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Alexandra Cramer
Receptionist/Admin. Assistant
alexandra@php.com
408 727-5775 x 128 |
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Carol A. Gallegos
Admin. Assistant to CEO, Support Group Specialist
carol@php.com
408 727-5775 x 118 |
Carol started with PHP as a volunteer and later took the position of The Kids on the Block Coordinator where she worked with a wonderful group of volunteers to take an educational puppet show about disability awareness, medical/educational differences or social concerns to school age children. Currently she provides administrative support to the CEO, and is the Support Group Specialist. She is the volunteer facilitator for the Asperger's Syndrome Support Group and volunteers many additional hours to the events of Parents Helping Parents. |
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Claudia Harty
Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist
claudiah@php.com
408 727-5775 x 139 |
Claudia Harty has extensive experience providing clients with information and support in English and in Spanish. She has a BA from University Diego Portales in Santiago, Chile. Claudia is the parent of a child with special needs. |
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Debbie Drennan
Assistive Technology Specialist
debbied@php.com
408 727-5775 x 106 |
Debbie Drennan is one of the assistive technology specialists in the iTECH Center, with more than ten years experience in the field. She received her certificate in Assistive Technology from Cal State Northridge. She also has a Masters in Social Work from San Jose State University and previously worked as a medical social worker. Primarily, however, Debbie is a parent of two sons, each with different special needs. She has a son with Cerebral Palsy (CP), and a son with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Dyspraxia. It was because of her sons' unique needs that she became interested in, and passionate about, assistive technology and the potential it has for many people. |
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Denny de Harne
Early Intervention Specialist
denny@php.com
408 727-5775 x 121 |
A former VISTA volunteer, Denny has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California Santa Barbara and a background in early childhood education. Denny has been at PHP since 2001 providing families with information, resources and support as part of our Community and Family Services program. |
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Dianah Marr
Education Specialist
dianah@php.com
408 727-5775 x 129 |
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Elena Dukhovny
iTECH Speech Therapist
elena@php.com
408 727-5775 x 152 |
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Esmeralda Garcia
Bilingual Education Specialist
esmeraldag@php.com
408 727-5775 x 103 |
Esmeralda Garcia had more than four years experience working directly with children with special needs and their families before coming to PHP in 2008. She also brings her experience with a family member with special needs as she provides support and information to families. Esmeralda is bilingual English & Spanish. |
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Jan Tuber
Assistive Technology Specialist
jan@php.com
408 727-5775 x 104 |
Jan Tuber is an Assistive Technology Specialist (Learning Disabilities) in PHP’s iTECH Center. She is married and the mother of two, both of whom have learning differences. Jan has a B.S. degree in Human Development from the University of California, Davis and an M.A. in Counseling from Gallaudet University. She has extensive experience working with special populations, has taught PHP’s Social Boundaries Workshops and knows American Sign Language. Jan has been with PHP since 2005. |
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Jane Floethe-Ford
Director of Education Services
jane@php.com
408 727-5775 x 115 |
Jane Floethe-Ford joined PHP’s Education Department in 1997, providing information, support and referrals to both parents and professionals on special education, assistive technology and related topics. She has extensive training on special education issues and participates on a number of local, regional and statewide education committees and task forces, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the California Family Empowerment Centers. She is also the mother of a child with special needs. |
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Janet Nunez
Manager, iTECH Center
janet@php.com
408 727-5775 x 173 |
Assistive Technology Specialist and Manager of the iTECH Center at Parents Helping Parents, Janet is responsible for leading the iTECH team to attain its mission – helping people of all abilities, ages and without regard to financial means, find the technologies that will allow them to fulfill their potential. Janet holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a paralegal certificate from West Valley College. She received her Assistive Technology certification from the Research Institute of Assistive Technology and Training in 2000, and prior to coming to PHP worked for 3 years as an assistive technology information and referral specialist for the State of California. Janet is fluent in Spanish and has spent many years working extensively with the special needs population, including managing a special needs soccer team and working hands-on with students in the school setting. Her areas of interest include special education law as it relates to assistive technology, and technology related to learning disabilities and autism. Her son has autism and is the driving force behind her mission to educate the public about the potential of assistive technology. In her spare time, Janet enjoys playing flute in the Saratoga Community Band. |
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Judy Bower
Librarian
judy@php.com
408 727-5775 x 110 |
Judy Bower, parent of a teenage son with language and learning disabilities, first heard of PHP over 15 years ago. She was so impressed with their array of services that she became a volunteer. She has worked for over 10 years as the PHP and RiSE Librarian, and maintains the Resource Directory. Judy has a BA from University of Massachusetts-Amherst in Communications Studies, and a Certificate in Marketing Communications from San Jose State University. |
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Julie Gorman
Educational Administrative Assistant
mailto:julie@php.com
408 727-5775 x 183 |
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Kathy Kenyon
Data Entry Assistant
kathyk@php.com
408 727-5775 x 107 |
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Laura Spyropoulos
Education Specialist
mailto:laura@php.com
408 727-5775 x 187 |
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Loni Allen
Education Specialist
loni@php.com
408 727-5775 x 124 |
Loni first received support for her son from PHP through referral by a thoughtful parent. A few years later, her daughter was diagnosed with a serious and life threatening disease. She turned to PHP and the Touchstone support group. Loni works in the Education Department and has a passion to share information that enhances a parent’s ability to participate in the IEP process in a positive and collaborative way. She also loves using internet technology to share information about special education rights, advocacy and Section 504. |
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Maria Avina
Bilingual Resource Specialist
maria@php.com
408 727-5775 x 149 |
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Mary Ellen Peterson, M.A.
