PATH Advisory Committee | UC Davis MIND Institute

Allison graduated from Cal State University Northridge with a Bachelor’s in Social Welfare and Social Justice, she sees inclusion as the most important issue of her day. She has cerebral palsy and believes everyone should have access to healthcare. Allison has done presentations for Westside Regional Center, Kid Space Museum. She was a board member for the CHIME Institute and currently is a member of two committees for the local State Council on Developmental Disabilities the Regional Advisory and the Self-Advocacy.

I have an M.A. in Humanities with Emphases in Political Thought and Philosophy, a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy, and a Certificate in Community College Faculty Preparation. I started becoming aware of the psychological types (an early form of neurodiversity literature) in December 1989 when I took the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. I'm an INFP. I earned my B.A. in 1997, my M.A. in 2000, and my Certificate in Community College Faculty Preparation in 2006. I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 2012. I have been interested in Belgian psychologist Peter Vermeulen's work, since I read Vermeulen's book Autism as Context Blindness in 2014. In May 2017 I learned that most of Vermeulen's earlier books on autism are unlikely to get translated into English due to the high cost of franslation. Since then, I have been studying Dutch with the intention of becoming literate in Dutch so that I can familiarize myself with those of his earlier books (most of which are only available in Dutch) which are still in print.

Shital is an advocate and resource in the disability community, inspired by her own experiences as an immigrant parent of a child with special needs. Her role at the Family Resource Center in Contra Costa County, Bay Area, reflects her commitment to helping families navigate the complexities of medical, educational, and social systems for special needs care. She actively participates in various committees like the Community Advisory Committee, Autism Star Conference, and CAPTAIN Cadre, Transition Fair. Beyond her professional role, Shital moderates parent support group and conducts Sibshop workshops, providing support and fostering resilience among siblings of special needs children, and IEP training. Shital's unique perspective as an immigrant and mom of special needs child enriches her approach, addressing diverse community needs with empathy and understanding. Her dedication is a source of inspiration and a driving force for positive change in the community.

Erin K. Dame-Lewis BSN, RN, CCRN-Pediatric. Erin Dame-Lewis has been a nurse for almost 22 years, nearly 20 of those years as a bedside Pediatric ICU nurse. Her professional interests include the pediatric congenital heart population, medical PTSD, mentorship, and peer support. She is an active member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, has presented at national conferences, and worked on Moral Distress content for AACN. In her personal life, Erin is a mother of 3. Erin's middle child is a person with Autism. As someone whose professional and personal lives are impacted by individuals who are neurodiverse, she is very honored and excited to be a PAC member.

Jennifer Drennan is a critical care nurse with 23 years of experience, and the mother of a special needs, disabled, autistic teenager. Jennifer’s daughter, Caitlyn, was born with congenital stage 4 cancer, thrusting Jennifer out of the provider side of the healthcare system into a totally unfamiliar world where she had to learn how to navigate that same system as a parent and advocate for a medically complex child. The full extent of Caitlyn’s physical and intellectual disabilities only became apparent over time, and Jennifer has had to pivot time and again in her quest to improve Caitlyn’s access to treatment and services that improve her quality of life and enable her to live up to her full potential. Along the way, Jennifer has had to process grief, anger, resentment, and overwhelm. She has had to learn to surrender to the unknowns of this mysterious and lonely wilderness, and to ask for help. Finally at a point of accepting and embracing her situation and life, Jennifer is now uniquely qualified to build understanding between families, healthcare professionals, educators, and the community at large about the needs of and accommodations for the disabled child. She is passionate about advocating for the disability community, both as a parent and as a healthcare professional.

Tanishia Hubbard, M.Ed., Special Education. Tanishia is a Program Manager at Warmline FRC. She has a Master's Degree in Special Education with a minor in Sociology. Tanishia completed Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) with Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates(COPAA). Tanishia was born and raised in the Bay Area, Army Veteran, and proud mother of an adult son with Autism. Tanishia's biggest reward is being the biggest cheerleader, advocate, and mom to Kalin. He is the biggest light of love.