Speaker Bios
Jenifer Simpson
Jenifer Simpson is the Senior Director of Telecommunications & Technology Policy Initiative, for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), a national, independent, cross-disability membership and advocacy organization located in Washington, D.C. She is responsible for advancing policy for people with disabilities in the areas of telecommunications and technology to ensure that all people with disabilities are able to make choices, have careers, live independently and contribute as full participants in all aspects of society. Ms. Simpson co-chairs the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), founded in March 2007, an 160 member disability coalition advocating for legislative and regulatory safeguards to ensure full access by people with disabilities to evolving high speed broadband, wireless and other Internet protocol (IP) technologies
Previously, Ms. Simpson worked in the federal government, most recently at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) where she administered a national consumer complaint resolution process for the multiple disability accessibility mandates in the Communications Act. Prior to the FCC, she was at the President’s Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities (PCEPD), in Washington, DC. As a lead Employment Advisor, she recommended strategies to the Executive Director and Chairman on national disability technology policy issues, including advising the White House and the U.S. Congress on disability technology policy.
Before entering federal government service, Ms. Simpson was a Senior Policy Associate at United Cerebral Palsy Associations (UCP), Washington, DC, a national association of non-profit affiliates delivering services to persons with disabilities. At UCP’s national office she represented the association and lobbied the Congress, executive and independent agencies on legislation and regulations in multiple disability policy arenas such as technology, including assistive technology and universal design in telecommunications and other areas.
Ms. Simpson has an M.B.A. from Trinity University, Washington, DC, with a concentration in Competitive Business Intelligence; her B.A. in Arts is from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and she has certifications in Communications (University of Massachusetts) and Education For Ministry (University of The South, TN). Ms. Simpson has a twenty-two year old son with cerebral palsy, and is a resident of Washington, DC.
Drew Diskin
Drew Diskin, M.S. is the new Director of E-Strategy and Web Services for the Marketing & Communications Department for Johns Hopkins Medicine. His primary responsibilities are to lead the development and implementation of a system-wide e-health and e-business strategy; build collaborative relationships within the various Web site concerns; and, create new revenue channels through technology, Internet and search engine strategies.
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Drew was the Director of Strategic Web Development for the Inova Health System, Fairfax County, Virginia, where his team redesigned the 5,000 page Inova.org Web site, as well as launched lucrative pay-per-click campaigns and established strategic marketing initiatives with Revolution Health, the WashingtonPost.com and USA.gov.
Drew has led multimedia initiatives with reputable organizations, such as: Stevens Institute of Technology, Dolce International Conference Centers & Resorts, AOL, Universal Studios, Genentech, Jeep, as well as small and mid-sized companies. Drew has received national awards from the American Marketing Association, AT&T, and Telly Awards, along with various leadership accolades and speaking engagements on internet marketing.
Drew holds a Bachelors Degree in Marketing from Bryant University and a Masters Degree in Technology Management from Stevens Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Web Marketing Association, and The Web Executive’s Roundtable, in Washington DC.
Jim Doran
Jim Doran is a member of the Web Accessibility at Johns Hopkins University and is currently the Web Development Coordinator for the Department of Pathology at the School of Medicine. He has been teaching CSS, web standards and web design classes for the Community College of Baltimore County for several years.
Starting in the late 1990's Mr. Doran began making web sites and became interested in accessibility while developing patient education training CD-ROMs and web sites under NIH grants. He has worked on web projects for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, PBS, the New York Academy of Sciences, the American College of Cardiologists, Montgomery County Public School System and is currently working to make accessible web sites for the School of Medicine. In addition to designing with web standards, Mr. Doran is interested in e-learning, all scripting languages, patient education, interface design and usability.
Mr. Doran is currently working on his Master of Science degree in technology at the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins. He has a bachelor of arts in Music with a minor in Art from Washington College, and before becoming a web developer, he worked as a music therapist at Levindale Geriatric Hospital. He has presented talks and workshops on using percussion in music therapy at area nursing homes and hospitals, and maintains a strong interest in music and digital media.
When not making web sites, teaching or attending school, Mr. Doran enjoys gardening, drawing and skateboarding with his two daughters. He and his wife reside in Reisterstown, Maryland.
