Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

COMMISSIONERS

Leah Shannon is the current chair of the Commission. Re-elected for 2010. New election July 2010.

Leah currently works as Administrative Services Coordinator for Life Center, INC., a human services agency that is a provider of in-home and residential services for people with disabilities.  She has been with the agency since 2003.

From 1986 to 1988 Leah served as a light wheeled vehicle mechanic in the United States Army.  After getting out of the Army she got a job as a security guard at a retirement community.  In about 6 month’s time, she was promoted to assistant manager of the community and felt like she had found her niche, working with senior citizens.  She went on to study gerontology at Madonna University.

But she feels that it was her early years spent in Girl Scouting, working alongside her mother and grandmother, which fostered her passion for volunteerism and advocacy.

Leah also delivers holiday meals to homebound seniors for the Senior Alliance.

Contact Leah Shannon via Leah (at) dearborn-disabilities (dot)org

Nancy was appointed to the Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns in 2003 by Mayor Michael Guido. She is the vice-chair of the commission.  She has over twenty years of experience as a fully licensed Clinical Counselor and Social Worker working in a variety of S settings. She is currently engaged in a private practice assisting adults and families coping with depression, chronic illness/disability, or life change issues. In addition to her work history, Nancy has the very personal experience of having multiple sclerosis and is a recent cancer survivor. She is a past President of the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association and is on the Chapter Programs Committee of the Michigan Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Contact Nancy Bower via nancy (at) dearborn-disabilities (dot) org or phone: (313)561-6804

Gary Filiak is married and has two sons. He has been a resident of the City of Dearborn for
over 50 years. Gary has been a caregiver for his father who had a stroke. He is a Vietnam
Veteran with a disability.
Gary has been employed with the City of Dearborn for over 30 years in the City Parks Division.
He is a committee member of the Michigan branch of the Very Special Arts program within the
City of Dearborn’s Cultural Arts Division. He is a member of the Christian Reform Church of Dearborn.

Contact Gary Filiak via  gary (at) dearborn-disabilities (dot) org

Mary Hodak is a retired High School teacher. She has a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Detroit and a Masters degree from Wayne State University, and a Specialist Degree in Gerontology from University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Mary had been in the Dearborn School system as an Assistant Principal & as a Supervisor Adult and Community Education and in the School Mentor Program. She was also a high school math teacher. Mary has memberships in the Detroit Zoological Society, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Smithsonian Institute, the National Audubon Society,~ Fairlane Association, and the HI-Hopes Stroke Club. She has been listed in the Who’s Who in the America’s Teachers in 1990, 1992, and 1998. Mary’s role on the Commission is an advocate for the rights and needs of people with disabilities. This was really precipitated by her husband, George, becoming incapacitated due to multiple health problems and was unable to speak or care for himself. So as an advocate and caregiver, she has gained invaluable knowledge and vision for people with disabilities

Contact Mary Hodak via  mary (at) dearborn-disabilities (dot) org

Cathy McAdam is pleased to have served as the chair person for the Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns through September 2008. Cathy has over 20 years experience in rehabilitation medicine as a medical social worker. In 1999, she started a small business as a career development consultant, disability advocate, and access technology specialist. She is a primary consultant for DiverseAbility promoting career opportunities for people with disabilities.  (http://www.diverseAbility.com ) She leads an assistive technology grant for MDRC,  (http://www.copower.org ) and a tutor program for Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired. ( http://www.gdabvi.org ) Cathy was married to an articulate wise man and notes that his untimely death from AIDS has shaped her work as an advocate for people with disabilities and chronic illness. And, she has a loyal and frisky guide dog whose name is Ginger.

Contact Cathy McAdam via cathy (at) dearborn-disabilities (dot) org or phone: (313) 563-1412

x

x

x

x

Contact Mona Ramouni via mona (at) dearborn-disabilities (dot) org

Contact Marty Sheedy via Marty (at) dearborn-disabilities (dot) org

Barb Kaye

Barbara Kaye, except for a short period of 4 years in the early 80′s, Barb has lived in the city of Dearborn since she was 7 years old.  She is a graduate of Dearborn High School, Henry Ford Community College, Wayne State University and the University of Indianapolis.  Barb is a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric physical therapy. She has been employed by the Oakwood Healthcare System for 20+ years and has dedicated most of that time to meeting the needs of children and their families.  She and her husband, Kevin, are active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, and involved in Boy Scout Troop 1111.  They are the proud parents of 2 college age boys and 3 dogs.

Contact Barb at   barb [at] dearborn-disabilities [dot] org

Margaret Currie has lived in Dearborn since graduating high school over 30 years ago.  She earned an Associates in Commerce from Henry Ford Community College and a Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, with a minor in Sociology/Psychology.  As an employee for the Michigan Bell Telephone Company, she was part of the initial implementation of the Michigan Relay Center, processing secure telephone conversations between the hearing and deaf communities without the need for hearing party to have a TTD/TTY device.  Margaret has been an active member of the Dearborn CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) since its conception and is also a CERT Trainer.  She successfully completed 2 programs at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), in Anniston, AL:  Hazmat and Trainer Certification.
Contact Margaret at Margaret [at] dearborn-disabilities [dot] org

CITY SUPPORT STAFF

Jim Murray, Deputy Director D.P.W.

Larry Szczygiel, Assistant Deputy Director, D.P.W.

Marsha Koet, Director of Senior Services, Liaison to the Commission on Disability Concerns

Our previous commissioners and city staff have included the following people:

Heather Giberson 2000-2002    Cyndi Parrelly 2005-2006    Ryan McGraw 2001-2004

Jad Jaballah 2000-2001              Linda Stabler 2006-2007      Dessa  Cosma 2008-2010