NCC is a nonprofit organization founded by nonspeaking individuals and their allies with the bold purpose of working toward effective communication access and choice for all throughout life

Officers

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Christine Vosseller, MA, SPHR, PHR

President (2018-2019)

Christine is honored to serve as the first President of the Nonspeaking CommUnity Consortium.  Christine is a human resources professional with extensive credentials in both the private and public sectors.  She earned her undergraduate degree in Communication from Hollins University and Master of Arts in Contemporary Communication from Notre Dame of Maryland University.  In doing so she worked to bring critical analysis and creative insight to the composition of audience-focused communication.  This serves her well as a human resources practitioner and provides unique approach to working with the nonspeaking community!   Christine completed certification in letterboard communication through the Association of Excellence for Autism in 2015. She encourages all nonspeaking community members to “be the bridge.”  Challenges become accomplishments when the right people join together!

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Dana Johnson, Ph.D., M.S., OTR/L

Vice President (2018-2020)

Dana is the owner of InterPLAY Pediatric Therapy, a private pediatric occupational therapy practice that supports families in the Tampa Bay area. She specializes in working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, challenges with emotional and self-regulation, sensory processing, anxiety, ADHD, and other social emotional and mental health diagnoses. Dana is also the Founder and Head of School at InterPLAY Learning Academy a non-profit private school in Tarpon Springs. InterPLAY is the only school in the Tampa Bay and surrounding area that uses the letter boards as a reliable form of communication to support each student’s ability to communicate. Additionally, InterPLAY utilizes a developmental relationship based approach to learning that embraces the child’s passions, strengths and abilities to develop a unique and individualized curriculum.

Dana also works with parents and caregivers to educate and support the understanding of their child’s individual and learning profile. She regularly speaks to various groups about the importance of reliable communication for all students and clients. Dana strives to build relationships with other organizations and professionals so that they can work together to support and advocate for all families.

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Eric Nordling, MBA

Treasurer (2018-2019)

Eric works in the airline industry, starting with United Airlines in 1986. In addition to MARKAIR, Delta Air Lines, Atlantic Coast Airlines and independence air, he has also worked for a high-tech airline navigation company called Naverus. He is currently COO of the airline software vendor Revenue Management Systems. Prior to joining NCC he served as Board Member, Board Treasurer and Board President at CHILD (Children’s Institute for Learning Differences) a 501(c)3 in Washington State.

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Elizabeth Vosseller, MA, SLP

Secretary (2018-2020)

Elizabeth Vosseller has been a practicing Speech-Language Pathologist since 1995.

Elizabeth began her career at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC where she began to specialize in autism. From there, Elizabeth spent twelve years as an Assistant Professor at The George Washington University teaching more than twenty different courses to undergraduate and graduate students in both Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Elizabeth developed a passion for clinical training through her work with field supervision and training to teachers and SLPs during their graduate studies.

Elizabeth’s greatest joy is working directly with clients and families so she opened her full time private practice, Growing Kids Therapy Center (GKTC) in Herndon, Virginia. In 2013 Elizabeth began using low and high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), teaching students the purposeful motor skills to Spell to Communicate.  Elizabeth hosts interns from varied service fields and developed the Accessing Community Through Spelling (ACTS) professional development program which produces a network of rigorously trained practitioners prepared to work with clients of all profiles.

Recent Speaking Engagements

2014 Northern Virginia Autism Society – Panel Presentation
2015 AEA Professional Conference: Growing Knowledge and Skills in Groups
2015 TASH Panel Presentation: Voices of Exclusion
2016 Institute of Communication & Inclusion: Accessing Community Through Spelling
2016 TASH Talks: Shifting Paradigms; Nonspeaking Does Not Equal Non-Thinking
2016 TASH Panel Presentation: Desperately Seeking Inclusion
2016 University of Virginia Collaborative Partner:  Science and Lived Experience of Autism

Community Events

2015 Dispatches from the Rollercoaster – Inclusion Project with Stonebridge High School
2016 University of Virginia & Growing Kids Therapy Tribe Autism and Advocacy Affair
2016 Science and Lived Experience of Autism UVA Event with Walter and Ron Suskind
2016 Herndon Connection – Pioneering Change for Autism
2016 Town of Herndon Proclamation of “National Autism Acceptance Month” co-author

Board of Directors

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Ben McGann

(2018-2020)

Benjamin McGann was born in New York City and spent his toddler years in Nairobi, Kenya. He returned to the US, was diagnosed with autism, and spent the next ten years receiving year-round interventions including ABA, vision and speech therapy. At age 13 Ben had an opportunity to leave the nest and spent the following two years in Fiji; where he learned independence skills; and also learned to swim – like a fish! Benjamin cast his first ballot in the 2016 Presidential Election and recently celebrated his 21st birthday.  He is the youngest of three children and the son of Steven and Bertra Bradford McGann.

Self-Advocacy Accomplishments:

2014 Power of Words Video and Red Carpet Gala – Herndon ArtSpace
2014 Northern Virginia Autism Society – Panel Presenter
2015 TASH Talk: Man on Fire – Youth Leadership in Civil Rights
2015 TASH Panel Presentation Voices of Exclusion – Nonspeaking Youth Advocate for Inclusive Education
2016 ASAN Gala: Service to the Self Advocacy Movement Honoree
2016 Herndon Connection – Pioneering Change for Autism
2016 Town of Herndon Proclamation of “National Autism Acceptance Month” co-Author

Education Accomplishments:

2014 – Present: Proud member of the GKTC Tribe!
2015 Collaboration with Stone Bridge High School: Dispatches from the Roller Coaster
2016 Participation in University of Virginia Science and Lived Experience of Autism cohort
2016 UVA Autism and Advocacy Affair
2016 Science and Lived Experience of Autism UVA Event with Owen and Ron Suskind

Community Accomplishments:

Special Olympics – Silver Medal 400m Free Style
Northern Virginia Cool Cats – Hockey Player
Athletes without Limits – Rower

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Ian Nordling

(2018-2020)

As an autistic with unreliable speech, Ian has lived an experience that he would rather people who share his challenges not repeat. Living in a world of near silence his desires to learn were not recognized until he was able to communicate by spelling on a letterboard. Now he wants the world to know that he, his friends and people with similar conditions just want to learn, have friends and be full and contributing members of society. He hopes his work on NCC will enable this for all nonspeakers.

Self-Advocacy Accomplishments:

2015 TASH TalkThe Value of Communication A Nonspeaking Autistic’s Perspective
2016 TASH Panel Presentation: Desperately Seeking Inclusion
2016 Herndon Connection – Pioneering Change for Autism
2016 Town of Herndon Proclamation of “National Autism Acceptance Month” co-Author

Education Accomplishments:

2016 – Present: Proud member of the GKTC Tribe!
2016 Participation in University of Virginia Science and Lived Experience of Autism cohort
2016 UVA Autism and Advocacy Affair
2016 Science and Lived Experience of Autism UVA Event with Owen and Ron Suskind