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OK-AHEAD Fall Institute 2011 Speaker Information
Peggy H. Greenwell, Accessibility Specialist
Office of Technical and Information Services, US Access Board
Peggy H. Greenwell has been an accessibility specialist with the US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) since November l992. Her responsibilities include providing technical assistance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). She specializes in access issues related to recreation facilities and is coordinating the development of accessibility guidelines for facilities such as: sports facilities, amusement parks, play areas, golf facilities, swimming pools, boating and fishing facilities, and outdoor developed areas. Her work includes responsibility for the coordination of the Board's recreation rulemaking and has included three federal advisory committees, two of which were regulatory negotiations.
She is also responsible for the agency's training program. This includes the development of training programs and material for diverse audiences. The Board provides training through partnerships with various professional and trade associations, providing between 80-100 training sessions per year. Before joining the Board, she spent l7 years as a Division Manager with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George's County, Maryland. At this agency she was responsible for the Special Populations Division that provided Community-Based Therapeutic Recreation Program for Individuals with Disabilities. Her responsibilities also included ensuring that the Department met all Federal and State accessibility requirements for buildings and facilities. As the ADA Coordinator for this Department, she coordinated the survey work for more than 150 buildings and 240 outdoor sites.
She has a Bachelor's in Science Degree from the University of Maryland in Recreation with a Therapeutic Recreation option and a Master's Degree from the University of Maryland, University College in General Administration. She is a frequent speaker before organizations in the design, construction, and facility's management industries and has developed numerous training programs and seminars for those responsible for the application of the Accessibility Guidelines.
Rex Pace, Senior Accessibility Specialist and Technical Assistance Coordinator
US Access Board
Rex Pace serves as a senior accessibility specialist and technical assistance coordinator. In this capacity, he oversees the agency's provision of technical assistance to the public on accessible design and the Board 's ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines, including its toll-free help line and development of published guidance.
Pace has over 23 years of experience in accessible design. Most recently, he served as an accessibility architect with the Department of Justice's Disability Rights Section where he provided technical and architectural assistance on the ADA standards to staff attorneys and management and helped produce and illustrate technical assistance materials for public distribution. Before joining DOJ in 2006, he operated a consultancy specializing in accessible and universal design in Raleigh, North Carolina and earlier served as coordinator of technical assistance and a lead designer for the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University. He began work in this field in 1987 as a designer and illustrator at Barrier Free Environments, Inc. under his mentor Ron Mace, FAIA, a leading pioneer and renowned expert in accessible design.
Rick Barcus, Planning and Grants Management Director
Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council
Rick’s interests in the area of disabilities started as a staff member of the Oklahoma Areawide Services Information System (OASIS) in 1989. Rick joined staff of the Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council in 2000. His current position is Planning and Grants Management Director, in this role Rick seeks out and develops new projects for the Council. He manages and monitors the programmatic details and contract compliance of current project contracts. Rick is also the lead staff assigned to develop and write the Council’s 5-Year State Plan. He also serves as staff liaison to the Council’s State Plan Committee and conducts intensive research on new and best practices in the field of developmental disabilities and aging. Mr. Barcus will also serve as the co-chair of the Oklahoma United We Ride Council in 2012.
Rick tracks and reports on state and national legislative activities pertaining to the aging and disabilities populations, this information is shared with a broad base of statewide advocates. He has conducted training in the area legislative advocacy to several organizations and programs including OAALA. Rick is currently and has for the past 6 years been involved and worked with the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management, Emergency Managers and the state Functional Needs Taskforce to provide input and guidance on the need to provide appropriate and ADA compliant emergency preparedness, evacuation and sheltering services for people with disabilities and the elderly in our state. He has written and presented training in personal preparedness for these populations at numerous state conferences and agencies. Rick has served as a Technical Consultant, alongside other FN Task Force members in assisting Louisiana with ADA compliance in their emergency sheltering plans for those with functional needs.
Brenda Dawes, Assistive Technology Program Specialist
Oklahoma ABLETech
Brenda Dawes is an Assistive Technology Program Specialist and Marketing/Web Coordinator. She regularly provides trainings about assistive technology, accessible information and communications technology, and accessible instructional materials. Brenda has been an advocate in the disability field for many years. Joining Oklahoma ABLE Tech in March 1995, she worked as a training and evaluation specialist. Prior to joining Oklahoma ABLE Tech, she served as the coordinator for the Statewide Independent Living Council and the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council. She is a member of the state legislative electronic and information technology accessibility advisory council and provides technical assistance to the state. Brenda also currently serves as the secretary for the Oklahoma State Webmanagers Group. Ms. Dawes graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and English. She resides in Stillwater with her husband and their three daughters.
Lindsey Johnson, OU Web Communications - Portal Project Manager
Lindsey Johnson is the development project manager in Web Communication at the University of Oklahoma. Her days are spent working with the development team on new and innovative ways to engage and provide information to the University community and supporters. Lindsey earned a Bachelor of Art in Journalism (Professional Writing) from OU in 2002. In a previous life, she was a writer and editor at The Oklahoman.
Lindsey lives for adventure and food and most importantly adventurous food. Her other passions include her curly headed little girls and husband, cycling and music. She resides in Norman where you can usually find her playing outside with her girls, going to see music with her husband or planning the next adventure.
Libby Schaper, OU Web Communications - Interactive Developer
Libby is a Java developer who creates generic components for the CMS for a rich Web experience. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from UCO in 1999. When she's not programming, you can catch her playing soccer, winning departmental Wii bowling championships, traveling, or attending one of her kids'/bonus kids' events. Libby lives for travel, sports and family. So much so, that she loves playing sports while on vacation with her family.
Amanda Toohey, OU Web Communications CMS Migrations Manager
Originally from North Texas, Amanda crossed the Red River to attend the University of Oklahoma. After she graduated with a B.A. in Journalism, she began her career at OU, and eventually landed her dream gig with the creative and innovative Web Communications, Marketing and New Media team. When she isn’t helping OU departments share their story, Amanda tries to save the world - one cupcake at a time. Amanda also enjoys playing board games, cheering on the Sooners, encouraging sustainability, and hanging out with her little from Big Brothers Big Sisters. Amanda lives in Norman, OK with her husband, Ian, and miniature Schnauzer, Wilson. Amanda recently received a Master of Public Administration degree.
Ed Hatch, Program Developer, Moore Norman Technology Center
Ed Hatch is a Program Developer at the Moore Norman Technology Center where he researches needs and trends in the workplace and creates educational products to meet the needs of a constantly changing Oklahoma workforce. He is a "gadget guy" and committed life-long learner that has far too many hobbies to keep up with.