Katherine (Katie) BrendliBrown, PhD, is an Extension Associate with Cornell University’s Yang TanInstitute on Employment and Disability, in the School of Industrial and LaborRelations. Her research interests include supporting positive health and wellbeing,encouraging self-determination/self-advocacy, and improving postsecondarytransition experiences and outcomes for people with intellectual anddevelopmental disabilities. 

Dr. Ruth Brown, PhD, is aLicensed Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor at the VirginiaInstitute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics at Virginia CommonwealthUniversity. Her research is dedicated to improving the mental health care of peoplewith Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilitiesthrough improved detection, prevention, and treatment of traumatic stress,anxiety, and depression.

Margaret DeRamus, MS,CCC-SLP (she/her) is a licensed speech-language pathologist at the CarolinaInstitute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD) at the University of NorthCarolina at Chapel Hill. She applies her expertise in communication to addressthe unique needs of individuals with intellectual and developmentaldisabilities. She is a member of the Association of University Centers onDisabilities (AUCD) Sexual Health special interest group. Ms. DeRamusco-facilitates a modified sexual health education (SHE) series for youth andadults with I/DD and their families/caregivers. Her expertise is in modifyinglanguage and in applying universal design learning to promote accessibility forindividuals with complex communication needs.

Morgan Parlier, MSW, LCSWis the lead social work faculty at the Carolina Institute for DevelopmentalDisabilities (CIDD).  Morgan has more than twenty years of experienceworking with the neurodiversity community in areas of research, education, andprovision of disability affirming clinical services.  She serves as theDirector of the CIDD Family Support Program, supporting a team comprised offamily partners, social workers, and LEND trainees who provide social/emotionalsupport as well as service navigation.  She serves as Co-Chair of the CIDDDiversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. Morgan’s passion is in promotingsexual health and relationship equity for all; representing the CIDD on the NCSexual Violence Prevention Advisory Council.  Morgan is an educator,trainer, and consultant for accessible and comprehensive sexual healtheducation (SHE) for developmentally disabled individuals.  Her clinicalinterests include individual and group relational therapy with adolescents,adults and older adults who are developmentally disabled and have co-occurringmental health diagnoses.