Heather Sturgill Email & Phone Number

Cincinnati, Oh

Most recently, I have spent considerable time analyzing city, state and federal laws and policies for places where minor wording changes can make significant advances in removing barriers to community living. Of significance - I have identified wording in Cincinnati’s proposed Form Based Code that could have completely prohibited visitability, and I suggested further text and image amendments that support visitability. I have also identified wording in the Ohio Administrative Code that could save the state millions of dollars by justifying the creation of a tool that could be used for oversight of community services and supports providers. This tool could also help people with disabilities, the aging and caregivers identify quality providers. Recently, I have identified Ohio Revised Code wording (the definition of "ambulette") that creates barriers for people trying to provide additional transportation options for wheelchair users and could create additional expense for the families of people with disabilities that own or want to purchase modified vans for their family members to ride in.

Greater Cincinnati Area

Law and policy analysis, advocacy, education, event organizing and group facilitation // All of my actions for this organization had the purpose of addressing barriers to community living for the aging and persons with disabilities related to housing, personal assistance services and transportation. ---Advocacy: Finding the policy and law issues would mean nothing without advocacy. This obviously requires building relationships with a variety of people that have diverse perspectives and goals. Less obviously, but just as important are, vigilantly reading the meeting agendas and announcements generated by governmental and quasi-governmental entities, and attending their events/functions. This helps maintain a presence and creates unofficial opportunities for education and discussion. Education: This is a multi-directional task and requires the ability to express the same concept and information in a myriad of ways. Also required are a flexible vocabulary and a strong sense of empathy in order to phrase wording to be understood and accepted by people with a variety of knowledge, perspectives and goals. Event organizing: Though I have experience that includes everything from events lasting a couple of hours to multiple days, for just a few people to several hundred, costing attendees nothing up to several hundred dollars a person; for CILO they have been primarily for education, networking, resource sharing and information exchange purposes and have accommodated just a few people up to approximately a hundred. Group facilitation: This requires considerable sensitivity to group dynamics, time management and the ability to control a situation without leaving anyone feeling unheard.

Cincinnati, Ohio Area

Organizational development, administration, event planning, grant development, writing and progress management, group facilitation, mentoring // All of my actions for this organization had two purposes, either expanding the supports for the organization or furthering its mission of encouraging people to be civically active.----------------------------------Organizational development: I institutionalized procedures that annually review the status of the organization, Board, committees and membership. I also initiated regularly occurring events that promote the organization to the membership and recruited new members.Administration: Administer the daily operations of a small non-profit. Provide staff support to the Board of Trustees, the Advisory Council, standing committees (Advocacy, Membership Outreach and Development, and Organizational Development and Funding), task forces, and other committees established by the Board. Write newsletters and other informational materials for Citizens for Civic Renewal members, policy leaders and other interested parties. Event planning: Organize “Citizens Events" of various sizes on issues of importance to Greater Cincinnati, such as transportation, housing, race relations, etc. This includes but is not limited to location acquisition, contract negotiations, presentation preparation, program development, event promotion and media relations.Grant development, writing and progress management.Group facilitation: The goal of group facilitation is to create the feel of an intimate setting that encourages bonding, action ownership and the co-creation of common purpose. Mentoring: This was not part of the job description, but when possible I have taken students from my alma mater and taught through example and encouragement how to do effective small group facilitation and some elements of organizational development.

Cincinnati Area

Review plans for functional accessibility before construction and conduct post occupancy evaluations of new buildings and spaces after construction. Assisted in developing a college experience/introduction for students with disabilities. Tasks included program and content development, logistics management, creation and production of promotional material, database creation and budget development.---- Review construction plans for functional accessibility because ADA requirement/compliance does not necessarily mean functionally accessible. This review would help the university avoid the added expense and disruption of having to reconstruct or modify buildings or spaces after they have been put into service. - Work with landscapers, architects and interior designers to purchase equipment and furniture that best fulfills the aesthetic desires of the designers/developers while meeting the needs of the people of the UC community with disabilities. This needs to be done during the planning stage to avoid wasting resources replacing equipment and furniture that didn’t meet the end user’s needs.- Post occupancy evaluations of new buildings and spaces in reference to functional accessibility. - When modifications are required, make suggestions that maintain aesthetic continuity.- May also be asked to review and modify plans for events and functions in reference to functional accessibility. As well as post event evaluation. - Assisted in developing a college experience/introduction for students with disabilities. Tasks included program and content development, logistics management, creation and production of promotional material, database creation and budget development.

Sacramento, Ca

- conducted presentations to government commissions- developed recommendations for evaluating neighborhood context when considering the design/size of new multifamily development- researched history and legal framework of California's Universal Design Law- prepared informational materials on universal design for the local chapter of the Building Industry Association and other agencies/organizations- researched financial incentives/started developing promotional material encouraging businesses to comply with the ADA in reference to physical accessibility- assisted with community outreach meetings

Washington, Dc

As an intern I worked on emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities as a representative of the Office on Disability through the Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee of the DHS Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC). The subcommittee was created to address the unmet emergency preparedness needs/issues of the Nation’s 54 million persons with disabilities for whom there had been limited prior attention. Support for implementing the Strategic Plan for the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities.Offered suggestions for updating the office's Intern Development Program - suggested additional recruitment sources, interview format, intake process, midterm review and exit interview.Drafted official comments on proposed regulations having to do with accessibility and cruises with US passengers/ports of call.Started developing a Universal Design Awareness Building Summit which incorporated program development, guest list development and development of a marketing strategy. Addressed assigned constituent issues.

Master'S Degree (Mcp), Community Planning, 3.848

Activities and Societies: LEADERSHIP: Planning Graduate Student Association President ’08-’09, First Year Co-liaison ’07-’08 / Citizens.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Urban Studies, 3.554

Activities and Societies: LEADERSHIP: UC Undergraduate Student Government Committee Chair ’05-‘07 // HONORS-AWARDS: Outstanding Graduating.