About Us
Meet the Staff
Heather Bridgman
Regional Consultant
Heather Bridgman has been working in the field of Assistive Technology for more than 20 years. She is a rehabilitation engineer and has worked in both the medical and educational environments. Her specialties include computer access, augmentative communication, universal design for learning, and online learning. Heather has earned a master’s degree in systems engineering with a concentration in rehabilitation as well as a teaching license in the area of high school mathematics. Heather has presented at numerous state and regional conferences on a wide variety of assistive technology software, hardware, and market trends. She is certified as a RESNA Assistive Technology Professional and teaches AT courses at Ashland University.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-0343
Email: heather_bridgman@ocali.org
John Deever
Accessibility Support Specialist
John Deever, M.A., is an Accessibility Support Specialist in the AT&AEM Center. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master of Arts in English, and has worked as a TEFL instructor. John has been working for five years in the public school system as a special education one-on-one aide in elementary school, an eighth-grade science teacher, and a middle school STEM teacher who came out of that experience with a greater understanding of the importance of making hands-on STEM education accessible. A writer and editor, John has worked for over 20 years in online and print publishing as an editorial freelancer serving schools, universities, and NGOs. John is committed to working alongside the disability community and with educators to increase accessible and inclusive opportunities.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-401-4046
Email: john_deever@ocali.org
Augusta Fisher
Project Assistant
Augusta Fisher, B.A., works as a project assistant and with communications for the AT&AEM Center. She is a University of Mount Union graduate, and has 3 years of experience working with OCALI as an office intern where she worked with both the lending library and the AT&AEM Center to assist with center projects and activities.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-1042
Email: augusta_fisher@ocali.org
Jennifer Govender
AEM Specialist
Jennifer Govender, M.Ed, is a highly adaptable and a versatile educator. Over her 13 years of experience as an Early Intervention Specialist, Assistive Technology Specialist and a Teacher for Students with Visual Impairments, she has had the opportunity to work in-depth with diverse groups of students. These experiences have aided her development in becoming a well-rounded and compassionate individual, who takes each student’s unique goals, needs, and interests into account to allow them to be successful in the school setting.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-401-2894
Email: jennifer_govender@ocali.org
Kelly Houston
Project Assistant
Kelly Houston is a Project Assistant implementing the operation of the AT&AEM Center’s delivery system of accessible educational materials (AEM) to Ohio school districts. She carries out the annual Federal Quota Registration of Legally Blind Students on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, resulting in Federal Quota Funds for AEM for Ohio students. She maintains the AT&AEM Clearinghouse of braille, digital, and large print textbooks and educational aids for loan to eligible students. Kelly serves on the AT&AEM Federal Quota Committee and provides technical assistance related to AEM. She also assists with data collection for the AT&AEM Center.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-1039
Email: kelly_houston@ocali.org
Shelley Mack
AT & AEM Braille Consultant
Shelley Mack, B.S., M.Ed., is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Library of Congress (NLS) Certified Braille Transcriber (Literary). She is an instructor for the BEST Grant Summer Institute braille courses and conducts UEB transition workshops for the BEST Grant as well. Shelley provides consultative support to AT&AEM and the BEST Grant in areas pertaining to braille, large print, AT and materials for students with visual impairments.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-1042
Email: shelley_mack@ocali.org
Lisa Modena
Production Assistant
Lisa Modena, B.S. is a National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress (NLS) Certified Braille Transcriber in the AT&AEM Materials Production Center. She prepares NIMAS file sets for conversion into the multiple formats of braille, large print, audio, and digital text for students with print disabilities, including students with visual impairments for Ohio school districts. She produces tactile graphics using a variety of formats and tools including computer generated, collage, microcapsule, and heat. Lisa taught Kindergarten students in a charter school and a Christian school. She taught Head Start as a Lead Teacher for 8 years. She also was an aide to students with visual impairments at the Ohio State School for the Blind (OSSB).
