Ann McClellanAnn has been working at the Dayle McIntosh Center for 5 years. Initially she was under the Health Care Advocacy Program as a Health Care Access Program Coordinator. On February 4, 2007 she became Project Manager, Health Care Access. Since October 2007, Ann has been the Supervisor of the South County Office. In this position Ann provides and supervises the delivery of core services to South County residents (housing, information and referral, individual advocacy, etc.); coordinates and supervises outreach, education, and collaboration activities in the South County region; supervises the Independent Living Skills Coordinator in South County and the Benefits Advocate in the Garden Grove Office; and supports advocacy activities that address concerns of persons with disabilities. Ann has been working with individuals with disabilities for 24 years. Much of that time has been spent working with people with developmental disabilities. However, she previously also worked at Dayle McIntosh Center as an advocate. Ann truly loves her work and finds satisfaction and fulfillment from advocating for consumers and seeing them reach their goals. Ann is a vigilant advocate for persons with disabilities and has devoted her career to provide her consumers with the best services possible. Beverly Mastri, Benefits Advocate Beverly provides assistance with Social Security applications and appeals and provides information and help with Medi-Cal, Food Stamps and In-Home Supportive Services. Beverly has been with Dayle McIntosh Center since April, 1999. Previously, Beverly was employed for many years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her experience included counseling individuals with physical and/or intellectual disabilities Cheryl Hopper, Independent Living Skills Coordinator Cheryl Hopper has worked as an Independent Living Coordinator for the Dayle McIntosh Center since July of 2005. Cheryl works in the South County office and is the leader of the two monthly cross disability peer support groups which meet there. In her position as an Independent Living Coordinator she works with individual consumers to identify services and resources that they will need to be independent. Once identified, the IL Coordinator and consumer work on a plan so that the consumer knows what steps to take to start moving in the desired direction. Each month the IL Coordinator also attends a number of meetings and does numerous outreaches so that other organizations and community service providers are aware of the services that the Dayle McIntosh Center offers Erin Woodmas, Computer Lab Trainer Erin Woodmas has a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from CSUF and loves community in general. Her philosophy has always been home and neighborhood is what you make of it and reaching out to neighbors is essential for a happy community. She has been hired as the newly appointed Computer Lab Trainer for the North County Office located in Garden Grove. This position is responsible for training our consumers on many computer programs used in today’s work force as well as Assisted Technology software. She has always been an advocate for learning and feels honored to have been chosen to teach much needed computer skills to an audience that has been seriously underrepresented. Jane Neglia , Aging with Vision Loss Jane Neglia has been working with older adults in the field of low-vision for the past eight years. Her position as Program Supervisor for the Aging with Vision Loss Program at the Dayle McIntosh Center, has afforded her the opportunity to share her personal and professional knowledge on such topics as Daily Living Skills, Assistive Technology, Braille Reading and Writing, and Self-Advocacy Training. Jane was born legally blind, and at the age of 8 was diagnosed with a retinal degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Because Jane has personal life experience being a person with a visual impairment, she is also able to provide peer support to the seniors she assists, which is a vital part of her position at the Dayle McIntosh Center. Jane is also a graduate student at Cal State Fullerton in the field of Gerontology with an emphasis on Aging with a Disability. For the past two years, she has volunteered her time as Secretary for the Orange County Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). She co-chairs the Disability Rights Workshop (DRW) planning committee, and is also a member of the Collaborative to End Abuse Against Individuals with Disabilities (CEAID). Jane also has a wonderful partner, her Guide Dog Anja! Please feel free to ask questions about her dog and/or their partnership. Judy Gonzalez, Housing Coordinator (North County) Judy Gonzalez arrived from Mexico at the age of 5 and is the second of ten children. Judy was born with mild cerebral palsy and even though she confronted many challenges, she has been an example for others to follow. She has been happily married for 13 years. Judy has been in the field of customer service for the past 24 years. This experience has helped her in her current position as the Housing Coordinator for DMC, for the past 2 1/2 years. The Housing Program provides referrals for low-income housing alternatives such as shared and accessible housing. When available, rental assistance can be provided upon approval in order to prevent homelessness to people with disabilities. The Housing Coordinator also provides extensive resources and information in order to maintain self-sufficiency and independence. Garnet Madden, Aging with Vision Loss For most of my life I either owned or worked at a Data Entry Service Bureau where I had experience as an owner, supervisor, manager, programmer etc. After my retirement I volunteered to work for WECARE who is sponsored by Americorp. A position became available to me to work once a week at Dayle McIntosh Center. This position led me to my current job which is as the Support Services Assistant for the Aging with Vision Loss (AVL) program. The experience that I am receiving here is very rewarding and fulfilling. On a personal level I am the proud mother of two daughters. My youngest Daughter is a lawyer and lives in San Diego. My Son in law owns his own company which creates and manages a computer software for the Chiropractic industry. They have two daughters ages eight and four. My eldest Daughter and her two year old twins reside with me. She is a middle school teacher. Hazel Miller, Housing Coordinator (South County) Hazel Miller works at Dayle McIntosh Center, South county office, as a Housing Coordinator, Olmstead Services Program. The Housing Coordinator provides services for people who need help with finding Affordable, and Accessible Housing, she also provides assistance to people transitioning from institutions back into community living.
Michael Castillo, Mobility Management Program Supervisor Michael has worked as the Mobility Management Program Supervisor since its inception in October 2009. Michael provides trip planning & travel training services for people with disabilities and low income individual in Orange County. His position has given him the opportunity to utilize the18 years of professional experience he has obtained in the transportation Industry as an Auditor, Pricing Analyst & Scheduler. Michelle Rathswohl, Interpreting Services Michelle Rathswohl is the Interpreting Services Specialist of our American Sign Language Interpreting Services Department. She joined our staff here at DMC in March 2005. She enjoys working with the teenagers at her Church, and playing with her children. She has a 12 year old son with Autism. He is one of the reasons she is now working at DMC and plans to get her degree in Social work. She wants to use her life experience teaching other parents how to advocate for their children. She also has a 2 year old daughter who is the sunshine in her life. Paul Brennan, Aging with Vision Loss I have been serving persons with disabilities in various capacities since 2003, having previously worked for the Office of Disabled Student Services at Cal State Fullerton as well as the Blind Children’s Learning Center. I completed my bachelors in psychology in 2003 and graduated with my Masters in Counseling in 2008. As a person living with a vision impairment, I recognize the value of providing our consumers with a combination of low vision aids, community based resources and peer support. I feel that my educational background and life experiences will allow me to make a lasting and meaningful impression upon our consumers. The AVL program clearly provides an invaluable source of support to older adults who are experiencing vision loss. I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be a part of DMC. In my free time, I enjoy playing the drums, collecting die cast car models, reading mysteries and walking dogs on a part-time basis. I would describe myself in three words as analytical, compassionate and cynical. |
