Community Advisors
We work in partnership with a Community Advisory Council, (CAC) advisers who represent the voice of the disability community, advising and supporting the Center in meeting its responsibilities to the citizens of Maryland in accordance with the DD Act. The Council is led by CAC chair and vice chair:
Elizabeth Benevides
Hussman Foundation
Seeking New Members!
The MCDD Announces a Tremendous Opportunity to Serve your Community:
The CAC brings together people with diverse perspectives, experiences, and knowledge to assist the MCDD in meeting its responsibilities to the citizens of Maryland. Positions are currently open for:
- siblings
- direct care providers, and
- provider agency representatives
The CAC meets quarterly from 3-5 p.m. at the MCDD during the months of January, April, July and October. Stipends are available to cover the expense of meeting attendance.
Please review the position description. You can print the application and send it to us, or complete it online.
Questions? Please contact Tylea Powell, MCDD Administrative Services Coordinator, at PowellT@KennedyKrieger.org or 443-923-9594.
Community Advisory Council Members
| Name | Title | Agency |
| Rene Averitt-Sanzone | Member | Parents Place of MD |
| Diane Bark | Consumer | Family Member |
| Beth Benevides | Chair | Hussman Foundation |
| Anna Burkett | Consumer | Self-Advocate |
| Brian Cox | Member | Developmental Disabilities Council |
| Sarah Edwards | Consumer | Family Member |
| Tonia Ferguson | Member | Arc Maryland |
| William Frank | Member | Maryland Department of Disabilities |
| Jackie Golden | Consumer | Eastern Shore Parent Resource Alliance |
| Kate McCloskey | Consumer | Family Member |
| Matthew Plantz | Consumer | Family Member |
| Megan Rusciano | Member | Disability Rights Maryland |
| Bernie Simons | Member | Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration |
| Bonnie Smith-May | Consumer | Family Member |
| Tracy Wright | Consumer | Self-Advocate |
Kennedy Krieger Institute Staff
| Name | Title | Department |
| Ken Capone | Program Director, Self Advocacy | People On the Go of MD |
| Mallory Finn | Staff Attorney | MCDD |
| Tami Goldsmith | Facilitator | People On the Go of Maryland |
| Jenny Jones | Resource Finder | MCDD |
| Alyssa Navarrete, Esq. | Staff Attorney | Project HEAL, MCDD |
| Mirian Ofondedu, Ph.D. | Training Director | MCDD |
| Tylea Powell | Administrative Services Coordinator | MCDD |
| Megan Reed, M.S. | Training Coordinator | MCDD |
| Mat Rice | Public Policy Advocate | People On the Go of Maryland |
| Christine Schoenberger, MHS | Business Operations Manager | MCDD |
| Bruce Shapiro, MD | Vice President | LEND |
| Jackie Stone, PhD | Director, Information Dissemination | MCDD |
| Maureen van Stone, Esq. M.S. | Associate Director | Project HEAL, MCDD |
| Lana Warren, Ed.D., OT/L, FAOTA | Sr. Vice President | Clinical Programs and Inpatient Services |