Leading national strategy on deinstitutionalization for persons with disabilities and older adults.

• Provide strategic guidance to UN agencies, foreign governments, and NGOs in education, health & social sectors• Primary activities include Capacity Building, Report Writing, Policy Shaping, Research & Evaluation, Education in Emergencies (EiE), HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Youth Development & Psychosocial Support• Select Projects:o UNICEF Slovakia, International Consultant in Social Inclusion. Trained 300+ social workers, psychologists, and allied health professionals working with… Show more • Provide strategic guidance to UN agencies, foreign governments, and NGOs in education, health & social sectors• Primary activities include Capacity Building, Report Writing, Policy Shaping, Research & Evaluation, Education in Emergencies (EiE), HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Youth Development & Psychosocial Support• Select Projects:o UNICEF Slovakia, International Consultant in Social Inclusion. Trained 300+ social workers, psychologists, and allied health professionals working with unaccompanied refugee children from Ukraine. Developed f an Emergency Evacuation Plan for Refugee Children with Disabilities for Gov. of Slovakiao ReLAB-HS, Technical Consultant. Led team in providing capacity building in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation & MHPSS for rehabilitation service providers in areas of active conflict (Myanmar/Burma, Uganda, Pakistan, Rwanda, and Ukraine). .o Rehabilitation Initiative for Vulnerable Groups Georgia, MHPSS Training Consultant. Trained staff of nationwide suicide prevention hotline & developed manual. o UNICEF Georgia, Social Inclusion Technical Consultant. Created new comprehensive model for Foster Care System of Georgia, o UNICEF Ukraine, Inclusive Education Consultant. Created materials for an inclusive education app which provides skills training for 500+ teachers across Ukraine..o UNDP Georgia, Human Rights Expert. Provided strategic guidance to the Ministry of Justice's Public Defender's Office (PDO) on the implementation and monitoring of a Human Rights Strategy and National Action Plan. o Unite BVI/McLain Association for Children, Inc., British Virgin Islands, Psychosocial Support Trainer. Provided MHPSS support and training to 38 Social Workers and Teachers in post-hurricane recovery environment.o UNDP Liberia, International Disability Consultant. Developed a 5-year National Action Plan inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Liberia in collaboration with Gov of Liberia and disability organizations. Show less

Providing technical guidance and support to strengthen disability inclusion in policies and programs for the Office of HIV/AIDS and the Bureau of Global Health.

• Implemented inclusive programming for 2,000+ vulnerable people in rural and low-resource areas of Georgia, including IDPs, ethnic minority groups from Chechnya, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, older adults, and persons with disabilities. • Trained >1,000 teachers and parents of children with disabilities through in-person and online modalities, including monthly Facebook Live events (translated in Georgian and Georgian Sign Language). • Wrote 25+ technical reports and articles about… Show more • Implemented inclusive programming for 2,000+ vulnerable people in rural and low-resource areas of Georgia, including IDPs, ethnic minority groups from Chechnya, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, older adults, and persons with disabilities. • Trained >1,000 teachers and parents of children with disabilities through in-person and online modalities, including monthly Facebook Live events (translated in Georgian and Georgian Sign Language). • Wrote 25+ technical reports and articles about chronic health and disabling conditions for various audiences, including health care professionals, university students, teachers, and parents• Secured $500K+ from USAID, UNICEF, and European Development Bank in grant funding • Consulted on projects for Government of Georgia and UNICEF Georgia to facilitate deinstitutionalization, restructure the national foster care system, and strengthen rehabilitation and inclusive education policies and practices.• Delivered emergency mental health counseling and ongoing psychosocial support to 10 youth experiencing suicidal ideation or actions.• Supervised 10 neuropsychologists, educational psychologists, early childhood development specialists, and occupational therapists, providing mentoring, performance feedback, and monitoring of professional development plans. Show less

