ICF Advocates for Choice Board of Directors
ICF Advocates for Choice Board of Directors
Families working for families
Families working for families

Joan Kelley
Joan Kelley
President
President
PHONE: 785-218-7195
EMAIL: farmerjoan@icloud.com concernedfamilyalliance@gmail.com
JOAN KELLEY (Kansas) is theVice President, of the Kansas Neurological Institute Parent Guardian Group
EXPERIENCE:
1. ▪ Twenty seven years as primary caregiver and advocate for individual with profound autism
2. ▪ Former Licensed, Therapeutic Foster Care Provider, State of Kansas
2000-2005
3. ▪ First hand experience with HCBS Waivers, State of Kansas 1998-2005
4. ▪ Behavioral Intervention strategies implemented with interdisciplinary
teams 1993-current
5. ▪ Guardian for 30 yr old grandson who resides at Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI)
EDUCATION: Continuing education includes:
• Shaklee Institute - Explosive/Noncompliant Children and Adolescents
• University of Kansas - Behavioral Intervention for Children with Autism
• Professional training and oversight with Masters and Phd
level Autism behavioral specialists in Colorado and Kansas since 1993.
MOTIVE: As a grandparent and Guardian, I’m honored to serve in advocacy for highest risk DD
individuals. Utilizing resources, hiring extensive professional and paraprofessional staff enabled
my husband and I to successfully care for someone unable to express his own needs, thoughts and desires - until dangerous, unpredictable behaviors became so prevalent that a centralized
care environment became necessary.
The ICF, centralized care environment has been the successful option in which our loved one has been able to thrive for the past 12 years. Being a solution-oriented person, I welcome opportunities to find solutions, particularly within the team

Judge Stephen Wallace
Judge Stephen Wallace
Senior Legal Consultant
In Memoriam
Senior Legal Consultant
In Memoriam
It is with the deepest sorrow that I must tell you that Stephen A. Wallace passed away on December 17, 2021.
Stephen Wallace was the epitome of a fine Southern gentleman, devoted to his beautiful wife Debra, his family and to his friends and colleagues. Stephen was an accomplished legal mind as an attorney and Judge, and an outstanding disability advocate, who generously and selflessly donated his keen intellect, passion and talents to fight for his severely autistic son Justin, and parents and families nationwide struggling to find and preserve the appropriate services our severely disabled loved ones need to survive.
Steve's wry sense of gentle humor and his quick wit were reminiscent of Mark Twain and will be sorely missed by all who had the honor of knowing him. He had an extremely kind heart and jumped to the defense of the underdog, even at personal cost. His integrity and honor were unquestionable.
It was Stephen's legal arguments that preserved the existence of the Texas ICF for his son Justin and for Justin's peers. Another of his outstanding advocacy accomplishments was the letter he primarily authored to the ACLU which turned back their considerable legal challenge to the existence of ICFs. Stephen also wrote letters, tirelessly attended meetings, lobbied legislatures and policymakers and represented the needs and concerns of so many families in need of disability services. He was always willing to freely share his ideas and information.
Stephen Wallace was a wonderful individual that we will miss greatly. Our sorrow is lessened only slightly with the comforting thought that we had the privilege to know him.
Debra, our hearts and our prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. We will miss Steve greatly and all the good he accomplished will live on.
. As Mark Twain once said:
Let us endeavor to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.
ATTORNEY STEPHEN WALLACE (Texas) was a member of PART, Parents and Allies for Remarkable Texans and serves on the Policy Committee of NCSA, (National Council on Severe Autism), Co-President of Texas Families and Friends for Choice
Stephen graduated as a Political Science / History major from Texas State University.
He worked as a teacher at an ICF, the Austin State School before he earned his paralegal degree from Texas Stare University,
Stephen worked as a Parent Trainer for the ARC and served on the Advocacy, Inc. non-profit Board.
Stephen worked as a Special Education Teacher in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Stephen received his law degree from Louisiana State University. He worked as the Research Attorney for the Louisiana Seagrant Program and was the Lead Counsel for the Louisiana Office of Oil Spill Mitigation for the Governor of Louisiana. Stephen then entered into private practice for 5 years before becoming a Texas Administrative Hearing Officer, the position he held until his recent retirement.
His youngest son Justin, is severely autistic and resides at an ICF, the Austin State Supported Living Center.

