2025 Conference Speakers and Panelists
Dani Bowman
Special Keynote Speaker
Cast Member of Netflix "Love on the Spectrum US"
Founder of DaniMation Entertainment
Dani Bowman is a young and talented animator, artist, and entrepreneur on the Autism Spectrum who is passionate about using her skills to help others and her dedication to inclusion and diversity. Despite being diagnosed with autism at age 3 and nonverbal until 6, Dani has overcome these challenges to become an accomplished artist, animator, and inspiring speaker. She founded her own company, DaniMation, when she was just 14 years old, and DaniMation UK in 2019. Dani has taught animation to over 3000 students with autism and premiered 14 short films at San Diego Comic-Con. As a national speaker and cast member of Love on the Spectrum, Dani uses her platform to inspire and mentor others.
Alex Kimmel
Keynote Speaker
Owner of The SelfDeterminator
Alex Kimmel is an experienced trainer, presenter, and owner of The SelfDeterminator www.alexkimmel.com. Alex is contracted at the local, state, national and international levels for keynote and breakout sessions on such key issues as Inclusion, Disability Acceptance, Neurodiversity, Culture of Gentleness, Self-direction, Autism and Person-Centered thinking.
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Dr. R. Scott Akins, D.O.
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Section Chief, Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics
Medical Director IC Davis MIND Institute
Dr. Akins is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician specializing in the care of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. He is the Chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Associate Director of the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Medical Director at the UC Davis, MIND Institute. Prior to joining the MIND Institute, Dr. Akins was a general pediatrician, then a developmental pediatrician in the US Navy, where he served as Community Leader for Developmental Pediatrics and then as the Children’s Health Community Leader and Advisor to the Surgeon General. He has special clinical interest and expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intellectual Disability and Trisomy 21.
Susan Andrien
CEO Hope Reimagined
Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics Trainer
Susan Andrien is a visionary leader and advocate in the field of mental health and community wellbeing. As the CEO and Founder of Hope Reimagined, she brings over two and a half decades of invaluable experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her journey in the mental health sector has been driven by a profound commitment to nurturing the holistic health of communities, making her a respected and influential figure in the field. Susan's expertise extends beyond traditional therapy; she is a certified Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) Level II Trainer. In addition to her role at Hope Reimagined, Susan holds the position of Director of Wraparound Supports at Destiny Arts Center, further amplifying her impact on community wellbeing.
Dr. Amber Busay, BCBA
Dr. Amber Busay, BCBA has been in the field of special education for almost 20 years and has worked in numerous environments such as in home ABA, non-public school settings, district settings, and private settings. She opened her own business in December of 2022 to help advocate for families and their students. She is also trained in mediation and conflict resolution strategies, which helps her better advocate for people with disabilities. Her passion is to help bridge the gaps within the special education community to ensure people with disabilities have an overall positive quality of life.
Chelsea Calabria
Rockem Dog Training
Chelsea has spent 14 years working in the animal field. She began training animals for TV, movies, commercials and more. After training dogs for entertainment, she became an Animal Control Officer for the Department of Law Enforcement in Las Vegas. In 2013, she began her extensive work with service dogs at Canine Companions for Independence, where she worked her way through a three-year apprenticeship to become a certified Service Dog Trainer through Assistance Dogs International. She spent the next 7 years training and placing hundreds of service dogs to assist their human partners with a variety of different skills. She specializes in non-weight bearing mobility assistance, hearing dogs, psychiatric dogs and dogs for children with a variety of disabilities and diagnoses. Chelsea now owns and operates her own private training business, Rockem Dog Training, in the Bay Area with her partner. At Rockem, she trains pet dogs with a variety of behavioral issues and runs a service dog program to help owners train their own service dogs.
Dr. Shandi J. Fuller, M.D.
CEO Doctor 4 the People
Medical Director Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Solano County
Dr. Shandi J. Fuller wears many hats and serves as a pediatrician, consultant, coach, and speaker. Born and raised in Northern Virginia she attended the illustrious Howard University College of Medicine. Dr. Fuller pursued her passion for serving the needs of the community by completing her Master of Public Health degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Currently she is medical director for the Maternal Child and Adolescent Health division in Solano County. She is also the CEO of Doctor 4 the People where she treats children and adults with ADHD in the Bay area. She also informs, enlightens, and empowers by sharing her knowledge with colleagues and community members through trainings, coaching and speaking engagements. Dr. Fuller’s mission is to give voice to racial inequities in healthcare by developing strategies to end health disparities and creating safe spaces.
