DBTAC: Southeast ADA Center

Training Team

The DBTAC: Southeast ADA Center (Southeast DBTAC) has a refined and expansive training structure to deliver information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the general public as well as offer customized training tailored to the specific needs of target populations.

Our Regional Training Team of ten individuals with and without disabilities is highly qualified to train on all Titles of the ADA and has expertise of disability issues in such areas as housing, transportation, community inclusion, technology, case law and policy development.

Nancy Duncan, Georgia

Nancy is the Director of Disability Resource Group (DRG) and has been its chief executive since its inception in 1994. She has worked for thirty years in the disability field. Her work has included service delivery and administration in substance abuse, seniors with disabilities, people with vision loss, and young adults with severe disabilities. She has conducted national workshops in the field of disability rights law and was a lead trainer for three years with Project Implement, a NIDRR-funded project designed to teach people with disabilities their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

She currently conducts an average of four workshops per month for a wide variety of audiences. Nancy has been blind since her teens and is the mother of three children one of whom has multiple disabilities. Nancy answers a statewide hotline and is aware of the serious issues faced by Georgians with disabilities. DRG has as its major objective the bringing about of full participation by, and inclusion of, all people with disabilities in all aspects of life throughout Georgia.

Karen Hamilton, North Carolina

Karen was designated by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities as a Southeast DBTAC State Partner in 1999. Ms. Hamilton has a background in working with grassroots advocacy groups promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities. Her work with various grant projects has provided her with the ability to lead the North Carolina ADA Network. She has successfully designed a statewide ADA network comprised primarily of grass roots disability-run organizations interested in facilitating voluntary compliance with the ADA.

To meet the unique needs of NC, a system of ADA Projects has been implemented. Currently, there are 24 ADA Projects across the state of NC addressing issues such as accessible parking, alternate dispute resolution, and training for building code officials. Ms. Hamilton's leadership in NC has allowed her to provide mentoring to other states in the region regarding the unique approach to implement voluntary ADA compliance in the state. Ms. Hamilton has a Master’s Degree in Education.

Cheri Hofmann, Florida

Cheri is the ADA/AT Program Coordinator for the Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida (CILNWFL) and Southeast DBTAC ADA Information Specialist and Training Team Member. Prior to these positions, she served as a paralegal for the United States Air Force for 16 years including working with the federal EEO Office.

As a Southeast DBTAC Information Specialist & Training Team Member, Ms. Hofmann provides ADA technical assistance, referrals, and up-to-date resource materials to businesses, state and local government entities, schools, DBTAC affiliates and consumers in eight states. She also serves as the Lead Moderator for the DBTAC’s moderated version of the online Basic ADA Webcourse, , manages ADA related monthly audio conferences, and maintains the Southeast DBTAC’s ADA Training and Events Calendar. She develops and presents educational programs and/or workshops on the ADA.

Ms. Hofmann has also has served as an in-house ADA consultant to staff and board members of the CILNWFL and the Florida Alliance for Assistive Service and Technology (FAAST). She has served as liaison to local businesses, code enforcement officials and architects regarding ADA compliance for four counties in NW Florida. She has been responsible for coordination and assisting in a four county region in Florida for policies, practices and procedures relating to persons with disabilities as well as tracking progress relating to its policies and procedures.

Jack Humburg, Florida

Jack is the Director of Housing Development and ADA Services at Boley Centers for Behavioral Health Care, Inc. In this capacity, Mr. Humburg serves Southeast DBTAC’s partner for the state of Florida and has organized a statewide ADA network to help facilitate voluntary ADA compliance. Mr. Humburg is well-known for his work in the employment and his expertise in affordable and accessible housing. He has developed extensive ties with the business community, in particular with the hotel/motel industry. Mr. Humburg is a member of the Southeast DBTAC’s Regional Training Team and has co-trained with DBTAC staff on numerous occasions.

