Rhode
Island's
Assistive Technology Access Partnership
(ATAP
)
40 Fountain Street ~ Providence,
RI 02903
401.421.7005 (V) ~ 401.421.7016 (TDD) ~ 401.222.3574 (FAX) ~ 401.272.8090
(Spanish)
ATAP Information & Referral - 800.916.8324
Rhode Island Council
on Assistive Technology (RICAT)
"Promoting and
supporting availability of assistive technology for people with disabilities"
Member Bios
Charles Pollock Chair, is an AT user who has a background in engineering and management who is interested in improving physical accessibility at local and state buildings, parking, etc. Charles was recently voted in as the new Chair of RICAT.John Benevides, Vice Chair, works at Citizens Bank as a VP and Director of Brokerage Business Development. His background in finance would be invaluable in starting the micro-loan program for assistive technology equipment.
Florence Adeni-Awosika is an assistive technology user who is a teacher in the Providence School System.
Kerri Cicione is a special education teacher and has worked with High School and Middle School students. She is familiar with assistive technology use in the classroom ranging from pencil grips and computers.
Kevin Cronin is a student in the URI electrical engineering program. Due to a car accident, Kevin is a quadriplegic and uses assistive technology every day.
Harry Dunbar learned about RICAT at an Open Forum he attended one summer. As a consumer of assistive technology, he knows the system and could use this knowledge to help others.
Margaret Dunning is a consumer of assistive technology. She has had arthritis for most of her life and has used a variety of equipment to adapt activities for school, work, and home. She has experience with public speaking for the Arthritis Foundation.
Kathleen Fresher-Samways is the Program Director for the Institute for Quality of Life (IQOL), an independent consultancy that provides advocacy, research and education services by, for and about persons with disabilities. Ms. Samways holds a BS in Physical Therapy from Boston University and a MA in Adult Education from the University of Rhode Island. She is a candidate for a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Simmons College, Boston, MA.
Margaret Hoye is an AT user who is visually impaired.
James Litvack is an assistive technology user and represents the independent living community on RICAT.
Phyllis
Meloro is an Education Specialist who represents the Rhode Island
Department of Education, Office of Special Populations on RICAT.
Joseph Murphy
is a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at the Office of Rehabilitation
Services. He helps teenagers transition from High School to a work setting.
Jeanne Panarace, retired from the Department of HEALTH where she managed
the Department's Disability and Health Program (DHP) which worked intensively
to promote assistive technology for persons with communication impairments,
in order to promote health and wellness and prevent secondary conditions.
Jeanne herself is severely hard-of-hearing, and uses communication assistive
technology on a regular basis. She also chairs The Adaptive Telephone Equipment
Loan (ATEL) Program Advisory Committee.
Robert Perrello
is a retired U.S. Navy veteran of WW11, Korea, Lebanon and various
sundry skirmishes. He is a retired educator; former Administrator of Woonsocket
Catholic Regional Schools; Director, Retired Activities Office, Naval
Station Newport; and State Coordinator of AARP 55 Alive Senior Driving
Program.
William Robinson is retired and has chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease as well as arthritis. Bill uses assistive technology and adaptations
as needed to improve his independence, and would like to advocate for
others to improve their participation in the community.
Ying Sun is
a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of
Rhode Island. He is the director of the Biomedical Engineering Program
and the director of the Assistive Technology Lab. His research interests
include medical imaging, instrumentation, neuroengineering, and the development
of new assistive technologies to aid persons with disabilities.
Adrienne Varner
represents the Department of HEALTH on RICAT.
Jill Waller-Blaney
is an assistive technology user who is employed by the University
of Rhode Island Recreational Services department.
Kim Wennermark currently works as a vocational rehabilitation
counselor for Veterans Affairs. He is familiar with state agency roles
through work, but also has a consumer perspective.
Kathleen Grygiel,
was recently promoted from an ORS Supervisor to the position of Assistant
Administrator/ATAP Program Director.
