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Self-Advocate Council

What is the Self-Advocate Council (SAC)?

The Self-Advocate Council (SAC) was formed in 2006 and is comprised of current and former NDSC board members. All were elected to the NDSC Board of Directors by their peers. Members are active nationally and locally and are eager to work with other self-advocates.

Members of the SAC:

  • Participate in quarterly conference calls
  • Work to expand the Self-Advocate Book Project
  • Provide leadership during the Annual Convention with the Y&A Conference, Friendship Club, and Greeters Program
  • Advise the Youth & Adult Conference Team
  • Are self-advocate voices on issues of national and local discrimination

Meet the NDSC SAC Members

  • Pete Swayze Asplundh
  • Christopher Bennett
  • Craig Blackburn
  • Carrie Bergeron

    Born in 1976
    Lives in Fairport, New York
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2000-2002

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Making a difference for the world of human beings with Down syndrome!

    SAC Projects: Book Project

    Other organizations that I am involved with: 21 Club of CNY and Gigi’s Playhouse/Rochester.

  • Bradley Carlisle
  • Daniel Chaplin

    Born in 1990
    Lives in Homewood, Alabama
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2014-2017 Presently serving as board member elected by the general membership.

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Helping and advocating for people with Down syndrome.

    SAC Projects: Book project, helped carry and present

    Other organizations that I am involved with: Down Syndrome Alabama (DSA)

  • Jennifer Cunningham

    Born in 1976
    Lives in Worthington, Ohio
    Served on the NDSC Board of Directors around 1996

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board:  Learning about the NDSC, and helping and advocating for people with Down syndrome.

    SAC Projects: Book project, keynote speaker, conference presentations, conference SAC table rep., Outreach summit speaker.

    Other organizations that I am involved with: DSACO, State of Ohio STABLE Advisory Brd, Franklin Co Self Advocate Advisory Council

  • Chris Devlin

    Born in 1967
    Lives in Toms River, New Jersey
    Served on the NDSC Board from 1998 – 2000

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Meeting new members. I did a presentation about having special needs. I liked spending time with the other board members. I made a lot of friends.

    SAC Projects: Friendship quilt, book project, manning the SAC table, a greeter at the banquet.

    Other organizations that I am involved with: Arc of Ocean, Community Connections, Self Advocacy Council of NJ

  • Maggie Kilgannon

    Born in 1991
    Lives in Apple Valley, Minnesota
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2019 to present

    Favorite thing about serving on the Board: Connecting with other board members, planning, and being elected by my peers so I can represent them.

    SAC Projects: Book Project

    Other organizations that I am involved with: Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota, Jack’s Baskets, ARC of Minnesota, Special Olympic of MN, Best Buddies

  • Jessica Green

    Born in 1982
    Lives in Fishers, Indiana
    Served on the NDSC Board of Directors for 3 years

    Favorite thing about serving on the Board: Forming friendships and making a difference for individuals with disabilities.

    SAC Projects: Friendship Club, Self Advocate table Book Project

  • John T. Farley

    Born in
    Lives in Memphis, Tennessee
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2012 – 2015

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Making new friends, participating in Board meetings, and greater opportunity to meet people from all over the U.S.

    SAC Projects: Putting labels in books for the Book Project. Teaching Self Advocates in workshops.

    Other organizations that I am involved with: Down Syndrome Association of Memphis: Get Down and Derby, Step Up Walk. State Advisory Board for Tennessee Employment and Community First.

  • Heather Hancock
  • Tracy Hile

    Born in 1968
    Lives in Murfreesboro, Arkansas
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2003-2005

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Learning more about leadership, traveling, meeting so many new friends.

    NDSC Projects: Book Project, workshop, SAO table. spotlight speaker, greeter.

    Other organizations that I am involved with: Community organizations & Church Mission House

  • Laurie Hobson

    Born in 1985
    Lives in Germantown, Tennessee
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2005 – 2007

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Meeting people, traveling, and eating out.

    SAC Projects: Fund Raisers, Book Club – I called all my friends and asked them to make a donation, presenting at workshops, giving my presentation at the board meeting.