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-2902
Email: lisa_modena@ocali.org
Katie Robinson
AEM Production Specialist
Katie Robinson works at the AT&AEM Center at OCALI in the Accessible Materials Production department and has worked in the field for over 10 years, producing materials in braille and large print. Katie holds an Associate’s Degree in Computer Networking Systems Administration from DeVry University. She is a Certified Literary Braille transcriber in both EBAE and UEB. She serves on the Transcriber and Educator committee for the National Braille Association and as a Board member for the Center for Disability Empowerment. She speaks to university students about her experiences as a disabled person in the education system and is an active disability advocate.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-1045
Email: katie_robinson@ocali.org
Rachel Schultz
AEM Specialist
Rachel Schultz, M.A., is the Accessible Educational Materials Specialist in the AT & AEM Center. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, with state licensure in both TESOL and Special Education. Rachel has been working with people with disabilities for 16 years in a variety of educational and residential settings. She is the recipient of local and national grants, which focused on acquiring assistive technologies in order to break down barriers to educational access. Rachel is invested in working alongside the disability community and with educators in order to increase accessible and inclusive opportunities.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-0955
Email: rachel_schultz@ocali.org
Judy Siens
Project Assistant
Judy Siens implements the AT&AEM Center’s delivery system of accessible educational materials (AEM) to Ohio school districts. She administers the annual Federal Quota Registration of Legally Blind Students for the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, generating Federal Quota Funds for AEM for Ohio students. She maintains the AT&AEM Clearinghouse of braille, digital, and large print textbooks and educational aids available for loan to eligible students. Judy participates on and serves as the secretary of the AT&AEM Federal Quota Committee and provides technical assistance related to AEM to Ohio School Districts.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-1041
Email: judy_siens@ocali.org
Stacy Springer
AT&AEM Center Program Director
Stacy Springer, MS, OTR/L, ATP, is the Program Director for the AT&AEM Center at OCALI. Her work includes oversight of activities and resources designed to improve outcomes for people with disabilities through state-wide capacity building. Stacy has over 20 years of experience in a variety of school-based settings across the country, as a Special Education Teacher, Occupational Therapist, and Assistive Technology Specialist. She led the AT/AAC Team in Oakland Unified School District (CA) and facilitated a shift to MTSS service provision. Previously Stacy served as the AT specialist for SC Department of Education building state-wide capacity and providing technical assistance for assistive technology. She was an inaugural mentor for the Joy Zabala Fellowship in Assistive Technology & Accessible Educational Materials. Stacy is a member of the Quality Indicators of Assistive Technology (QIAT) Leadership team.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-0736
Email: stacy_springer@ocali.org
Mary Jo Wendling
AT Consultant
Mary Jo Wendling is an occupational therapist with over 35 years experience in pediatrics, having worked in various clinical and educational settings. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University. Since 1990, she has specialized in assistive technology. Mary Jo is the manager of the Toy and Technology Library at Nisonger Center UCEDD at The Ohio State University and works for the Dublin City School District, where she is a member of the AT team. Mary Jo has given numerous presentations, trainings and guest lectures on the topics of access, software, assistive technology, adapted toys and switches for curriculum access and modification. She provides technical assistance for the assistive technology lending library at OCALI and also participates in special projects.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-1042
Email: mary_jo_wendling@ocali.org
Jerry Whittaker
AT Consultant
Jerry Whittaker, M.A., is an AT Consultant with over 40 years of experience specializing in technologies for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. He has worked in public schools as a speech and language pathologist, and was a consultant at the East Central Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center (currently known as State Support Team 12), ORCLISH (currently known as OCALI) and CISAM (currently known as the AT&AEM Center). Jerry provides technical assistance and professional development for districts around Ohio, as well as the Grafton Prison Braille Service Center. He has presented at local, state, and national conferences and has developed numerous supports and products to aid in the production of braille and large print.
Contact Information:
Phone: 614-410-1042
Email: jerry_whittaker@ocali.org