Karen Serevitch

Executive Director

Tara Price

Curriculum Director

Tara joins UD from Edmonton, Canada where she taught for sixteen years in fully-included classrooms. She also facilitated discussions on effective classroom feedback, collaborated to plan research based lessons, co-wrote curricula for learning events, and facilitated group therapy sessions alongside the school psychiatrist. Why I Support UD: I believe whole-heartedly in inclusive education and the message that we are all the same inside with both challenges and talents. The UD curriculum innovation, with its strong focus on How To Interact in a positive and respectful way, helps schools optimize the impact of their inclusion program and thereby increase learning for all students. Contact Tara

Diana Koster

Curriculum Writing Team, Lesson Leader

Diana has 20 years experience as a writer, course developer, software engineer, and community volunteer. Her work includes creating documentation, professional development coursework, and marketing materials for the high tech industry. Diana began working with UD in 2012 because of her family’s experience with food allergies and was soon drawn to teaching other UD lessons. Why I Support UD: The UD journey expands perspective, taking us from personal experience to a larger societal view. It inspires us all to think deeper. It’s a great curriculum.

Michael McDade

Treasurer

Mike is a business financial consultant who previously served as VP of Corporate Finance for a $1.4 billion health and human services company. He has held numerous finance and accounting positions at Gillette and P&G. Why I Support UD: I spent several years working within a health and human services organization. Visiting group homes and day programs was an eye opening experience for me. Volunteering with Understanding Disabilities gives me the opportunity to work with a dedicated group of people that want to educate and make a better place not only for those with disabilities, but the entire community.

Meagan Putney

Friends of UD Administrator, School Team Chair

Meagan has a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling and ten years of Human Resources and Educational Publishing experience. She is actively involved in the school community. Why I Support UD: What truly matters to me is for people to understand the common threads that bind us together. I want children to know it is ok to be different; that each of us deserves respect, love, and compassion. I want all children to focus on DOING and not limit themselves by society’s misconception of what they can and cannot do.

Jon Taubman

Lesson Leader, Webmaster

Jon is a musician, website manager, project manager, and marketing professional with over 17 years experience working with music publishing companies and nonprofit organizations. Why I Support UD: Any time you can spend in your child’s classroom is a rewarding experience, but the UD experience tops all. I get to teach in my daughters’ classrooms and school communities these great UD awareness lessons that build social skills, self-confidence, and empathy. As a parent, it doesn’t get better than that! Whats more, the UD script makes the curriculum easy to teach, even without teaching experience.

Colleen Torell

Grant Writer

Colleen has nearly 20 years experience in career management and coaching, with particular expertise in the legal industry. Colleen also serves on the executive board of her children’s elementary school Parent Teacher Organization. Why I Support UD: We want everyone to respect and appreciate differences- in ourselves and in others- and UD has perfected how we reinforce those concepts in the classroom. The curriculum that UD takes to my sons’ school gives them and their peers tools that support their social and emotional learning. Students’ perspectives expand, thanks to UD’s thoughtful approach.