Select Page

Constituent Advisory Council

Steve Aleman

Professional Affiliation: Policy Specialist, Disability Rights Texas

Karen Mayer Cunningham

Professional Affiliation: Special Education Advocate

Association with Disability: Specializes in assisting parents in successfully navigating the IEP/ARD process in public schools. We work with families, students, and schools to bring about a comprehensive set of goals, expectations, and services to meet each child’s unique needs.

Ericka DeLeon, MEd

Ericka DeLeon, MEd

Ellen Goudeau

Professional Affiliation: Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate, Paralegal

Association with Disability: Chair, Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University; President, The Arc, Greater Houston Chapter; Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) – Houston

Stephanie Hill

Stephanie Hill

Professional Affiliation: 25 years working in higher education

Stephanie has been an active member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Central Texas since 2011 and understands the profound impact of NAMI’s outreach and delivery. Stephanie currently is a NAMI Family Support Group Facilitator and part of the Sharing Hope Mental Wellness in the Black Community.  She is a trained Mental Health First Aid instructor.

She retired from The University of Texas at Austin after 25 years working in higher education. Stephanie spent 8 years of those 25 years in the College of Education Department of Special Education academically advising masters and doctoral students in the program. Stephanie’s daughter who is her inspiration and motivation, is an adult living with autism and schizophrenia.

Through her lived experiences and knowledge, her mission is to educate others most importantly communities of color to help in dispelling the shame behind mental illness. Stephanie understands the power of education and outreach and the importance of it. Mental Illness is an Illness and once society acknowledges and accepts this; we will all understand Mental Illness.

Eddie R. Jessie

Professional Affiliation: The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD Services of Harris County: Program Manager-Collaboration for Action Employment Services

Association with Disability: Commissioner for the Houston Commission on Disability

Pan Lily

Professional Affiliation: Department Director for IDD Waiver Services, MHMRA of Harris County

Association with Disability: Friends and Families of Asians with Special Needs Support Group

Havilah Walsh

Havilah Walsh

Professional Affiliation: PATHS Program Alumni, Childcare Worker at YMCA, Self-Advocate

Erin Wilder, M.Ed., C.R.C.

Erin Wilder, M.Ed., C.R.C.

Professional Affiliation: Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Statewide Transition Specialist

Erin Wilder, M.Ed., C.R.C. currently serves as a Texas Workforce Commission- Vocational Rehabilitation representative.  Erin holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Texas Tech University and a Masters of Education in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Texas.  She has worked in Vocational Rehabilitation for 19 years as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Regional Transition Specialist, Statewide Transition Specialist, and most recently Program Manager for Transition and Pre-Employment Transition Services.

Mary Jane Williams

Mary Jane Williams

Professional Affiliation: Executive Director, Family to Family Network

Raising her own son and daughter with disabilities; Mary Jane Williams knows firsthand how scary the future can look like when parents take this journey alone.  As Executive Director of Family to Family Network, she is breaking down barriers for kids with disabilities by helping families see possibilities through their tears and loneliness.  She loves floating in clear blue waters and enjoys reading a good book.

Gail Wright

Professional Affiliation: Regional 6 Coordinator, PATH Project, Partners Resource Network, Inc.

Nina Zuma

Professional Affiliation: Associate Director at the Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin

Association with Disability: Dr. Zuma has over 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities and their families in a variety of roles including professor, researcher, certified special education teacher, and in-home/in-school behavioral skills trainer. Her research and community service interests include: family quality of life, individual and family supports across the lifespan, community inclusion, and transition from high school to postsecondary education and/or the workforce.