Council Members

Mary Durheim, Chair
McAllen

Mary Durheim is an educational consultant. She has served as the national president of Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD) and as chair of the CHADD national Public Policy committee for several years. Durheim is co-founder and co-author of CHADD's Parent to Parent: Family Training on ADHD program. Durheim is a former parent liaison for the Hidalgo County Community Resource Coordination Group. She received a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University. Durheim was appointed to the Council as a parent in February 1996 to fill the remainder of an unexpired term. She was appointed for a full term in February 2000 and was reappointed in September 2005. She was designated as Council Chair February 23, 2012.

John C. Morris, Vice-Chair
Austin

John C. Morris is an assistive technology coordinator for the Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. He represents the center to the Disability Policy Consortium and is currently the consortium's chair. Morris has been also a member of the legislatively mandated Consumer Direction Workgroup since 2006 and is currently its co-presiding officer. He represents TCDD as a member of the Council Services and Conference Planning Committees of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and a member of the Information and Technical Assistance Center for Councils on DD's Advisory Committee. Morris received an associate degree from Southwest Institute. He was appointed to the Council as a self-advocate in April 2001, was reappointed in July 2004 and again in March 2009 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2013.

Rebecca Hunter Adkins
Lakeway

Rebecca Hunter Adkins is a volunteer and non-profit spokesperson. She is a volunteer for Ride on Center for Kids, SIRE Therapeutic Equestrian Center, and Texas Hearing and Service Dogs. She is a volunteer facilitator and mentor for the Texas Youth Leadership Forum, and an ambassador for the Ms. Wheelchair Texas Foundation. Hunter attended Austin Community College. She was appointed to the Council as a self-advocate in March 2009 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2015.

Kimberly A. Blackmon
Fort Worth

Kimberly A. Blackmon is a data entry specialist at Harman Construction Inc. She is a self advocate for The Arc of Tarrant County and Down Syndrome Guild, and a drama member of We Have a Voice. She is also a volunteer hostess for Friday Nite Live and a past focus representative for Self Determination. Blackmon attended Tarrant County College and graduated from the Eastern New Mexico University Office Skills program. She was appointed to the Council as a self-advocate in March 2009 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2015.

Kristine Clark
San Antonio

Kristine (Bissmeyer) Clark is a sales associate with Smith and Nephew, Inc. She received a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Clark was appointed to the Council as a parent in February 2000 and reappointed in September 2005 and August 2011. Her current term expires Feb. 1, 2017.

Brenda Coleman-Beattie
Austin

Brenda Coleman-Beattie is CEO/principal consultant of 2Thrive4 LLC. She is a member of the Central Health (Travis County Health Care District) Board of Managers, Austin Travis County Integral Care (formerly ATC MHMR) Board of Trustees, and The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work Advisory Council. She is also past president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Austin. Coleman-Beattie received a bachelor's degree from Drake University and a master's degree in Latin American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin. Coleman-Beattie was originally appointed to the Council in August 2002 as the sibling of an individual with a developmental disability. She was designated as Council Chair December 2008-February 22, 2012 in conjunction with her reappointment to the board for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2013.

Gladys Cortez
McAllen

Gladys Cortez is an administrator at Mission Rehabilitation Services. She is a member of Leadership Mission, Valley-ICAN and The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) Deaf Rehabilitation Club. Cortez is also a past member of the UTPA American Sign Language Club and a volunteer with the Rio Grande Valley Special Olympics. She is pursuing a master's degree in general rehabilitation counseling from The University of Texas Pan American. She was appointed to the Council as a family member in August 2011 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2017.

Kristen L. Cox
El Paso

Kristen L. Cox is founder and president of Checkpoint Services Inc, a technology company in El Paso. She is a board member of the El Paso Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Foundation, Texas Association of Historically Underutilized Businesses and the Austin Regional Office of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Cox received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and is president of the El Paso A&M Club. She is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking, Leadership El Paso, and Leadership Texas. She was appointed to the Council as a parent in March 2009 for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2015.