Kara Zirkle
Kara Zirkle works for George Mason University as the IT Accessibility Coordinator. She works to ensure that the electronic and information technology is accessible to faculty, staff, and students both with and without disabilities. Previously she had worked closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Section 508 Coordinator for three years to ensure that all electronic and information technology (E&IT) that the agency procures, maintains, develops, or uses met the Section 508 requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Ms. Zirkle’s job as the Section 504/508 Accessibility Consultant was to raise awareness by education and outreach to VA stakeholders.
Ms. Zirkle has seven years experience working with individuals with disabilities and education/outreach. She is an advocate and educator with regard to providing technical support and guidance on assistive devices and assistive technologies, as well as the laws that protect individuals with disabilities. Ms. Zirkle has experience in assistive technology functionality in various technologies from Aids for Daily Living, Augmentative Communication, Computer Applications, Environmental Controls Systems, Home/Worksite Modifications, Sensory Vision Aids, Wheelchair/Mobility Aids, and Vehicle Modifications, to Web Accessibility, Recreation, and Section 508 standards.
Sandra Clark
Sandra Clark is an advanced Certified ColdFusion developer and a Principal Software Developer with SRA International in Rockville, Maryland. She has contributed material to the ColdFusion 5.0 Certified Developer Study Guide published by Syngress Media/Osborne McGraw Hill and to the ColdFusion Developers Journal. She has also spoken at various conferences around the country. Ms. Clark is an active proponent of applying accepted and proven web standards to development as a way of improving accessibility as well as making life easier on developers. She can be reached at sclark@constellagroup.com. Ms. Clark also maintains a website and blog at http://www.shayna.com, where she shares information on CSS, Accessibility, Fusebox, Coldfusion and also offers training classes.
Vicki Leon
Vicki Leon is an instructional designer who currently serves as a curriculum developer and trainer at New Editions Consulting, Inc, a company that provides technical and managerial expertise to private sector clients doing business with the Federal government. Ms. Leon provides guidance to the Department of Veterans Affairs on the creation of accessible multimedia for web and DVD distribution. At New Editions Consulting she also developed web based training for AccRepair, a web accessibility testing and repair software tool. Ms. Leon also developed a half day instructor led course on how to create accessible multimedia, including instruction on Section 508 standards for multimedia, how to implement them, and how to assess for compliance.
Prior to her work at New Editions Consulting, Ms. Leon served in various positions with companies such as AMTI, Dyncorp, Cable & Wireless, Global One and Sprint International, Gallaudet University, and Image Communications. Ms. Leon has also earned several film and TV program awards, including the New York Film Festival Award, Outstanding TV Program for programs produced for Fairfax County Government, and first place in the commercial/broadcast category at the Health Education Media Association Film & Television Festival.
Ms. Leon holds a Bachelor of Science in Radio, Television, and Film from the University of Texas at Austin.
Yianna Vovides
Yianna Vovides holds a PhD in instructional design and technology and works at The George Washington University (GW), Washington, D.C, as the Director for Instructional Design at the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Dr. Vovides assists faculty with the integration of instructional technologies in teaching and learning. She is also responsible for supporting instructors in the design and development of blended, hybrid, and fully online courses. Her research area is in the field of metacognition and hypermedia.
Gerard St. Ours
Gerard St. Ours is Associate General Counsel at Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins in March of 1997, Mr. St. Ours specialized in employment and labor law on behalf of management clients. At Johns Hopkins, Mr. St. Ours’s legal practice has focused on employment and student issues, including discrimination and harassment, affirmative action, disability law, legal regulation of the workplace, student and employment policy, collective bargaining and union-management relations, employment litigation, labor arbitration, student affairs and disciplinary procedure, and employment contracts. He has made numerous presentations on legal issues pertaining to higher education and employers. Mr. St. Ours earned his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1990; he is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and earned a B.A. with honors from U.Va. in 1986.
Fran Swift
With over 20 years of technology leadership and implementation experience, Fran Swift joined Systems Alliance in November 2007 to lead its Web Effectiveness consulting practice. In this role, Mr. Swift manages a group of Web designers, developers and project managers responsible for conducting SiteExecutive implementations and customization. Before joining Systems Alliance, Mr. Swift was an associate in the McLean office of Booz Allen Hamilton where he managed large-scale development and integration projects for federal and private-sector clients. Prior to Booz, Mr. Swift was a principal consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he led client engagements and managed PWC's internal development and demonstration center.
Fran received his B.A. and M.E. degrees from Dartmouth College and M.B.A. from Boston College.
