Jolie Bernstein is the mother of an adult dually diagnosed with IDD and Schizophrenia currently living in a host home. Jolie has worked in Early Intervention for 25+ years beginning when it was just starting in Boulder County. For the past 23 years Jolie has worked at Imagine! as a bilingual Early Intervention Service Coordinator. During her son’s early years Jolie participated in and provided support to families through Spokes People, the parent to parent organization then funded through Early Intervention. Jolie serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our IDD Individual or Family Member Representatives.
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Deana Cairo, PA-C, JD, is a mother of two children living with IDD. She worked for many years as an attorney in the area of criminal and civil defense, with a pro bono practice that focused on civil rights. Deana also has a life-long interest in medicine and worked as both an EMT and Paramedic. Recently, Deana decided to pursue medicine full-time and she became a Physician Assistant. She currently works in Trauma Surgery at a Level 1 Trauma Center outside of Denver. In addition, she still practices law from time to time. Deana lives in Boulder with her husband, and children. In her free time, she enjoys hiking on the many trails Boulder has to offer. Deana serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our IDD Individual or Family Member Representatives.
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Robert Enderson is a confident self-advocate who has had difficult life experiences but has made a better life for himself. Robert is President of the Boulder and Broomfield Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) chapter. He is a member of CO Speaking for Ourselves (SFO) which meets to talk about how to make life better for people with IDD. Robert is also a member of the Board of the Association for Community Living (ACL). Robert lives in Longmont and have lived in Boulder County his entire life. Robert serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our IDD Individual or Family Member Representatives.
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Teresa Greene is currently employed by The Center for People with Disabilities as a Youth Independent Living Adviser. Teresa obtained her Bachelor’s in Child Development from California State University Fresno. Her focus has been on Special Education and Mental Health. Teresa has ten years of experience working with people living with disabilities from early education to adult support programs. Teresa has four children and has seen first-hand the struggles they have faced due to barriers. Teresa has spent her life educating herself so that she can advocate for her children as well as other people living with disabilities. Teresa is also a Host Home Provider for an individual with multiple disabilities. Teresa describes herself as a compassionate soul with a loving heart who has a realistic outlook on life and can find the humor in any situation. Teresa serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our IDD Individual or Family Member Representatives.
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Jennifer Geiger PhD ABPP-CN is the owner and lead neuropsychologist at Community Neuropsychology, P.C. Dr. Geiger completed a residency in neuropsychology at Harvard / Massachusetts General Hospital and a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She provides neuropsychological evaluations for adults who have neurodevelopmental conditions, injuries and illnesses that affect the brain. Participation on the IDD Advisory Council is a natural continuation of her commitment to patient advocacy and wellbeing in the broader community. Jennifer serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our Member at Large Representatives.
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Andy Minden had a 28-year engineering and business development career in the energy and air pollution control industries prior to co-founding Boulder Treasures in 2013 with his wife Connie. Andy and Connie built Ramble into a thriving clothing boutique that has become the foundation for a growing organization supporting the independence of adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Boulder County – serving their needs in employment, housing and community connections. In addition to serving as Board Chair, Andy has served as the volunteer Executive Director of Boulder Treasures since its founding and is now looking forward to focusing on his board responsibilities as he seeks to hire his replacement as Executive Director. In recognition of their efforts, Andy and Connie received a community service award from the Downtown Boulder Partnership. Andy has a BA from Dartmouth College and MSME from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to being the father of an entrepreneurial son following in his father’s footsteps, Andy is the father of an adult daughter with IDD, who is the inspiration behind Boulder Treasures and brings him delight with weekly games of Monopoly! Andy serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our IDD Individual or Family Member Representatives.
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Tim Maxwell has worked professionally in support of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Boulder county for the past 10 years. Tim holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work, with an emphasis on community engagement. Tim currently operates Karuna Care Services, a residential services and support agency for adults with IDD. Tim holds a strong passion for supporting those with IDD to better access and participate within their own communities. Tim serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our Business or Non-Profit Representatives.
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Anna Stewart (Chairperson) has three adult children, one with IDD. Her child has accessed services and supports from DVR, Social Security and Medicaid waivers and is very independent but continues to need more individualized resources to live the life that is wanted. Anna is the Parent, School and Community Liaison for BVSD’s special education department. She has facilitated parent network groups for 15 years and runs groups in Boulder and Longmont for parents who have teens and young adults with IDD. Anna is also a certified Common-Sense Parenting trainer and leads a writing group for parents of children with unique needs. She is a transition specialist, working with parents and professionals to connect resources and services to their loved one’s dreams. Anna is also the lead author of an e-book on Navigating Transitions to Adult Services in Boulder and Broomfield counties. Anna serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our Member at Large Representatives.
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Heidi Que has always been tied to the IDD community in different ways. She is both a mother of a child in the IDD Community and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Heidi has been a Special Olympics volunteer and worked in group homes, hospitals and nursing homes. She graduated as a Presidential Scholar with a Master of Social Work from Gallaudet University and received an education in American Sign Language. She learned from some of the nation’s most prominent disabilities advocates on how to navigate community resources and macro change efforts of institutions, as well as clinical skills of working with people who have various forms of mental illnesses. She also earned a post graduate certificate in Paralegal Studies from Duke University. Mrs. Que has been a Social Worker for 23 years working in medical institutions, a Special Education School and Community organizations. Heidi served on the American Red Cross-National Headquarters Disabilities Task Force to plan how the organization would better serve people with disabilities. She lives and works in Boulder County and enjoys homeschooling her kids and enjoying nature and all creative arts activities. Heidi serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our Business or Non-Profit Representatives. |
Anita Speirs is the spouse of an adult with IDD, TBI, and Autism. Her husband suffered a serious accident in 2015 and Anita has been his advocate and caregiver since then. Previously, Anita worked as a bilingual office manager for philanthropists, education advocates, and art collectors Patricia Phelps de Cisneros and Gustavo Cisneros of New York City for many years. She has been a Spanish Interpreter/Translator for over 16 years. Anita is currently participating in the Boulder County Leadership Fellows program and currently sits on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and is a Boulder Housing Partners Foundation Board Member. She lives in Boulder with her husband and daughter. In her free time, Anita enjoys exploring Boulder with her daughter and friends, playing chess, doing puzzles with her family and helping the community. Anita serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our IDD Individual or Family Member Representatives. |
Annette Treufeldt-Franck (Vice-Chairperson) is the mother of two neurodiverse young adults, one of whom is IDD identified. The journey to understand, advocate for, find resources and navigate systems for her children’s needs has led to an understanding of the systems, services, and supports available to the IDD community. Her youngest child has just transitioned to adult services and has access to the services and supports from a Medicaid Waiver, Medicaid, Social Security and DVR. Annette and her family live in unincorporated Boulder County, just outside of Nederland. Since 2015, she has served on the Board of Directors at the Nederland Food Pantry and as the Pantry’s Clothing Closet Coordinator. Annette is a member of the Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Alliance and is just starting as a Family Recruited Employee (FRE) at Imagine!, so that her child can receive the services in their Medicaid Waiver plan. Annette wishes to increase resident’s access to the IDD Advisory Council by including those in the mountain region of Boulder County. Annette serves on the IDD Advisory Council as one of our Member at Large Representatives. |