In addition to his ADA responsibilities, Mr. Humburg is responsible for the development of training on the Fair Housing Act throughout Pinellas County and the development of affordable housing at Boley Centers. Mr. Humburg holds a Master of Arts degree from Ball State University. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a licensed provider to the State of Florida, Division of Worker's Compensation and a Certified Professional of Occupancy and currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Caring and Sharing Center for Independent Living.

Shelley Kaplan, Georgia

Shelley has served in the role of Principal Investigator and Project Director since the establishment of the Southeast DBTAC in 1991. She is responsible for establishing a regional infrastructure designed to facilitate voluntary ADA compliance that is operated by people with and without disabilities. Ms. Kaplan received her initial ADA Training as a member of the Department of Justice/Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ADA Training and Implementation Network conducted by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund and is a frequent speaker at national, regional and state conferences on wide range of topics including all Titles of the ADA and is co-author of several ADA-related publications and online courses, including “A Framework for Providing Telecommuting as a Reasonable Accommodation: Some Considerations on a Comparative Case Study;" At Your Service: Welcoming Customers with Disabilities to Your One Stop; and ADA Basics: An Introductory Online Course to the ADA.

Ms. Kaplan has a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and is a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist.

Linda Priest, Georgia

Linda is the CEO of ADA Consulting Services and provides a wide range of assistance to those with obligations and protections under the ADA. Services include training on all five titles of the ADA, assistance with determining readily achievable barrier removal, reasonable accommodations in the work place, accessibility surveys of facilities, and programmatic access under Title II.

Prior to her retirement, Ms. Priest was the State ADA Coordinator for the State of Georgia working under two Governors to assist with ADA compliance within the many departments and agencies of state government. She traveled extensively throughout the State of Georgia training and assisting with ADA compliance activities. She created many innovative opportunities for various entities to interact including a collaborative effort between the Georgia Building Authority and the Office of Planning and Budget. With the assistance of this committee she was responsible for allocating ADA funds provided by the state legislature to correct accessibility issues within state facilities. Additionally, she created the Variance Committee, a collaborative effort between the Fire Marshal’s Office, the Georgia Building Authority and people with disabilities. This committee continues to be responsible for making decisions regarding requests for variances from the ADAAG and the Georgia State Access Code.

Before her work as the State ADA Coordinator, Ms. Priest was employed as the Training Coordinator for the Southeast DBTAC. She assisted in the development of the Center starting at its inception. During her work at the Center she covered an eight state area working with both state and local government leaders, private business and people with disabilities providing training, technical assistance and promoting voluntary compliance with the ADA. Ms. Priest continues to work with the Southeast DBTAC as an Information Specialist and Training Team member.

Ms. Priest graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgia State University with a degree in the College of Education. She is a licensed and certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. In previous years she worked for Shepherd Center, Emory Rehabilitation Center and Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Center. She received her initial ADA Training as a member of the Department of Justice/Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ADA Training and Implementation Network conducted by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.

Julia Sain, North Carolina

Julia has been working at Disability Rights & Resources (DR&R), formerly known as Programs for Accessible Living (PAL) in Charlotte, North Carolina since 1984. She has been a Peer Counselor’s Assistant, ADA/Advocacy Coordinator, Assistant Director, Interim Director, and currently, Executive Director. She is a sign language interpreter and founder of the local chapter of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). Ms. Sain became the Executive Director of PAL in September 1997. Since that time she has been active with the Southeastern Center Directors Association, Region IV’s coalition of center directors. She has held the offices of Secretary, Vice-President, and President.

Ms. Sain received her initial ADA Training as a member of the Department of Justice/Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ADA Training and Implementation Network conducted by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. Since that time, she has conducted numerous trainings on all Titles of the ADA. She has also performed national, regional and state-wide training sessions on independent living philosophy, history of independent living, and CIL standards, assurances and indicators.