Executive Director/CEO
maryellen@php.com
408 727-5775 x 153 |
Mary Ellen Peterson has more than 35 years of experience working with families who have children with special needs. The parent of two adult children with disabilities, Mary Ellen is one of the founding members of PHP. She began working at PHP in 1983 as the Visiting Parent Coordinator, quickly moving into management as the Family Resource Coordinator and then Program Director/Assistant Director. In 1995 she was appointed CEO. Ms. Peterson has an M.A. in Special Education and a Non-Profit Management Certificate. |
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Melissa King
Program Coordinator
melissak@php.com
408 727-5775 x 136 |
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Minh Phan
Bilingual Community and Family Services Specialist
minhtamp@php.com
408 727-5775 x 117 |
Minhtam Phan has over 7 years experience working with people with special needs. She is working toward her degree in Social Welfare & Sociology. She is bilingual English & Vietnamese and the parent of a child with autism. |
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Mouna Raad
Bilingual Resource Specialist
mouna@php.com
408 727-5775 x 130 |
Mouna Raad is an Education Specialist at PHP, where she started in March 2002 as a Medical Home Project Coordinator. After graduating from the American University of Beirut with an MS in Biology, she worked as a language teacher, a biology instructor and in the medical device industry in research and development and international regulatory. She brings with her a fluency in four languages and many years of parenting experience. |
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Nancy O'Rourke
Chief Development Officer
nancyo@php.com
408-727-5775 x 138 |
Nancy O’Rourke is part of the Development Department team securing funding and resources for PHP. Since 1993 she has been involved in not-for-profit management as a development officer, deputy director and executive director. Nancy has a BS in Textiles and Business Management from the University of California, Davis. Nancy and her family have benefitted from PHP’s many services. She first contacted PHP in 1988 as the parent of a newborn daughter with Down syndrome. |
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Oralia Tercero
Bilingual Education Specialist
oralia@php.com
408 727-5775 x 185 |
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Paul Schutz
Chief Financial Officer
pschutz@php.com
408 727-5775 x 140 |
Paul Schutz has been PHP’s Chief Financial Officer since August 1996.
Paul received his Masters Degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from Santa Clara University in 1979, was licensed (MFT) in 1981, and qualified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives (now the Association of Fundraising Professionals) in 1990.
Since 1979, Paul has been providing not-for-profit management for a variety of South Bay Area organizations as an Executive Director, Development Director, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. |
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Rosa Solorzano
Bilingual Education Specialist
rosa@php.com
408 727-5775 x 119 |
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Shriya Shah
Workshop Specialist
shriyas@php.com
408 727-5775 x 184 |
Shriya Shah had extensive experience organizing, recruiting and facilitating research-based and evidence-based parenting workshops before coming to PHP in 2008 to lead the Sharing the Journey workshop series. She speaks English, Hindi, and Gujarti. Shriya holds a Masters in Instructional Technology from San Jose State University and a Masters in English Literature from South Gujarat University, Surat, India. She is the mother of a child with special needs. |
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Susan Larkin
Warmline Specialist
susanl@php.com
(408)453-6651
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Susan brings a wealth of experience to the Inclusion Warmline located at Santa Clara County Office of Education. Susan has been involved in The Inclusion Collaborative since its inception. |
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Susana Navarro
Bilingual Education Specialist
susana@php.com
408 727-5775 x 127 |
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Tonia Shaw
Workshop Specialist
tonias@php.com
408 727-5775 x 150 |
Tonia Shaw has experience supporting, counseling and guiding clients, both students and parents. She also has experience teaching in a special education environment. Tonia received specialized training in and has been teaching Social Boundaries workshops using the CIRCLES (r) curriculum at PHP since 2007. |
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Trudy Marsh Grable
Director, Community and Family Services
trudy@php.com
408 727-5775 x 102 |
Trudy has over 20 years of experience working with families that have children with special needs. As the Director of Community and Family Services, Trudy designs and implements programs and services for children of all ages with special needs and their families. As the parent of an adult with special needs, she also volunteers as the co-facilitator of PHP's Parents of Adult Children with Developmental Disabilities Support and Information Group. Trudy participates on numerous local and national disability-related advisory committees. Trudy earned her Early Childhood Intervention Certificate from Santa Clara University in 1994. Prior to joining PHP, Trudy had a 15-year history in the healthcare industry and held a teaching credential in the specialty area. Trudy founded and ran PHP's Seizure Support Network for nine years, producing several national conferences. |
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Virginia Hildebrand
Bookkeeper
408-727-5775 x 141 |
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