MEET THE SNL TEAM

JAMIE MCCABE - PUBLISHER - I grew up in Waterford, MI. I graduated from Waterford Mott High School. I moved to Indianapolis in 2007 to work with Cutco Cutlery. I ran a district office in Kalamazoo Michigan as a District Manager with Cutco. I became a Cutco Sales Professional for many years with the company working out of Indiana. I have 3 kids - Jordan 11, Jaylin 6 and Jade 4. My son started having seizures at 18 months old, he was diagnosed with Autism at almost 5. He has always been nonverbal but over the last year he has made some incredible progress. I started working as a franchise owner with the N2 Company in 2013. I have run multiple community magazines over the last decade. From my pain to purpose I started the first Special Needs Living Magazine in Indiana in 2020. We expanded to Ohio in 2022 and I am proud to bring one to my home state Michigan to celebrate, support, connect and impact the special needs community. I love to camp, travel, run, read and help to encourage others around me.

PAULA EIFLER- ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE - I live in Waterford, MI located in Oakland county. I am married to my husband Allen and a mother of three children. I am so excited to join Special Needs Living Magazine Metro Detroit and Surrounding Counties as the Account Executive and work alongside my daughter, Jamie McCabe, who started the magazine in Indianapolis, IN in 2020. Since my son was young, I have needed to learn to advocate for his behavioral and Mental Health and learning challenges and needs which was not an easy journey.

I spent years learning the laws and rules here in Michigan and learning about multiple disabilities and how it affected his learning to be able to get him the education and support that was needed. From this experience, I started working with the Association for Children’s Mental Health as a family advocate and hosting support groups in the area for kids and families. Then from there worked with ACMH and MDHHS to become one of the first cohorts of parents in the state of Michigan to become a Certified Parent Support Partner. I loved working with and supporting the parents and children. From there I came to Common Ground as a Crisis Parent Navigator Advocacy Specialist again working with the parents and kids who came up to the Crisis Resource Center. In 2023 our contract went to another provider in the area. So currently I am working with the Adults who come to the Crisis Resource Center. I have been involved for many years over the course of my life working with providers, agencies, and schools to help parents and kids develop the knowledge, skills, and ability needed to help them in their journey. My goal has always been to empower parents and people to have a choice and voice to be included in school and community. I want parents to know it is possible that with support from loved ones and community partners we can build a better understanding together as we can grow to bring hope and inspiration along the way as we build our community together. My goal is over the next year to transition to full time with Special Needs Living as I learn the ropes. Outside of work I love to garden, play with my boxers, and spend time with my family and grandkids. My husband and I also enjoy hunting, fishing, boating and camping. I look forward to learning from you all and sharing with you and our community as we grow together

KENDRA ROGERS, MS is a psychology student working toward earning her PhD while home educating four neurospicy children with her neurospicy husband of 17 years. They live in rural MI between Flint and Detroit. Kendra has always had a passion for education and psychology.

Becoming a mother to children with a variety of special needs including autism, adhd, giftedness, severe food allergies, and other health/immune conditions flung her into deeper research to best meet her children’s needs. The family became more involved with the special needs community when they began volunteering at a therapeutic equine facility nearby.

Kendra’s passion for the special needs community is close to her heart as she works to continue teaching her children how to live in a society that rejects what’s different. Helping more families feel connected and a sense of belonging is not only Kendra’s mission but that of this magazine as well. https://www.growingexceptional.com/ https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/ bookdetails/811369-growing-exceptional-seedlings (Also available on Amazon© and other online book retailers)

RON SANDISON works full time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. He is an advisory board member of the Art of Autism and the Els Center of Excellence. Sandison has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice. Biblical Wisdom published by Charisma House and Views from the Spectrum. He has memorized over 15,000 Scriptures including 22 complete books of the New Testament. Sandison speaks at over 70 events a year including 20 plus education conferences. Ron and his wife, Kristen, reside in Rochester Hills, MI, with daughter, Makayla. His website is http/www.spectruminclusion.com. You can contact him at sandison456@hotmail.com.

Link to Ron’s website: https/www.spectruminclusion.com

Link to Ron’s Facebook fan Page: https/www.facebook.com/SpectrumRonSandison

JOSLYN CLARK - Educational Advocate -PSL Education -joslynclark@pslforkids.com

Joslyn brings over 35 years of experience as a Classroom Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Principal and Special Education Director to her support of students and families in her work as a Student Advocate. She has directed and participated in hundreds of team meetings: Special Education IEPs, 504 Plans, Behavior Intervention planning and Instructional Support Plans.

Joslyn has the knowledge and experience to support students, families and school teams to work cooperatively and build plans to support a positive and productive school experience.

Joslyn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University in Education/ Special Education and is a certified General and Special Education Teacher. She earned a Master of Science degree from Texas A & M University in School Administration and holds an endorsement as a School Administrator and a Special Education Supervisor. Currently, Joslyn is pursuing a Doctorate through Wayne State University in Education Policy and Leadership.

DORENE PHILPOT - is a private practice attorney licensed in Michigan, Indiana and Texas. She devotes her 23-year plus practice entirely to representing special needs children and their parents under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. She is the recipient of a national award for her advocacy work for students, i.e. the 2012 Diane Lipton Award for Outstanding Educational Advocacy from COPAA (Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates).

She is the author of “Do-It-Yourself Special Education Due Process: An Educational Guide” which is available at www.learningenabledpublications.com.

She is a member of Mensa. She gives presentations to parent groups and other organizations on a regular basis about special education law rights of children. Before becoming a lawyer, Dorene was a journalist for 13 years, most recently serving as an editor at The Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News. Before that, she worked as an editor at other newspapers and magazines, including The Saturday Evening Post.

MARIA GIANCOTTI, M.ED. - Is a professional Special Education Advocate and founder of Student Advocacy Michigan, which serves clients across the state. Her mission is to ensure effective educational plans are implemented for different learners and special needs children while educating and empowering parents to advocate independently.

Advocacy started for her in 2013 when her child was placed on an IEP. She studied education and civil rights laws independently for years before completing COPAA (Counsel of Parents Attorneys and Advocates) training in 2020. She represents parents at 504, IEP, and disciplinary meetings, and in mediation sessions. Her role also includes preparing and filing comprehensive state and federal complaints when needed to resolve legal violations and seek remedies for clients.

Maria takes great care teaching parents about their legal rights in special education and how to advocate for their child. Her favorite quote is “you need to learn this because you don’t want to hire me until your child graduates”! She takes the initiative to meet with state legislators and key education decision makers to address special education problems and present potential solutions, in addition to providing public speaking on special education related topics.

Away from her business, her interests include travel, cooking, fitness and going to the beach in the summer. Maria loves spending time at the baseball field at her son’s high school and travel team tournaments. She resides in the greater Detroit area with her husband Nick, son Jayden, and border collie Baci.