SRCB members are passionate volunteers who represent recipients of rehabilitation services, their families, service providers, educators, advocates, and policy makers. We work together and alongside the DSB to promote excellence in service, leading to independence and meaningful employment for blind and visually impaired people in Washington State.
Current Council Members
- Marci Carpenter, 2018 SRCB Chair: Consumer Advocacy Organization
- Kim Conner: Washington State Independent Living Council (SILC)
- Lou Oma Durand: DSB Executive Director (Ex-Officio Member)
- Steve Fiksdal: Business, Labor and Industry
- Corey Grandstaff: Current or Former Recipient of VR Services
- Jerry Johnsen: Client Assistance Program
- Tracy Kahlo: Parent Information and Training Center
- Nate Marshall: Community Rehabilitation Program
- Tim Paulding: Current or Former Recipient of VR Services
- Yvonne Thomas-Miller: Native American Tribal Representative
- Doug Trimble: State Education Department
- Sheila Turner: Representing Blind People Who Are Unable to Represent Themselves
- Gloria Walling: Business, Industry and Labor
- Linda Wilder: Qualified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Seattle, WA
Marci is President of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Washington. She also serves as Chairperson of the Seattle Transit Advisory Board. She is elected SRCB Chair for 2018. More information about the NFB of Washington can be found at: https://www.nfbw.org/.
Olympia, WA
Kim is Executive Director of the SILC. She previously worked as a consultant providing strategic planning, program development, and partnership building for non-profits and small businesses. More information about the SILC can be found at: http://www.wasilc.org/.
Seattle, WA
Lou Oma was appointed Executive Director of the DSB in July 2005. Previously she served as Deputy Director, and held other executive and administrative positions at DSB and in industry.
Steve Fiksdal: Business, Labor and Industry
Federal Way, WA
Steve is the owner of ConnectEd Institute, which provides character strength assessment and education to individuals and teams. He is President of Washington Council of the Blind (WCB). More information about the WCB can be found at: http://wcbinfo.org/.
Vancouver WA
Corey is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. Since 2012, he has been employed at the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) as a Residential Program Assistant and teacher. Corey is joining us as we end 2017. More information about the WSSB can be found at: https://www.wssb.wa.gov.
Seattle, WA
Jerry has been Client Assistance Program (CAP) director for 38 years. He also serves on the DVR SRC and theGovernor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE.). More information about the CAP can be found at: http://www.washingtoncap.org/.
Tacoma, WA
Tracy has a Master’s in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University. She has served as the Executive Director of Partnerships for Action, Voices for Empowerment (PAVE) since 2008. More information about PAVE can be found at: https://wapave.org/.
Tacoma, WA
Nate has served two full terms as the CRP representative. We will miss his enthusiasm and his thoughtful contributions. We are actively recruiting for someone to serve in this position.
Spokane, WA
Tim is an Orientation and Mobility instructor at the Lighthouse for the Blind in Spokane. He also contracts with the states of Washington and Idaho, teaching adaptive technology and O&M to children and adults. More information about the Lighthouse for the Blind can be found at: http://thelighthousefortheblindinc.org/.
Bellingham, WA
Yvonne is employed at the Lummi Vocational Rehabilitation Program as an Outreach Specialist and is certified by the PET-AIR (Post Employment Training-American Indian Rehabilitation program.) Yvonne graduated from Evergreen State University and the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. More information about the Lummi Vocational Rehabilitation Program can be found at http://www.lummi-nsn.org/website/dept_pages/health/voc_rehab.shtml.
Vancouver, WA
Doug works at the Washington State School for the Blind teaching Orientation & Mobility to middle and high school students. Doug is also a contracted service provider with the DSB Independent Living Program. More information about the WSSB can be found at: https://www.wssb.wa.gov.
Sheila Turner: Representing Blind People Who Are Unable to Represent Themselves
Pasco, WA
Sheila is employed as the Independent Living Skills teacher at the Edith Bishel Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Kennewick. She is working towards dual certification as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialist at the University of Northern Colorado. She is the parent of two children who are blind; one has multiple disabilities. More information about Edith Bishel Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired can be found at: http://edithbishelcenter.org/.
Olympia, WA
Gloria is a licensed operator in the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) where she has managed cafeterias and other locations since 2008. Gloria is also active on the BEP Vender’s committee. More information about the BEP can be found at https://dsb.wa.gov/about/business-enterprise-program.shtml-0.
Tacoma, WA
Linda has a Bachelor’s degree from Seattle University and a Master’s degree from Chapman University. In 2017, Linda retired from DSB after working 30 years as a Vocational rehabilitation Counselor.
Staff
Seattle, WA
Debbie works for the University of Washington Center on Technology and Disability Studies where she manages several technology and service delivery programs. She also serves on DSB’s Executive Team as a consultant. Prior to that, Debbie worked at DSB as a VR Counselor, rehabilitation teacher and program manager. She will retire in March, 2018.
Seattle, WA
Meredith retired recently from DSB as a Regional Area Manager for VR. Prior to this, she was a VR counselor at DSB and at DVR, and served as a supervisor at DVR. She is now bringing her wealth of experience to the SRCB as the new staff liaison.
Joining the Council
SRCB members are appointed by the Governor for no more than two 3-year consecutive terms. The Governor actively encourages us to seek demographic and ethnic diversity in addition to meeting the federal requirements for representation.
The Council currently has four vacancies:
- Representative of the State Workforce Board
- Community Rehabilitation provider
- Two Labor or Business Representatives
To If you would like to be considered for appointment to the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, complete the online application at: https://fortress.wa.gov/es/governor/boardsapplication. Be sure to select “Blind, Rehabilitation Council for”. Applications may be submitted at any time. For more information or assistance regarding the application process, please contact SRC for the Blind Liaison, Meredith Stannard.