In order to bring you a stellar conference program, we have selected presenters that whose individual lives are as relevant to the Community as the issues they are addressing. The majority of our speakers hold advanced degrees in their field. Their accomplishments precede them and 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.

Karen K. Bone, CTRS
Therapeutic Recreation Department, Illinois Neurological Institute
Karen Bone has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for 12 years.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport, Health, Leisure and Physical Studies from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.  She has experience in working with all different age groups from children with disabilities to adults with dementia.  Karen has presented in Missouri, Illinois and Minnesota on topics ranging from understanding strokes and spinal cord injuries to introducing leisure into our daily lives as health care workers.  Karen is currently serving as the Central Region Co-Chair for the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Association in addition to working full-time as a Recreation Therapist on the inpatient rehab unit at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois.

Workshop:
Re-Creating Recreation
Saturday, July 10, 2010

Mary Anne Ehlert
Founder and President, Protected Tomorrows
Mary Anne Ehlert is a financial professional and sister to an individual with disabilities.  She is highly regarded as a specialist in working with families of individuals with disabilities, and serves on the boards of several organizations, including Special Olympics of Illinois.  She speaks to conferences and other audiences on financial planning, and has recently completed her book, entitled "The Gift I Was Given."
Protected Tomorrows, Inc enhances the lives of people with developmental disabilities through a comprehensive life planning process.  Its nationwide network of Advocates create Future Care Plans, which include the educational, residential, financial, legal, health care, government benefits, employment and recreational needs of the individual with special needs.  Protected Tomorrows’ passionate team of professionals all have a personal connection to the special needs community, so they understand the concerns of families firsthand. It drives them to continuously identify, design and implement solutions to life planning, bringing peace of mind to families about the years ahead for their loved one.

Workshop:
Bringing You Protected Tomorrows: Your Journey Through an Eight Step Special Needs Planning Program
Saturday, July 10, 2010

Pam Ferris
NCPAD Coordinator/Adaptive Fitness Specialist
Pam Ferris received her B.S. as a Health and Fitness Specialist from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC in 2006. She has been working in the field of health and fitness for 3 years as a personal trainer and currently as the NCPAD Coordinator/Adaptive Fitness Specialist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Pam joined the RIC and NCPAD team in December of 2008 and contributes to the NCPAD team by helping with the production of home exercise videos specifically designed for people with physical disabilities.

Workshop:
Exercise for Anyone with a Disability
Friday, July 9, 2010

Jani Nayar
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH)
The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH), founded in 1976, is an educational nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of all travelers with disabilities, remove physical and attitudinal barriers to free access and expand travel opportunities in the United States and abroad. Members include travel professionals, consumers with disabilities and other individuals and corporations who support our mission.

Workshop:
Travel Made Easy - Tips for People with Disabilities
Saturday, July 10, 2010

Michele Ohmes & Maddie
Owner, Michele & Associates
Michele with her service dog Maddie are the delightful “M&M” team. Humor with common sense solutions makes Michele a highly requested speaker throughout the country. As the author of a manual for public/commercial buildings for accessibility, Michele also trains on Home Modifications to students and rehab therapist and as a volunteer speaker for AARP.

Workshop:
Home Modifications - Keep It Simple and Straightfoward (KISS)
Friday, July 9, 2010

Michelle Saunders Haney, PT, MSPT
Director, Euro-Peds National Center for Intensive Pediatric Physical Therapy
Haney began her career in Intensive Pediatric PT in 2001 at Euro-Peds where she was evaluating and administering individualized intensive therapy for children and young adults who had a wide variety of gross motor disorders.  She has been the Director of Euro-Peds since 2003.  Haney earned her Physical Therapist degree and a Masters in Childhood Education from Central Michigan University.

Workshop:
Getting Intense: Treating Cerebral Palsy to Maximize Your Child’s Potential
Saturday, July 10, 2010