Dr. Jefferey Gaborko, M.D.
Pediatrician, Kaiser Permanete
Dr. Jeffrey Gaborko, MD is a pediatrics specialist in Vacaville, CA and has over 28 years of experience in the medical field.
Dr. Gaborko graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine in 1995. He works in Vacaville, CA and 3 other locations and specializes in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics. Dr. Gaborko is affiliated with Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Vacaville. Along with being a general pediatrician he also has leadership responsibilities in an area called Health Promotion. This job takes him into the community engaging different groups on health and wellness topics.
Tacorra Gray, M Ed., BCBA
The Gray Learning LLC
Tacorra Gray founded In The Gray Learning LLC as an Educational Therapist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Tacorra loves to blend her knowledge of cultural competency, trauma-informed practices, and Applied Behavior Analysis in her practice.
Melissa Guevara
Solano SELPA
Melissa Guevara is an educator, advocate, aspiring plant enthusiast, humble home sourdough baker, and mother to 2 boys (one neurotypical and one neurodivergent). Her core values are accessibility, inclusion, and connection. She has a combined 17 years working in special education, serving in roles from paraprofessional to special education teacher to administrator. Melissa has been a coordinator with the Solano County SELPA since 2018 where she works in collaboration with families and school districts in support of students with disabilities and the provision of their special education services.
Katharine Harlan Owens
Program Manager, The PATH Program
CEDD UC Davis MIND Institute
Katharine Harlan Owens is the Program Manager of the PATH program and Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the UC Davis MIND Institute. She is enthusiastic and committed parent-advocate currently studying to become a Registered Nurse in the healthcare industry. She has extensive personal experience navigating ASD and ADHD specific therapeutic and clinical services. She is well versed in drafting and advocating for IEP’s within the public schools.
Jeanette Luedders Jones, PhD.
Jeanette Luedders Jones, PhD, is a credentialed early childhood special education teacher. She completed her doctoral degree in infant and early childhood development with an emphasis on mental health and developmental disorders. Over her 20-year early childhood career, Dr. Luedders Jones has taught and coached in inclusive preschool classrooms and provided early intervention services to families of infants and toddlers with developmental delays. She currently facilitates a course about children with special needs at Solano Community College and has offered local (Solano Family and Children Services), state (California Association for the Education of Young Children), and national (Zero to Three) workshops for parents and early childhood professionals on various topics including interoceptive awareness, reflective practice, inclusive practices, and trauma-informed practices.
Elyse Sutherland, SLP
Elyse Sutherland is a California licensed and American Speech Language and Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence holder, speech and language pathologist who currently works as a contractor for BMR Health Services, Inc. and iTalk Therapies. She has been contracted to local school districts for the past five years, specifically to work with students with Autism and Autism like characteristics at the elementary school level. Additionally, she works with families of young children to promote language development in the home. She has a deep passion for alternative and augmentative communication and making sure that every student has a way to express themselves. She loves using things that motivate the child to promote communication, through play and other hands-on activities such as speech science experiments.
Dr. Randolph Thomas, MD
FAAP, Pediatrician, Sutter Medical Group
Dr. Thomas has been with the Sutter Medical Group as a primary pediatrician since 1998. He has participated in numerous community efforts, including Board of Directors, Youth and Family Services of Solano County from 1992 to 2014, being a Member, Partnership HealthPlan of California Quality/Utilization Advisory Committee, from 2000 to present. Dr. Thomas also was on the Board of Directors for First 5 Solano Children’s and Family Commission from 2002 to 2003. He was also named Medical Practitioner of the Year by the Child Abuse Prevention Council, Children’s Network of Solano County in 2007.
Sara Trail, M. Ed.
Sara Trail, M.Ed. has an extensive background in education and has worked with many neurodivergent individuals, primarily those with developmental disabilities. Since earning degrees from UC Berkeley and Harvard, Sara has continued to serve and advocate for neurodivergent individuals in navigating their housing, education readiness, and employment opportunities.