Project Staff and Planning Committee

 is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Boston University. He has more than 25 years of clinical experience as a social worker. He has sponsored many activities for family and sibling support and founded the Next Chapter Book Club, an interactive literacy program that promotes friendship and lifelong learning within inclusive community settings. The Next Chapter Book Club has begun to expand into areas across Ohio and nationally. As part of the National Service Inclusion Project, Dr. Fish provides training and technical assistance to increase the participation of people with disabilities in Americorps programs across Ohio. Dr. Fish was a recent recipient of Mary Switzer Fellow, National Institute of Disability Research. He is the founder of the Ohio adult sibling initiative.

Rachel Straus                 

is a senior at The Ohio State University majoring in Speech and Hearing Science from Cincinnati. She is going to go to graduate school to become a Speech Language Pathologist. She has an older brother, Matt, with autism and a passion for helping those with disabilities. After working at Ohio State's Office for Disabiltiy Services for almost two years she began working at the Nisonger Center for Disabilties under Tom Fish in March 2007 helping to plan this conference, as well as other various activities that involve community outreach to persons with disabilities.

Nicole Barbour

is currently a graduate student at The Ohio State University, pursuing a Master's degree in Education. She began working in the disability field at the age of 18, after growing up with a brother with severe mental retardation. She provided direct care to individuals in their homes for six years, spent two years working as Sibling Advocate at the Nisonger Center for Disabilities under Dr. Tom Fish, and spent one year as Education Director for a Day Habilitation program called Learning Never Ends. While pursuing her current degree, she is employed as a Graduate Administrative Assitant for Ohio State Rec Sports, working to promote more participation of inviduals with disabilities in recreation and outdoor sports.

Michael Henn                 

has a twin sister, Nancy, who has Autism and lives in Stow, Ohio. He is a 2002 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Family Financial Management from The College of Human Ecology.  He earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERâ„¢ designation in 2007.  He is a Financial Advisor with Swisher Financial Concepts, Inc.   Because of his sister and his profession, he wanted to help provide education and support to families of special needs individuals.  His hope is to maximize the quality of life of those individuals with special needs.  He has been an attendee/organizer for the SIBS group for the last 6 years.