Tanni Anthony
Tanni Anthony is the Director of the Access, Learning with the Exceptional Student Services Unit within the Colorado Department of Education. She serves as the State Consultant on Blindness/Low Vision and the Project Director of the Colorado Services for Children and Youth with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss. Dr. Anthony received her Ph.D. from the University of Denver in the area of Child and Family Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies. She is a certified teacher of students with visual impairments, low vision therapist, and Orientation and Mobility Specialist. She presents frequently on the topics of sensory disabilities in the early years and working with children and youth with sensory and additional disabilities.
Tanni Anthony is the Director of the Access, Learning with the Exceptional Student Services Unit within the Colorado Department of Education. She serves as the State Consultant on Blindness/Low Vision and the Project Director of the Colorado Services for Children and Youth with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss. Dr. Anthony received her Ph.D. from the University of Denver in the area of Child and Family Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies. She is a certified teacher of students with visual impairments, low vision therapist, and Orientation and Mobility Specialist. She presents frequently on the topics of sensory disabilities in the early years and working with children and youth with sensory and additional disabilities.
Kevin E. O’Connor
Kevin E. O’Connor, CSP is a physician educator and healthcare consultant, author and presenter specializing in professionals leading teams of their fellow professionals, often their peers. He is also the father of a 25 year old son who is visually impaired. Kevin is a former president of NAPVI, the parent organization with offices in New York representing parents whose children are blind or visually impaired. He teaches graduate and undergraduate students at Chicago’s Loyola University and at Columbia College, Chicago’s performing arts school. He has three masters’ degrees, has authored eight books, and holds the CSP, Certified Speaking Professional, designation from the National Speakers Association, awarded to fewer than 550 persons in the world who hold this honor for speaking and teaching excellence.
Kevin E. O’Connor, CSP is a physician educator and healthcare consultant, author and presenter specializing in professionals leading teams of their fellow professionals, often their peers. He is also the father of a 25 year old son who is visually impaired. Kevin is a former president of NAPVI, the parent organization with offices in New York representing parents whose children are blind or visually impaired. He teaches graduate and undergraduate students at Chicago’s Loyola University and at Columbia College, Chicago’s performing arts school. He has three masters’ degrees, has authored eight books, and holds the CSP, Certified Speaking Professional, designation from the National Speakers Association, awarded to fewer than 550 persons in the world who hold this honor for speaking and teaching excellence.
Barbara Miles
Barbara Miles has been working in the field of Deafblind education since 1972. She has been a classroom teacher, a consultant, a trainer of teachers and a family support provider. She is the author and editor, with Marianne Riggio, of Remarkable Conversations; A guide to developing meaningful communication with children and young adults with deafblindness (Perkins, 1999), and has published a number of articles, including "Talking the Language of the Hands to the Hands." She lives in Vermont where she enjoys gardening, walking with her dog, Bella, drawing, writing, and dancing.
Barbara Miles has been working in the field of Deafblind education since 1972. She has been a classroom teacher, a consultant, a trainer of teachers and a family support provider. She is the author and editor, with Marianne Riggio, of Remarkable Conversations; A guide to developing meaningful communication with children and young adults with deafblindness (Perkins, 1999), and has published a number of articles, including "Talking the Language of the Hands to the Hands." She lives in Vermont where she enjoys gardening, walking with her dog, Bella, drawing, writing, and dancing.
Shawn Marolais
Shawn Marolais is the founder of Blind Beginnings, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide children and youth who are blind or visually impaired with the necessary opportunities, experiences, services, and family/community support to reach their full potential. This organization runs many popular programs such as youth leadership, junior explorer and the family community discovery program. Blind Beginnings carries a ‘No Limits’ philosophy by providing programs that challenge the limits of what is deemed possible for blind and visually impaired children.
Shawn was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare eye condition that has caused her vision to deteriorate through her childhood and adolescence. Since the age of eighteen she has had less than two percent of her vision and has fully adjusted to life as a blind person.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia in 1999, Shawn completed an Internship at Dorton House School for the Blind in England where she assisted blind and visually impaired children in the classroom. Upon her return to Canada, Shawn worked for CNIB first as a Career & Employment Counsellor and later as a Counsellor/Coordinator for Children & Youth Services. In this role, Shawn coordinated workshops and camps for children, youth, and families, educated child-care professionals on strategies for working with blind children, and offered ongoing resources and support to families throughout BC. Shawn recently completed a Master’s degree in Councelling from the University of British Columbia. Shawn also has extensive Board experience through her involvement on several Non-profit Boards including the Western Association for Persons with Vision Impairment, Canadian Blind Sports Association & Recreation Association, and Access for Sight Impaired Consumers.
When she isn't studying, working, or volunteering, Shawn is also a competitive athlete. She has competed at an elite level in three sports and is currently on the National Goalball team. The highlight of her athletic career was competing at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, in the sport of tandem cycling. Through her extensive involvement in competitive sports she has learned discipline, leadership, cooperation, determination, and perseverance. Shawn strives to inspire the children and youth she works with to believe that they can be anything they choose.
Shawn Marolais is the founder of Blind Beginnings, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide children and youth who are blind or visually impaired with the necessary opportunities, experiences, services, and family/community support to reach their full potential. This organization runs many popular programs such as youth leadership, junior explorer and the family community discovery program. Blind Beginnings carries a ‘No Limits’ philosophy by providing programs that challenge the limits of what is deemed possible for blind and visually impaired children.
Shawn was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare eye condition that has caused her vision to deteriorate through her childhood and adolescence. Since the age of eighteen she has had less than two percent of her vision and has fully adjusted to life as a blind person.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia in 1999, Shawn completed an Internship at Dorton House School for the Blind in England where she assisted blind and visually impaired children in the classroom. Upon her return to Canada, Shawn worked for CNIB first as a Career & Employment Counsellor and later as a Counsellor/Coordinator for Children & Youth Services. In this role, Shawn coordinated workshops and camps for children, youth, and families, educated child-care professionals on strategies for working with blind children, and offered ongoing resources and support to families throughout BC. Shawn recently completed a Master’s degree in Councelling from the University of British Columbia. Shawn also has extensive Board experience through her involvement on several Non-profit Boards including the Western Association for Persons with Vision Impairment, Canadian Blind Sports Association & Recreation Association, and Access for Sight Impaired Consumers.
When she isn't studying, working, or volunteering, Shawn is also a competitive athlete. She has competed at an elite level in three sports and is currently on the National Goalball team. The highlight of her athletic career was competing at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, in the sport of tandem cycling. Through her extensive involvement in competitive sports she has learned discipline, leadership, cooperation, determination, and perseverance. Shawn strives to inspire the children and youth she works with to believe that they can be anything they choose.