to become competitively employed in their communities. It is my goal to advocate and assist with these individuals dreams for employment, even though employment in the community for those residing at a habilitation center or on campus waiver home is non-existent at this time.

My mission is to assist individuals in becoming as independent as they desire by promoting development and reducing the challenges of disabilities by creating partnerships with individuals, providers, families and communities. I agree with this mission statement and believe that creating employment objectives and goals that are attainable for individuals can provide someone the chance to feel as if they are a valued, respected and an equal member of the community. By educating both the individuals we serve and the community is the key to opening doors for employment opportunities. Individuals may need some assistance with identifying their strengths and what they have to offer businesses instead of focusing on what their disability doesn’t allow them to do and may need some information on supports offered so that they can make informed choices. They may need help in identifying objectives to attain their vocational goals. Some things that seem so unreachable, can be so achievable with the right small steps put into place. Education and networking in the community will open doors and business eyes to the fact that a disability, does not preclude them from being productive, hirable workers.

I feel that I can continue to provide APSE with additional outlooks and opinions on supported employment needs and growth from a different perspective now. I would bring with me the challenges faced in smaller, rural communities with possibly less work opportunities and more community obstacles to climb. This opportunity would allow me to strengthen and develop the services we provide at CHS to ensure we are able to present an excellent service to our individuals. I look forward to having the chance to network with others and share issues and strategies with others in the field.

Mark Ohrenberg– (Current Board Member)

I am the Youth and Community Advocate for Services for Independent Living in Columbia, MO. I coordinate and develop programs for youth with and without disabilities, from cooking classes to social networking and establishing a parent network. I was previously employed at the Institute for Human Development with the University of Missouri in Kansas City, where I worked on employment and transition projects throughout the state. I have a passion for seeing people with disabilities achieving employment that makes sense to them and that they’re passionate about. I have personally experienced the difficulty people with disabilities have in finding suitable employment and see it as my purpose to use my experience to support others. I have been involved in TASH, serve on the Missouri Planning Council (where I am Chairperson-elect) and serve as chair of the Planning Council’s Employment and Transportation Committee. As a board member, I bring to the table first hand experience in finding, getting and keeping a job. I feel I have a good way of helping people through the process, brainstorming ideas and coming up with solutions of how to move issues to the next level. I received the Bruce H. Scott Award from the Kansas City, MO Mayor’s Office on Disabilities that recognizes outstanding leaders in the disability field. I advocate for people with disabilities in school and in the community so that they have the same opportunities as any other individual.

Darla Wilkerson– (Current Board Member)

I have been in the human services field for over 23 years and have an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Masters in Public Administration. I started working in the field in the late 80’s for a sheltered workshop in Kansas where I was a production supervisor, case manager, and then job developer and job coach. I worked for a private rehab company for a short time doing job placement and then worked for an agency in the Kansas CityMO area where I was the Director of Vocational Services and converted two large day habilitation programs into communityemployment services.For 12 years I worked for the University of MO’s Regional Continuing Education program providing training and technical assistance for community providers in MO, KS, NE, and IA. Most ofmytraining and technical assistance was providing employment services but for the last 5 years I have worked very closely with agencies in NE and MO around organizational change & development, shifting from facility based services to community based employment services.I worked for the Department of Mental Health Division of Developmental Disabilities for a year and a half and in April 2010I started my own company, The Consulting Services & Information Network (THE CSI Network and provide a variety of services helping businesses discover solutions to everyday situations. I recently become certified as an Advanced Level Facilitator for Mental Health Recovery including Wellness Recovery Action Planning through the CopelandCenter and I have served as a Board Member of APSE-MO for the past 3 years. I would like to continue to offer my services to the chapter.

I am interested in serving another term on the APSE-MO Governing Board because of the mission, “to promote mutually beneficial relationships by supporting the employment of all persons with disabilities in jobs and careers of their choice”. I feel that my whole career aligns with the APSE-MO mission. I was actually one of the founding chapter board members back in 1994 and was president in 1999. After that I left the board for several years and then in 2007 was elected back to the board. The past three years has been a great experience serving with other passionate people who are motivated by the same outcomes to help promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities. I think I bring a wide range of experience and talent with my knowledge of the chapter’s history, my experience in employment services training, and my experience with organizational change and development. From my experiences I know what it is like to be a provider of services as well as a funder of services from the State perspective. I would like to continue to offer my skills in employment services training and advocacy and if elected for another term I am prepared to volunteer my time to promote APSE-MO’s mission. Thank you for your consideration to serve on your behalf.

Brian Garms

I am the Eastern District Advocacy Specialist for the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities. My primary roles include IEP development and dispute resolution, training individuals with disabilities on their rights and privileges as a Missourian, training DD staff on best practices for interacting with people with disabilities and preparing clients for job related skills such as interview preparation, resume writing and professionalism trainings. I have been a member of APSE-MO for the past year and volunteered my time as a presenter for this year’s Employment Summit. I would like to join the APSE-MO board because I would like to assist in making decisions about the direction Missouri is moving in as it relates to employment. I am especially interested in assisting with planning for training events and choosing speakers which will promote increased employment options. I feel this would be a great opportunity to share my knowledge and skills and expand my horizons.

Manfred J. Leonhard

I received my BA in Philosophy from the University of Missouri in 1988 with Latin honors. I have been employed as a Community Support Assistant for New Horizons Community Support Services, Inc. since 2001. I was certified as a Missouri Department of Mental Health Peer Specialist in 2009. I have served on the Missouri State Rehabilitation Council for seven years; as well as on the DMH Consumer, Family, Youth Leadership Planning Committee and the DMH Transformation Committee. I was nominated for the Mental Health Champion Award in both 2009 and 2010. I have co-facilitated the Columbia NAMI Connections Recovery Support Group since 2007.