In 2003 DR&R became the contracted Technical Assistance Coordinator for the Southeast DBTAC. In that capacity she has served as part of the Southeast DBTAC technical assistance team by answering ADA-specific questions from individuals living in the eight southeastern states.

Ms. Sain has a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC.

Robert Todd, Georgia

Robert is a Research Scientist II at the Georgia Institute of Technology Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA). He was the project director of the CATEA initiative in Electronic and Information Technology and the Georgia Tech Research on Accessible Distance Education (GRADE). He directs related research on the usability and accessibility of online resources and is a lead designer and instructor for the Georgia Tech Professional Education certificate courses in Creating Accessible Web Sites and Usability Engineering. He is the project director of the CATEA Training initiative, responsible for designing and coordinating training and related evaluation across multiple federal projects. He is a member of the Georgia Virtual Schools Task Force, a body of educators charged with researching and creating standards for statewide online education.

Mr. Todd has been teaching at the university level since 1990, and has conducted courses at Emory University, Georgia State and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Since 1996 he has regularly provided seminars, conference courses and professional education training to attendees throughout the nation and Europe. He has developed a substantial network of researchers and professional training contacts in accessible education and web design, exemplified by the nationwide attendance at the GRADE project’s 2005 Leadership Institute. Mr. Todd received the Georgia Tech Best Practices Award for 2005 for leadership of the Access E-Learning project to create online training on accessible distance education. His current research focuses on the uses of assistive technology in accessibility of online education for all students and on web usability/accessibility.

Mr. Todd holds an M.S. degree in Information, Design and Technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as an M.S. degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Georgia State University.

Pamela Williamson, Georgia

Pamela is employed as the Director of Training and Technical Assistance at the Southeast DBTAC. She coordinates the project’s core services of training and technical assistance for an eight-state region. Ms. Williamson manages the Technical Assistance and Training Teams and serves as a mentor to project affiliates. She answers questions received on the project’s toll free hotline and conducts numerous trainings on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Air Carrier Access Act, accessible information technology, and network building. Ms. Williamson has also been instrumental in developing and implementing three online courses: ADA Basic Building Blocks (public version), Basic ADA Building Blocks (moderated version), and Welcoming Customers with Disabilities. In addition, she assisted in the development of the curriculum, Serving Customers with Disabilities in Air Travel.

Prior to her position with the Southeast DBTAC, she worked as the Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) Coordinator and Advocate for the Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities in South Carolina. Her past experience also includes working with children who receive special education services and geriatric populations.

Ms. Williamson has close family members with significant disabilities and has worked professionally with people with disabilities for over 25 years. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.

Christine Woodell, Mississippi

Christine is a person with a significant physical impairment. She received her initial ADA Training as a member of the Department of Justice/Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ADA Training and Implementation Network conducted by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. She also attended the National Council on Independent Living’s ADA training program. In addition, she attended Fair Housing School to extend her knowledge of laws impacting the lives of people with disabilities. Christine is the former president of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities, was chairperson of the Biloxi Mayor’s Awareness Committee where she headed the Site Review Committee and has previously served as the Mississippi ADA Network Administrator for the Southeast DBTAC. She is a founding Board Member of the Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center and currently serving her second year as President of the Board.

Ms. Woodell’s professional expertise and personal experience with post polio makes her an invaluable leader in strengthening the DBTAC’s regional network. She has continually expanded her expertise by taking advantage of all training opportunities available. She participated in the NIDRR-funded National Access to Public Schools “train-the-trainer” program and is one of ten regional trainers designated to provide ADA Assistance to public school administrators. Ms. Woodell is a member of the Southeast DBTAC’s Technical Assistance and Regional Training Teams and helps moderate the Southeast DBTAC’s moderated version of the online Basic ADA Webcourse. She is routinely called upon to conduct as well as co-conduct training programs both in Mississippi and in other states in order to enhance the training skills of her less experienced colleagues.

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