News  About Us and With Us: a Conversation with Thelma Williams, Patti Menzel, Brad Steele and Kerry Thompson

Room 350, 3rd Floor, Massachusetts State House and on Zoom —  

As part of the Commission's Inaugural National Disability Employment Awareness Month Celebration, we will hold a panel session with individuals across job sectors who will share their employment journey.
We will also engage the audience in a Q&A session.

This is a hybrid event: in room 350 on the 3rd floor at the MA State House and on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88296608989 
 

The panel session will be co-facilitated by Carl Richardson, Treasurer from the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities; MA State House ADA Coordinator/504 Diversity Officer and Imene Bouziane Saidi, Program Director.

Panelists joining us will be:

Patti Menzel, Autistic presenter, consultant, and self-advocate
Patti provides dynamic professional development presentations on topics around autism for educators, medical clinicians, law enforcement, and families. Patti encourages a holistic bio-psycho-social approach to viewing and supporting Autistic people across the lifespan. She aims to help make some of the more enigmatic aspects of autism more understandable. Patti is passionate about supporting professionals and families, building community, envisioning improved systems, and believes that the best way forward is together. She is on the board of directors for Community Autism Resources, provides training through Mass. Dept. of Developmental Services as well as Schriver medical and PACES collaborative, while maintaining close connections within the Autistic self-advocate community.
In her leisure time, Patti enjoys hiking, t’ai chi, reading, swimming, and spending time in nature.

Brad Steele, Senior Director of Unified Communications at the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
Brad is the Senior Director of Unified Communications at the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security. He is responsible for the Enterprise Telecommunications, Contact Centers and Cellular Services under the MassVoice umbrella. Consolidating and standardizing the way we communicate in the Commonwealth. Brad has been with the state since 2009 and has been active in many procurement efforts. Representing Massachusetts in the National Association of State Technology Directors for 14 years, Brad is a Past President of the organization and an Honorary Life Member.

Kerry Thompson, Senior Advisor, Inclusion & Accessibility for the Disability Rights Fund and Executive Director for Silent Rhythms, Inc
Kerry is the Senior Advisor, Inclusion & Accessibility for the Disability Rights Fund and is the Executive Director for Silent Rhythms, Inc. She was a 2014 German Marshall Fund fellow and a 2020 Harvard Dance Center visiting artist. She is a published author and has written numerous blogs on inclusion in human rights, nonprofits, philanthropy, and the arts sector. She is also the creator and coach of the Inclusion 101 series.

Thelma Williams, Chief of Staff, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Co-Chair at the MA Commission for the Blind
Thelma, recipient of the 2020 Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government, has been Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) since November 2022. Thelma began her career at MCB over 15 years ago as Northeast Regional Director. She has a passion for empowering both her colleagues and consumers in realizing their fullest potential. 
In her spare time, Thelma enjoys both singing and writing. She has co-authored an article in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal and is a published poet.

Carl Richardson, Treasurer from the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities; MA State House ADA Coordinator/504 Diversity Officer
Carl Richardson identifies as DeafBlind and serves as the ADA Coordinator/504/Diversity Officer for the Massachusetts State House. In this role, Carl works with the Governor and Executive branch, as well as with members of the legislature and leadership from state agencies to serve individuals with disabilities across the Commonwealth, ensuring that the State House is an accessible, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

ASL and CART services will be available.
Access the flier in pdf format here

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Commission's Program Director Imene Bouziane Saidi at imene.bouzianesaidi@mass.gov