Andrew D. Crim
Fort Worth

Andrew Crim is executive director of the Center for Professional and Continuing Education for UNT Health Science Center. He is a member of the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education (CME), Society for Academic CME, and Texas Alliance for CME. He is also a member of the Down Syndrome Partnership of Tarrant County Board of Directors. Crim received a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Tyler. He was appointed to the Council as a parent in December 2008 for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013.

Mateo Delgado
El Paso

Mateo is an assistant district attorney for the 34th Judicial District Attorney's Office. He is a member of the Texas and New Mexico Bar Associations. He is president of the Paso Del Norte Children's Development Center's Board of Directors. Mateo received his bachelors' degrees and law degree from the University of New Mexico. He was appointed to the Council as a self-advocate in March 2009 for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013.

Cindy Johnston
Dallas

Cindy Johnston is an office assistant for Locke, Lord, Bissell and Liddell. She is a past member of the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas Board of Directors. She was the 2000 Special Olympics Area 10 Female Athlete of the year. Johnston attended Richland College. Johnston was appointed to the Council as a self-advocate in August 2002 and was reappointed in December 2008 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2013.

Diana Kern
Cedar Creek

Diana Kern is founder of EXPECT RECOVERY! She is a member and advocate for the Planned Living Assistance Network of Central Texas Board of Directors, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. She is also a spokesperson and advocate for persons living with mental illness. Kern received a bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University. Kern was originally appointed to the Council as a self-advocate in December 2002 to fill the remainder of an unexpired term. She was appointed to a full term in April 2003 and was reappointed in March 2009 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2015.

Scott McAvoy
Cedar Park

Scott McAvoy is Vice-President of Operations for Marbridge Foundation that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities and is appointed as a representative of local, nongovernmental organizations. He is a member of the American Network of Community Options and Resources, and LeadingAge Texas, and a founding member of the Texas Culture Change Coalition. He was appointed to the Council in February 2012 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2015.

Dana Smith Perry
Brownwood

Dana Smith Perry is an advocate for people with disabilities. She is a member of The Arc of Brownwood and previously served as a board chairperson for the Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas. Perry also has served as a volunteer coach for Special Olympics. She graduated from Partners in Policymaking in 1996. Perry was originally appointed to the Council as a parent in August 2002 to fill the remainder of an unexpired term. She was appointed for a full term in November 2003 and again in March 2009 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2015.

Joe Rivas
Denton

Joe A. Rivas is an online college instructor in psychology for Dallas Telecollege and North Central Texas College (NCTC). He received a bachelor's degree in disability studies and a master's in Certified Rehabilitation Counseling, both from the University of North Texas. Rivas wrote a manual called, "A Good Attendant: A Guide about How to Recruit, Attain, and Maintain Personal Attendant Care." He was appointed to the Council as a self-advocate in December 2002 and reappointed in December 2005 and August 2011. His current term expires Feb. 1, 2017.

David Taylor
El Paso

David Taylor is is a retired master trainer for the U.S. Army Recruiting Company. He is founder and executive director of the Autism Community Network of El Paso, a child advocate for Court Appointed Special Advocates of El Paso, and a member of the Socorro Independent School District Health Advisory Council and Bond Accountability Committee. He is a member of the Omar Bradley Masonic Lodge 1028, American Legion Post 615, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9231. He is also a past board member of the Children's Disability Information Coalition and a past member of the El Paso Independent School District Special Education Advisory Council. He served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. He was appointed to the Council in February 2012 for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2017.

Lora Trainer Taylor
Houston

Lora T. Taylor is a private piano teacher. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Texas Music Teachers Association and National Piano Guild. She is also festival co-chair for the Memorial Area Piano Teachers. Taylor received a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Taylor was appointed to the Council as a parent in December 2008 for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013.

Richard A. Tisch
Spring

Richard A. Tisch is vice president of employee benefits for Willis of Texas, Inc. He is chair of the TCDD Public Policy Committee and a graduate of the Partners in Policymaking program. Tisch is currently an assistant Boy Scout leader and coaches for Special Olympics. He received a bachelor's degree in business from The University of Texas at Austin. Tisch was appointed to the Council as a parent in April 2001 to fill the remainder of an unexpired term. He was appointed for a full term in November 2002 and was reappointed in March 2009 for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2015.