    Other organizations that I am involved with: Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South, TN ARC (served on their board), West TN Family Solutions

  • Jazzy Holman
  • Christi Hockel Davenport

    Born in 1978
    Lives in Dallas, Texas
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2003-2006

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Being able to talk to new people about what it is like to be able to have Down syndrome.

    SAC Projects: The Book Project, the SAC Table at the Conventions, Greeters at the Convention

    Other organizations that I am involved with: The Townsend Institute at Concordia University in California, The Winshape Foundation Marriage Collective

  • Katie Kremer

    Born 1983
    Lives in Las Vegas, Nevada

    Served on the NDSC Board of Directors from 2017-2019

    Favorite thing about serving on the Board: Being me

    SAC Projects: Art Tiles

    Other organizations that I am involved with: DSOSN

  • Meredith Martin

    Born in 1982
    Lives in Neligh, Nebraska
    Served on the NDSC Board of Directors from 2006-2008

    Favorite thing about serving on the Board: I enjoyed EVERYTHING about serving on the NDSC Board. I especially liked getting to know the people that make the NDSC work for families. I learned to understand all the effort it takes to make a difference in the lives of those of us with Down syndrome.

    SAC Projects: The Book Project has been a special interest of mine. I also write thank you notes on behalf of the SAC when needed.

  • Patricia Michele Moody

    Born in 1983
    Lives in Vero Beach, Florida
    Served on the NDSC Board of Directors from 2009-2011

    Favorite thing about serving on the Board: I liked giving reports.

    SAC Projects: The Friendship Club

    Other organizations that I am involved with: Care Net, Night to Shine, Calvary Chapel church, DownSyndrome Association of Central Florida, Best Buddies

  • Tony Piontek

    Born in 1974
    Lives in New Iberia, Louisiana
    Served on the NDSC Board of Directors from 2011 – 2013

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: I was a VOICE for everyone didn’t have this gift of speaking for others.

    SAC Projects: Book Project, Advocacy Training Boot Camp, Key Note Speaker, Improve workshops, Greeters Program, and SAC table.

    Other organizations that I am involved with: I’m a Down syndrome disability advocate/motivational speaker for our local DSAA organization.  Down Syndrome Association Acadiana.

  • Melissa Silverman

    Born in 1982
    Lives in Owings Mills, Maryland
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2006-2009

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Advocating for all self-advocates.

    SAC Projects: Book project

    Other organizations that I am involved with: CDSPG (Chesapeake Down Syndrome Parent Group)

  • Jessie Leigh Smart

    Born in 1989
    Lives in Olive Branch, MS
    Elected to serve on the NDSC Board from 2016 – 2018
     

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Being a good self-advocate and having the opportunity to go out in public to speak about my life and how I can help others.

    SAC Projects: I worked on the ABLE Act for the state of MS. I served on the Advocacy Training Boot Camp for 3 years

    Other organizations that I am involved with: I served on the DSAM Board for 6 years. I am working on a 34-week disciple course to become a true disciple of the Lord.

  • Jennifer Leigh Stone

    Born in 1981
    Lives in Fort Worth, TX
    Elected to serve on the NDSC Board from 2021 to present
     

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Learning about my friends and helping in planning the convention and things for us to do for people.

    SAC Projects: This is my first year but looking forward to it.

    Other organizations that I am involved with: Kinderfrogs

  • Mary Warm

    Born in 1991
    Lives in Kansas City, Missouri
    Elected to serve on the NDSC Board from 2018 – 2021

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board:
    Advocating for people with Down syndrome.

    SAC Projects: I help the board members with the projects. I make videos about teaching people that Down syndrome people exist in this world.

    Other organizations that I am involved with: I am involved in the Down Syndrome Guild. I go to activities and events.

  • Jeremy Williams

    Born in 1973
    Lives in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
    Served on the NDSC Board from 2002-2004

    Favorite thing about serving on the NDSC Board: Learning how the Board of Directors works, traveling to be at board meetings.

    SAC Projects: Book project

    Other organizations that I am involved with: BOD of Grand Strand Down Syndrome Society, Carolina 321 Club; People Moving UP

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