• Education Cannot Wait liaison and coordinator; activities led to $1.4M in ECW donor funding. • Assessed training needs of staff to work within and across programs; set frameworks for staff development and capacity building. • Conducted training for staff and partner organizations on Sphere Standards, Project Management, Gender/Social Inclusion, Education in Emergencies, and Psychosocial Support in Conflict Environments.o Fostered disability inclusion practices under… Show more • Education Cannot Wait liaison and coordinator; activities led to $1.4M in ECW donor funding. • Assessed training needs of staff to work within and across programs; set frameworks for staff development and capacity building. • Conducted training for staff and partner organizations on Sphere Standards, Project Management, Gender/Social Inclusion, Education in Emergencies, and Psychosocial Support in Conflict Environments.o Fostered disability inclusion practices under conflict/crisis. • Collaborated on developing and writing concept notes and funding proposals (including log frames and budgets), ensured coordination and information sharing between technical and operation teams. Show less

• Trained staff and community stakeholders in disability rights, child protection, HIV awareness, advocacy, and mental health strategies; provided technical support to senior staff members regarding implementation of UNCRPD and national initiatives for inclusion of individuals with disabilities.• Promoted vocational training of secondary students and partnered with Youth Training and Employment Center to develop targeted programs and increase accessibility of existing livelihoods… Show more • Trained staff and community stakeholders in disability rights, child protection, HIV awareness, advocacy, and mental health strategies; provided technical support to senior staff members regarding implementation of UNCRPD and national initiatives for inclusion of individuals with disabilities.• Promoted vocational training of secondary students and partnered with Youth Training and Employment Center to develop targeted programs and increase accessibility of existing livelihoods development opportunities for youth with disabilities. Show less

• Taught graduate and undergraduate courses in disability and human rights, legislation, research methodology, program evaluation, occupational analysis, restorative justice, disability equality, and psychological assessment. • Managed post-graduate program in psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation counseling• Created a new distance education post-graduate program for students and led curricular approval through accrediting bodies• Supervised graduate students and professional… Show more • Taught graduate and undergraduate courses in disability and human rights, legislation, research methodology, program evaluation, occupational analysis, restorative justice, disability equality, and psychological assessment. • Managed post-graduate program in psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation counseling• Created a new distance education post-graduate program for students and led curricular approval through accrediting bodies• Supervised graduate students and professional counselors seeking advanced clinical training• Served as Project Director for multi-year federal capacity building grants (grant writing and oversight, fiscal management, procurement, policy development and program evaluation)• Developed curriculum, guidelines, and policies for program delivery Show less

(Secondment position in partnership with the University of Wisconsin) • Negotiated training staff contracts totaling €250,000 and coordinated partnership projects with local NGOs and government organizations.• Supervised 5 full-time staff members while providing strategic planning, capacity building, and organizational development of rural education NGO.• Managed programme development and training in gender, disability, and social inclusion.• Fostered relationships within the… Show more (Secondment position in partnership with the University of Wisconsin) • Negotiated training staff contracts totaling €250,000 and coordinated partnership projects with local NGOs and government organizations.• Supervised 5 full-time staff members while providing strategic planning, capacity building, and organizational development of rural education NGO.• Managed programme development and training in gender, disability, and social inclusion.• Fostered relationships within the local community to build working partnerships with private donors, including Waterford Crystal, Bausch & Lomb, SunLife Insurance, Glanbia PLC, and Waterford Institute of Technology. Show less

Taught graduate and undergraduate students in the Rehabilitation Institute. Emphasis on work in gerontology and disabilities related to aging.

Developed materials to teach independent living skills to children and youth.

Conducted research on individuals who were Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and had severe multiple disabilities. Established protocols, developed surveys, collected data, analyzed results, and wrote reports for a range of stakeholder groups (including persons with disabilities, families, educational institutions, and government advocacy agencies).

Provided rehabilitation counseling and vocational support to individuals who were Deaf an Deaf-Blind.