Deborah Allen, ScD, is currently on the faculty of the Maternal and Child Health Department at the BU School of Public Health. Prior to her work with BU, Deborah directed the Division for Special Health Needs at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which allowed her a close working relationship with the Federation.

Emanuel Alves, Esquire, currently serves as Vice President, Counsel and Corporate Secretary for John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. and its US-based insurance subsidiaries. Manny contracted polio as a child resulting in a physical impairment. He takes special interest in the Federation’s work in the area of access to education for children with special needs.

Peter Brennan, CPA, is currently the Treasurer of the Federation’s Board of Directors. He is a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston. Peter takes a special interest in education and disability issues and has a family member with a disability.

Sarah Commerford, M.Ed., is the mother of two children with learning disabilities. Inspired after completing the Federation’s Advocacy Training Program, she and her business partner started Metrowest Educational Advocates. Sarah is also a free-lance grant writer who hones her development skills while working for The Children’s AIDS Program at Boston Medical Center.

Daniel T.S. Heffernan, Esquire, is an attorney at Kotin, Crabtree & Strong in Boston. He is an active member of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, and coaches a Special Olympics soccer team. He has a son with Down syndrome.

William Henderson is the Principal of the Patrick O’Hearn Elementary School in Dorchester. Under Dr. Henderson’s leadership the O’Hearn School has become a fully inclusive, nationally recognized school. He is a person with a visual impairment.

Anne Howard, Ph.D. is a Professor of Special Education at Fitchburg State College with a special interest in inclusive education for students with severe disabilities and positive behavior supports. She has been a long-time advocate of high quality education for all children including children with disabilities. Anne has a daughter with a profound hearing loss.

Joseph Petner, Ph.D., retired principal of the Haggerty School in Cambridge, has worked in public education for 40 years. During his tenure at the Haggerty he was involved in building a new school facility and the development of a whole school model of inclusion. Joe currently is adjunct faculty member at Lesley University and Wheelock College and mentors principals in the Boston metropolitan area through the School Network for Innovative Principals (SNIP).

Randi Sargent, MBA, is Founder of GivingGreetings.com, a publisher of charity greeting cards. Since the birth of her son with cerebral palsy, she has directed her marketing talents toward supporting Boston-area organizations that benefit children with special needs.

Patricia Schram, M.D., is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician who has extensive experience with adolescents, immigrants and the underserved in urban settings. She has a daughter who has learning disabilities and has volunteered at the Federation to support non-English speaking families.

James F. Whalen is President of the Federation Board, and a Partner at TA Associates Realty in Boston. His interest in the Federation evolved after learning about its mission through meetings of the National and Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. He is the parent of a son with Down syndrome.

Michael Weiner, a partner at the Commonwealth Financial Group in Boston, is a financial advisor that specializes in providing comprehensive financial plans for families of children and adults with special needs.  Additionally, Michael tutors children with special needs who are preparing for their Bar Mitzvah at the Gateways program in Newton. He is the parent of a son with a significant intellectual impairment.

Miryam Wiley, currently the Clerk of the Federation, is a freelance bilingual journalist, born in Brazil. She writes for the Metrowest Daily News and The Wellesley Townsman and maintains close connections with Brazilian community leaders. She is the parent of a child with special needs.