Meet the Workshop Speakers!
Here are 2022 Abilities Expo presenters.
Check back 3 months out to find out what's in store for 2023.
Meet the speakers for the Abilities Expo workshops! They are people whose individual lives are as relevant to the Community as the issues they are addressing. Our speakers have years of experience and are highly knowledgeable in their fields. Many are recognized nationally and within their state for their ongoing work with people with disabilities. All our speakers have apparent and non-apparent disabilities, work in the disability field, or are the sibling or parent of a person with disabilities.
Wayne Broadfield, III, AIA
Associate Director of Architecture Services, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
Wayne Broadfield joined PVA in 2018 after seventeen years of private sector architectural design and construction experience, including accessibility reviews, as an associate and senior project manager of an award-winning firm in Washington DC. He has served as president of the Potomac Valley chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and currently sits on the board of directors of the AIA Maryland. He also is the current Mid-Atlantic region director of the Young Architects Forum, a program of AIA National's Center for Emerging Professionals. Since being with PVA, Mr. Broadfield has successfully advocated to maximize accessibility on numerous projects throughout the United States. He has also provided technical assistance on residential renovation projects specifically focused on improving accessibility. Mr. Broadfield is a licensed architect in Maryland and holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University).
Workshop: Accessible Home Design: The Basics
Kristy Durso
Founder and Owner, Incredible Memories Travel
Kristy Durso, founder and owner of Incredible Memories Travel, is on a mission to change the face of travel for those with special needs. A homeschooling mom who has lived around the world with her active duty military husband and their children, Kristy has traveled extensively and has experienced the shortcomings in accessible tourism firsthand. She began using a wheelchair in 2019; she has a genetic disorder, and a pair of autoimmune disorders. Additionally, all three of the Durso children have special needs. Her daughter has the same genetic disorder as Kristy and over two dozen food allergies, her older son has Asperger's Syndrome, and the youngest has profound cognitive disabilities. Traveling, educating those in the travel industry about accessibility, and taking care of those with special needs have become Kristy's passions. When not running her business and traveling, she enjoys holding her extremely spoiled dog.
Workshop: Accessible Memories: Defying Limits One Destination at a Time
Justin Graham, NASM-CPT, FNS
WOW Wheelchair Fitness
Justin Graham, creator of WOW Wheelchair Fitness, is a Certified Personal Trainer who has been working with the disability community since 2018. He has taught classes with Paralyzed Veterans Association (PVA), Triumph Sports Festival, Ability360 in Phoenix, Spina Bifida Association, and the Abilities Expos shows around the country. His dynamic charm attracts everyone to join his wheelchair fitness classes, combining strength training with dance, pom-poms, and just plain fun! Justin teaches fitness classes daily on the virtual platform WOW Wheelchair Fitness, which provides consistent, organized fitness and personal training via online sessions to increase healthy happiness in the disability community! Whether seated, standing or rolling, W.O.W. is designed for everyone to use! Justin excels at enticing even the shyest student to play along and get valuable exercise. Justin is based in Phoenix, AZ where he teaches live classes and one-on-one personal training in addition to his online classes. His joyous energy is a gift, bringing people of all ages and abilities together to dance with their peers.
Workshop: WOW Wheelchair Fitness Class
Kelly L. Green
Executive Director, Help Hope Live
Kelly has been executive director of Help Hope Live since November 2017. The daughter of a transplant recipient, Kelly not only believes in the mission of Help Hope Live, but she also once used the service and it "completely changed her life." She feels honored and proud to lead an organization that provided hope and help to her family during her mother's journey to transplant in 2007. Kelly describes herself as a mother, a daughter of her hero, a battle-tested unifier, and a thought leader. She has more than 20 years' experience working in and leading nonprofit organizations and has dedicated her life to civic engagement. Kelly has proudly served as the CEO of Variety – The Children's Charity; director of Montgomery County, PA Voters Services; and deputy director for the Institute for the Study of Civic Values in Philadelphia. In 2018, Kelly was recognized with Main Line Today's Women on the Move Award for redefining success around Philadelphia's Main Line and western suburbs. Kelly is a connector, a person who needs to infuse each day with a lesson and inspire others to be the one makes someone else's day just a little brighter. She places value in small acts of kindness. She is a self-proclaimed activist, but most people just see her as someone who believes everyone deserves dignity and respect. She knows firsthand how broken our healthcare system is and is determined to help place medical needs in reach to those in need!
