Adult panelists, 9^th Annual Symposium

Our moderator for the Adult Panel Session is Al Vadon, MA, who has been an NLDA board member for several years.  Al holds two master’s degree, one in reading specialization (with emphasis in adult literacy) from Kean University, and the other in communications from Michigan State.  He currently teaches in the areas of reading and writing at two colleges in New Jersey.  In addition, he has also been instrumental in creating and facilitating two NLDA support groups on the East Coast

NLDA thanks the following group of adults with NLD, who have graciously consented to serve on the adult panel at our 9^th Annual NLDA symposium:   

 1.  Kacie Berghoef-  Chicago, Illinois.  Kacie is a college student at Scripps College in Claremont, CA.  She is a junior majoring in philosophy and minoring in psychology.  She is very involved in music in college in choir, voice, and orchestra, and figured skated competitively until age 18.  

2.  Richard Chefitz-  Brookline, Massachusetts- 32 years old.  Richard has both NLD and Asperger's, and he currently works as a file clerk at a hospital.
 
3.  Amy Tecosky-Feldman is from New Jersey.  Amy just recently completed her doctorate in education.
She is married and has two children, including a child with NLD.   At this year’s symposium she is  presenting a poster session, dealing with enhancing adaptive measures taken by adults with learning disabilities to cope with their environments. 

4.  Wendy Garfield- Berkeley, California.  Wendy has worked in various positions over the years and continues to persevere through difficult personal circumstances to learn and to improve her situation.  She has interest in many aspects of theater.  Her volunteer work at the past several NLDA symposia has been in diverse areas and has been invaluable. 

5.  Fr. Steve Morrisey- Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada- 36 years old.  Fr. Morrisey is fluently bilingual in both English and French, and he is also learning Spanish.  He has been an ordained Roman Catholic priest since 1996.  He is the head football coach for the local Catholic high school team.

6.  Maria Pica- Baltimore, Maryland.  Maria is currently employed as a Human Services Associate with Baltimore County's Department of Social Services.  She facilitates a Job Readiness program for the county's Welfare to Work Reform.  She teaches interviewing skills, how to defuse your employment obstacles, and resume writing.
 
7.  Katherine Ryan- Wayland, Massachusetts- 21 years old.  Kate attends Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she is majoring in Global Studies with a minor in learning disability advocacy.