Congratulations to our newest board members!
It’s that time of year again – for TASH to welcome a new cast of members to its Board of Directors. The TASH Board of Directors includes a diverse array of individuals, including researchers, professionals, direct service workers, family members and people with disabilities, all whom share a commitment to help create quality lives for people with disabilities. This year, TASH welcomes four individuals to sit on the Board of Directors.
Congratulations to Amy Toson, Brian Dion, Darrell Mattingly, and Laquita Montgomery.Get to know our new board members by reading their bios below! Terms will officially begin on Thursday, December 14th.
Brian Dion
Brian Dion has been the Regional Vice President for Community Options, Inc. since 2011. Brian oversees operations in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Maryland, Utah, and Arizona. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Connecticut. Brian brings over 30 years’ experience working to improve the lives of people with disabilities. His extensive resume includes positions in administration within state government in Tennessee, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. He has held numerous executive positions in non–profit agencies.
Darrell Mattingly
F. Darrell Mattingly Jr. is a web designer and developer with ILSSA and NSCS at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute. Prior to his work at HDI, Darrell was a server administrator and webmaster for the several projects in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling. He has had considerable experience related to assistive technology given that he has cerebral palsy. He has experience working as a teaching assistant and a research assistant for The University of Kentucky. In his free time, he serves on both statewide and local councils to advance the disability community locally and state wide. He is also pursuing his passion of the martial arts, obtaining the rank of shodan in Tracy’s Kenpo Karate. Darrell received two Bachelor’s Degrees in 1995 from The University of Kentucky—Computer Science and Mathematical Science with a minor in statistics.
LaQuita Montgomery
LaQuita Spivey Montgomery has served people with disabilities and their families for nearly 20 years. She has worked in a variety of settings including intermediate care facilities, group homes, schools, day programs, and private residences. In 2001, LaQuita became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and four years later founded a behavioral services company. She has earned a PhD in Special Education, Disabilities and Risk Studies from the University of California in Santa Barbara. Her work focuses on supports for families of children with disabilities and social issues in education and has been presented at annual meetings for national associations and training seminars for service organizations. LaQuita has taught courses in applied behavior analysis, special education, and general education. She has also supervised students pursuing BACB certification in various settings including facilities serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, and multiple diagnoses. LaQuita hopes to contribute her expertise in behavior analysis and family support to helping TASH realize its vision of ensuring that people with disabilities are fully included in their schools and communities. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband and two children.
Amy Toson
Amy Toson has been working with districts and schools, both nationally and internationally, for well over 15 years in the area of inclusive education capacity building and systems change. She began her career as a K-12 inclusive education teacher and moved into the role of consultant working with families, teachers, and leaders across the globe facilitating effective inclusion for all learners, paying special attention to those who are typically marginalized and segregated, such as student with intensive support needs. Currently, Amy is an Assistant Professor and the Department Chair of Special Education within the College of Education and Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. She teaches courses related to student diversity, inclusive education, and educational foundations. Amy received her Ph. D. from the University of South Florida within the departments of Educational Leadership/Policy Studies and Special Education. The focus of her studies and dissertation was multi-dimensional capacity building for effective inclusive school and district reform. Amy actively researches and publishes in the area of school systems and leader/teacher capacity building. Her most recent publication – Educational Justice for All: The Capability Approach and Inclusive Education Leadership – is published with the International Journal of Inclusive Education. She has co-founded two TASH chapters: WI and FL, and is taking on TX as we speak.