Workshop: Discover How to Pay for Everything You See Today
Jay Gupta, RPh, MTM Consultant, C-IAYT
Jay Gupta, RPh, MTM Consultant, C-IAYT
Jay Gupta is the Director of Pharmacy & Integrative Health at a health center in New Hampshire. He is also the President of YogaCaps, Inc. and RXRelax. Jay is a pharmacist, medication expert, DePrescription leader and international speaker. He has been recognized by Cardinal Health, by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and by Next Generation Pharmacists/Pharmacy Times for excellence in integrative therapies. His clinical trial in 2020 studied the effects of therapeutic telehealth yoga for healthcare professionals during a pandemic and indicated significant reduction in anxiety, depression, insomnia, and PTSD symptoms.
Workshop: Polypharmacy: Finding Solutions for Multiple Medication Overload
Presented by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Debra Kerper
Easy Access Travel
Debra Kerper's desire to pursue a career in travel for persons with special needs and seniors came from her personal experience as a physically challenged traveler. Debra has lived with Lupus since the age of 20 and became a below knee amputee at the age of 29. She has undergone over 30 surgeries and has spent much time using a wheelchair as well as enjoying long periods of good health and short distance walking. She has a very keen understanding of medical ailments and disabling conditions resulting from excessive time spent in hospitals and outpatient rehab facilities. In February 2016 Debra had serious vascular problems resulting in the amputation of her left leg. Adjusting to life as a bilateral amputee has not been easy. Debra did not allow this new life changing event to get in her way - she continued to work full time and travel. Since the surgery, she has escorted groups to Alaska, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Ireland, New Zealand, the British Isles, Israel, and Hawaii. Her mantra is "Just Doing It Differently". Access resources, see photos, and ask questions at EasyAccessTravel.com.
Workshop: Access the World: Tips for Traveling with a Disability
Sonny Mullen
Director of Outreach, Help Hope Live
Sonny Mullen is from the Philadelphia area and spent the first part of her career in New York City working in television. She joined Help Hope Live in 2016, first working in the Finance Department and now proudly serves as the Outreach Manager. In this role she has helped build the Outreach department with the goal of bringing Help Hope Live's mission to a wider audience. Growing up with a younger brother living with GRIN1 Disorder, Sonny has a personal connection to Help Hope Live's mission. She is happy to use her experiences, both at home and with Help Hope Live, to connect and speak with individuals in the disability community all over the country, with the goal of helping them safely fundraise for their medical and related expenses.
Workshop: Discover How to Pay for Everything You See Today
Andre Sam
Disability & Special Needs Project
Andre Sam is a comprehensive Disability & Special Needs Planner with SilverTree Special Needs Planning. Upon earning a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Arizona, Andre began a career in comprehensive disability and special needs planning. Andre has been in the industry for seven years working with individuals and families with special needs and disabilities. Andre is currently part of a non-profit organization called the Special Needs Education & Advocacy Project. Through this non-profit organization, Andre gives back by donating his time during evenings and on the weekends sharing his knowledge by providing complimentary educational presentations to organizations and groups who have loved ones that are part of the special needs and disability community. Learn more about the Disability & Special Needs Project.
Workshop: Disability and Special Needs Planning Made Easy
Brittney Walters, BA
Assistive Technology Instructor, East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind
Growing up blind herself, Brittney has been using assistive technology (AT) for over 20 years. She joined the Lighthouse team as the Assistive Technology Instructor after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Tyler. Brittney has experience teaching one-on-one and group AT classes to people of all ages and all levels of vision loss. She brings extensive knowledge of the technology used by individuals who are blind and visually impaired along with a passion for teaching. Brittney is JAWS and ZoomText certified, a graduate of the Professional Mastery of Office Technology for Employment Program, a graduate of ETLB's Assistive Technology Instructor Program and is an approved AT Trainer through UNT's Assistive Technology Unit for the Texas Workforce Commission Vocation Rehabilitation Services. In her spare time, Brittney enjoys being with family and spending time with her dog, Holly.
Workshop: Out of the Box Accessibility: Windows and iOS features for the Blind and Visually Impaired