I am interested in serving on the APSE Board to be a representative for persons with mental illness; to assist them to find meaningful employment, maximize their potential and to enrich their lives with the undeniable value that working provides.

I will bring to the APSE Board an eager, optimistic perspective on employment that will grow and evolve as I serve. Hopefully my outlook will reflect my belief in the value of and need for work while experiencing a disability. I will also bring an example of a success story: a person with severe mental illness who has been gainfully employed for over 10 years. As a member of the APSE Board I will strive to help others accomplish this as well.

I have been employed while having a serious mental illness for over 10 years. I am an example of a working individual with a disability to my agency’s clients. I have now worked long enough to earn disability benefits, and nearly enough to earn retirement benefits. Since I began working, I have felt a sense of being valued that has kept me out of the hospital for 13 years and has let me be a productive, tax-paying citizen. I want others to have the opportunity work provides to be valued and productive citizens.

Kelly Ohrenberg

I have been employed by the Helping Hand of Goodwill Industries for fourteen years. I currently hold the position of Manager of Kansas City Rehabilitation Services. In previous years I have provided direct care services; however, my job duties are now primarily administrative in nature. I have worked with individuals with varying disabilities, from mental retardation to mental illness to brain injury. Since beginning with Goodwill, I have been involved with both the evaluation and employment programs. Prior to my employment with Goodwill, I worked at Vocational Services, Inc. for two years as the Assistant Manager of Work and Personal Services.

I have a long history of providing employment services in the Kansas City area and an interest in continuing and expanding these services in a changing economic climate. I would bring to the board my knowledge and years of experience in this field and hope that I could be a positive contribution.

Lorie Perdieu

I am hoping by sharing my experience with others that it will encourage them to go as far as they can dream.

My name is Lorie Perdieu, I am 48 years old and I have a disability called arthrogryposis. It affects every joint in my body to some degree if not total rigidity. Doctors said for years there were no answers and that I should be institutionalized, my parents took me to the Shriner’s Hospital in St. Louis. After numerous surgeries, therapies, leg braces and crutches I walked for the first time when I was 9 years old.

I have been living independently in the community since I was 17 years old. I have much of what I call small accomplishments but the biggest ones I feel are my dreams to work and to drive (both things I was told I would never do). I rely on people to assist / do all daily living tasks that others take for granted and do for themselves everyday.

In August 2002, I began working as a MoCAN (Missouri Community Advocacy Network) Volunteer at the Kansas CityRegionalCenter advocating for People with Disabilities. I gave presentations on Awareness/Sensitivity to various businesses, organizations &/or groups of people in the 8 counties surrounding Kansas City.

In November 2002, I started pursuing my driver’s license. I was thrilled when I passed the permit test on my first try. In February 2003, I drove a sophisticated hand controlled van. My instructor was Chris Courtney of Driving Ambitions from El Paso, Texas. We worked together again in October 2003. After extensive training, I got my full license on October 29, 2003. Now I have a driver’s license and a fully equipped 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan for me to drive.

Thanks to Landmark Dodge and Vocational Rehabilitation, my life long dream of driving and being more independent now is a reality. It has not been easy making the monthly payments, but if there is one thing I have learned it is how to live on a tight budget. Ask any person with a disability about creative budgeting and just plain surviving. The freedom and independence I now have for the first time in my life of driving my van is well worth it.

MoCAN ended in July 2005. it was only a 3-year pilot program. I pursued several types of backing to continue this work. The result was to volunteer with the Kansas CityRegionalCenter offering what supports they could. My hope was first the same as was the hope of MoCAN and second while on my journey of volunteering anywhere I can that someone will adopt the whole idea of educating the community and self advocates everywhere will be speaking out.

In April of 2007 I helped create and become one of the founding members of the not-for-profit corporation called UNICORN, Inc. “Breaking the Myths of People with Disabilities.” As a representative of this corporation, I continued all of the presentations that I have been doing and much more to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Now I work through a new Ticket to Work Program as a state employee of the Kansas City Regional Office. My title is Advocacy Specialist. My duties are Non-Residential and Residential Utilization Reviews, Behavior Supports Rights Review weekly. I am available to the Quality Assurance/Administrative Staff and all Service Coordinators in a consultative role. I can assist in Person Centered Planning meetings. I offer Awareness/Sensitivity presentations for all provider agencies. I offer Self Advocacy training to consumers and help establish Self Advocacy groups within provider agencies. I offer Abuse/Neglect Prevention trainings to consumers.

My hopes are that through education about people with disabilities that the community will be more to full inclusion for people with disabilities in the community. In addition, Self Advocates will have the needed tools and opportunities to speak up and truly be heard.

I have had and will continue to have many personal experiences dealing with these Missouri top issues of concern: housing for people with disabilities, employment, transportation, Social Security, direct support workers, Medicaid. My story may sound like a success but it is a very hard and continuous struggle.

My point here is not to say “Hey look at me”. I truly want others with disabilities and those around them to realize that each of us had more ability and potential than we think. My pursuit of each of my dreams has been and continues to be very difficult, time consuming and sometimes even very painful physically, spiritually and emotionally. I truly feel like giving up sometimes. All the intense experiences I have been through and will continue to go through I believe is well worth it for me and for those self advocates I mentor to on what they truly can do.