Steve Watson
Board Director
Steve Watson
Board Director
PHONE: 405-919-1154
EMAIL: hatcreek49@yahoo.com
STEVE WATSON (Oklahoma) is a former high school English teacher and assistant varsity football coach.
Steve has a Masters in English and Secondary Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma
Steve was a Football letterman and has a BS in Education from the University of Georgia
Steve has been married 30 years to Jennifer
His Daughter Sarah lives at Santa Fe Place, an ICF, in Moore, Oklahoma
Steve works part time for Santa Fe Place as the Community Outreach Coordinator
Steve also serves as the Moore Kiwanis advisor to Aktion Club of Santa Fe Place
PHONE: 405-919-1154
EMAIL: hatcreek49@yahoo.com
STEVE WATSON (Oklahoma) is a former high school English teacher and assistant varsity football coach.
Steve has a Masters in English and Secondary Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma
Steve was a Football letterman and has a BS in Education from the University of Georgia
Steve has been married 30 years to Jennifer
His Daughter Sarah lives at Santa Fe Place, an ICF, in Moore, Oklahoma
Steve works part time for Santa Fe Place as the Community Outreach Coordinator
Steve also serves as the Moore Kiwanis advisor to Aktion Club of Santa Fe Place

Rebecca Japko
Texas Member
Rebecca Japko is the President of PART - Parents and Allies for Remarkable Texans, representing the 13 state-supported living Centers (ICFs) in Texas.
I feel my youngest sister, Linda has trained me all these years on how to respond and love those with disabilities especially those who have extreme behaviors and high medical needs.
After our mother could no longer take care of Linda and through a series of events, she now lives at the Brenham State Supported Living Center since 2012.
I have been a volunteer for eight years at BSSLC and now serve on the Human Rights Committee. My love for my sister has pushed me toward advocacy for all people with disabilities and their right to receive the best care. After working as a postal clerk for seventeen years, I decided I could do more. I went back to school to become a nurse. I spent most of my career as a school nurse but I found the most rewarding position was as the nurse manager at an Alzheimer’s 22 bed facility.
I am now retired and want to focus my time and energy advocating for those individuals with IDD who require 24/7 supervision to be safe.
ARKANSAS
ARKANSAS
DARRELL PICKNEY
Families & Friends of Care Facility Residents
PHONE: 870-530-6699
EMAIL: comfortsuitesofjonesboro@yahoo.com
CAROLE SHERMAN
PHONE:
RANDALL LAVERTY
PHONE:
KANSAS
KANSAS
JOAN KELLY
Kansas Neurological Parents Guardian Group
PHONE: 785-218-7195
PENNSYLVANIA
PENNSYLVANIA
SUSAN JENNINGS
KIIDS - Keeping Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Safe
PHONE: 570-447-6330
EMAIL: waitinglistsos@gmail.com
LUCI DUDITCH
Polk Center Strong, President
PHONE: 440-734-2642
EMAIL: lduditch@yahoo.com
GENIE JORDA
White Haven Center Family & Friends
Fundraising Administrator
PHONE: 675-1414
EMAIL: gigijorda@aol.com
IRENE MCCABE
Polk Center Strong, Treasurer
KIIDS - Keeping Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Safe
PHONE: 772-646-3471
EMAIL: irenemccabe3@comcast.net
WALT HOFFMAN
Polk Center Strong
PHONE: 814-671-3301
EMAIL: waltaudreysdad@aol.com
WISCONSIN
WISCONSIN
REBECCA UNDERWOOD
PHONE:
TEXAS
TEXAS
REBECCA JAPKO
PART - Parents and Allies for Remarkable Texans, President
PHONE: 512-585-2478
STACY MAYFIELD
PHONE:
MICHELLE ARNOLD:
PHONE:

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