Susan Vardell
Sherman

Susan Vardell is executive director of The Rehabilitation Center: Therapeutic Solutions for Children and Adults. She is a member Texoma Area Access/211 Advisory Board, President of the PNAC of the Texoma MHMRA and serves on the Board of Directors of Giving Options for an Independent Life with Supports (GOALS).Vardell received a bachelor's degree from Aurora University. Vardell was appointed to the Council as a representative of local, non-governmental organizations and nonprofit groups in December 2002 and was reappointed in December 2008 for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013.

Mary Faithfull has worked for Disability Rights Texas/Advocacy, Inc. since 1985 and has been executive director about 10 years. Earlier positions included regional manager in the Houston office for 10 years and coordinator for the Transition Services Task Force (a TCDD funded project). Before that, she was the education coordinator on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine assigned to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) from 1979 until 1984. Faithfull received bachelor's degrees in English and psychology and a master's in rehabilitation counseling. She is also on the board of the National Disability Rights Network.

Patty Anderson (Alternate) Profile pending

Penny Seay Profile pending

Sandy Graham (Alternate) Profile pending

Michael Benz has been the director of the Center on Disability and Development since it was created in July 2005. He has also been a professor of Special Education at Texas A&M University since July 2004. Previously, he served as a professor and director of a national research center on transition at University of Oregon for 24 years. Benz also taught special education at a high school in the 1970s. He has a bachelor's degree from California Lutheran College, master's from Chapman College in California and doctorate from the University of Oregon.

Amy Sharp (Alternate) has been the Associate Director, University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities at Texas A&M University since July 2008, and Director of the Family Support Network since 2002. She has been a visiting assistant professor on special education since 2001 and was the center's program coordinator for two years. Sharp interned with Junction 505 (supported employment) in Bryan and with Advocacy, Inc., (now called Disability Rights Texas), and has held other positions related to disabilities and special/inclusive education. She is involved in numerous organizations and professional groups. Sharp has a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston; master's in educational diagnostics, Angelo State University; and a doctorate in special education leadership and interagency collaboration, Texas A&M University.

Cindy Swain Profile pending

Frank Genco has been the Senior Policy Advisor for Long-Term Care, HHSC, since May 2009. Previously he was Manager, Policy Development and Oversight Unit, Center for Policy and Innovation, Department of Aging and Disability Services. He also has worked as a Policy Analyst, State Medicaid Office, HHSC; Public Policy Director, TCDD; and Legislative Aide, Rep. Glen Maxey. Genco has a bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a master's degree in public affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin.

Jeff Kaufmann is the manager of Research, Analysis and Support, Center for Policy Innovation at DADS. He manages a multidisciplinary team and coordinates several agency initiatives including the discretionary grants process, Consumer Directed Services policy, Quality Reporting, the Aging Texas Well initiative and its advisory committee, plus the agency's support to the Texas Council for Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders and the Direct Support Workforce initiative. Kaufmann has more than 30 years of experience in strategic business planning, project management and implementation. He previously served as director for Planning and Program Evaluation at the Health and Human Services Commission, was a vocational rehabilitation counselor and began his state career at the Austin State School. Kaufmann has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University at Albany, a master's in vocational rehabilitation counseling from The University of Texas at Austin, and a master's in public administration from Texas State University in San Marcos.

Vacant

Kathy Griffis-Bailey (Alternate) has worked for the state's health agency with the Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program since April 1995. She has been in her current position specializing in health care transition since October 2004. She previously held positions at the Family Medicine Clinic-Lampasas, The University of Texas (UT) College of Pharmacy-Austin; and Francis Hospitels-Austin. She has a bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University and a master's degree in pharmacy/health administration from UT/Austin. As the sibling to a survivor of traumatic brain injury, she has life-long experience with developmental disabilities.