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William "Bill" Fuller, Treasurer

William Edward Fuller, Ph. D. had Polio at age two and began using a wheelchair in 1988 when wheelchair technology and general accessibility improved to the point where he could travel more conveniently then on braces and crutches.

Dr. Fuller graduated from West Virginia University in 1973 with a degree in Social Work and began a career with the West Virginia Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Later he accepted an appointment as Director of Finance and Development at Grafton School in Berryville Va. a school for children with autism. Dr. Fuller earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Shenandoah University where he concentrated in Finance and Information management. He served as Executive Director of Access Independence, an independent living center serving people with disabilities. There Dr. Fuller developed accessible housing for people with very serious disabilities. In 1995 Dr. Fuller designed the fiscal intermediary PAS system still in use in Virginia. In 1997 Dr. Fuller founded Paragon Consulting, to assist
organizations, like HOME, Inc. develop accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities. He holds several prestigious awards including the President's Award, The Disabled Businessman of the year award, and the National Disabled Scholar Award. He is a former wheelchair athlete and four-time finisher of the Marine Corps Marathon.

Dr. Fuller was granted a Ph. D. in Urban Services from Virginia Commonwealth University where he concentrated in disability policy and real estate development. He has published several books and articles in the field of disability policy and collaborated on a Legislative Housing Study for the Virginia General Assembly, Disability Commission. Dr. Fuller was appointed to the position of Housing Initiatives Officer with the Virginia Housing Development Authority where he has continued to develop housing for people with disabilities.

Dr. Fuller has been appointed by Governor Warner to the Olmstead Planning Task Force, Serves as Vice Chairman of the Olmstead Community Integration Implementation Team and serves on the Disability Commission Housing Work Group. He has served on the Board of Directors of Virginia Supportive Housing and the Virginia Housing Coalition. Dr. Fuller was appointed by the Speaker of the House of the Virginia General Assembly to the Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Protection and Advocacy Office and the Virginia Community Integration Commission.  ^

Donna Foster, Board Member - Policy

Donna L. Foster started her healthcare practice as a Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General's Office in the Mental Health/Health Services Department representing several state agencies that serve the disabled including the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, The Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, The Virginia Industries for the Blind, and Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. While an Assistant Attorney General Ms. Foster also participated in investigations conducted at Virginia's mental health hospitals by the Virginia Attorney General's Office and the Justice Department pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). Ms. Foster also served as substitute counsel for several state licensing Boards including the Board of Psychology, Board of Medicine, Board of Nursing and Board of Dentistry.

In 2000, Ms. Foster entered private practice at LeClair Ryan, where she became and still remains one of the go to persons for healthcare practitioners that request representation before the various state licensing boards within the Virginia Department of Health Professions including the Board of Social Workers, Board of Psychology, Board of Medicine, Board of Dentistry, Board of Veterinary Medicine, and Board of Funeral Home Directors and Embalmers, and various credentialing committees.

Ms. Foster also defends hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, dentists and other healthcare providers in medical malpractice cases. Ms. Foster has won medical malpractice trials in Richmond, Newport News, Henrico, Hampton, Roanoke, Martinsville, and Williamsburg. Ms. Foster has successfully resolved cases in other venues such as Norfolk, Fredericksburg, Nottoway, Chesterfield, Christiansburg, Danville, Charlottesville and Henry County.

Ms. Foster also counsels hospitals, physicians, and managed care organizations in patient care issues, medical staff relations, risk management. Ms. Foster frequently lectures on issues regarding medical records, informed consent, duty to warn, and the healthcare regulatory process.
Ms. Foster belongs to the Defense Research Institute, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, American Bar Association, and the Virginia State Bar. ^

Robert L. "Bob" Henderson, President

Robert L. “Bob” Henderson holds an undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Science degree from Virginia Tech. He has been listed in the Who’s Who of Professional Management since 1997 and was the recipient of a National Volunteerism Award from the YMCA of the USA. He is also an amateur photographer whose work has appeared in such publications as the Roanoker Magazine, Bella Magazine, The Roanoke Times, and the Senior News, and on the websites for other local media.

Bob was the Associate Producer of the Miss Virginia Revue, a one-hour television special leading into the LIVE state-wide telecast of the 2006 Miss Virginia Pageant. Bob has judged local pageants in both Virginia and Tennessee, and, this past July, he was a national judge for the Ms Wheelchair America Pageant in Washington, DC. ^

Ellen Shackelford, Board Member - Program Planning

President, Connections Access Consulting Services, LLC (CACS)
As founder and president of Connections Access Consulting Services, LLC, Ellen is dedicated to a service which will enhance the awareness and unconscious injustice of the aging population and Citizens with disabilities. The CACS team goal is to serve as advocates by providing education through training and disability awareness programs necessary to address the importance of inclusion in an aging society. Ellen was employed as a Youth Transition Coordinator at Insight Enterprises Inc. Peninsula Center for Independent Living and has attended leadership programs: Partners In Policy Making, sponsored by Virginia Board for People with Disabilities; The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the U. S. Department of Education Rocky Mount Technical Assistance & Consulting Center and Dan Hopkins & Associates, Inc.

Ellen is active in the disability community and holds several leadership roles such as past Vice Chairperson for the Hampton Mayors Committee for People with Disabilities, Chairperson for Accessibility; Victims Advocate (trainee) M. A. D. D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving); Peninsula Literacy Council Tutor Volunteer. She is also a member of other committees such as: State Wide Independent Living Council (SILC); Toast Masters International – CC (Competent Communicator); Citizens Unity Commission, as Liaison/Facilitator for the Diversity College; Facilitators Team Certification & RGB training Certification issued by Quality of Work Life Consultants and Age & Abilities Expo (former Secretary) and member of National Speakers Association.

Ellen received 1st runner up in the Ms. Wheelchair Virginia Pageant (2007 -2008) held in Fishersville, Virginia and now serves on the Ms. Wheelchair Virginia Board of Directors. She lives in Hampton, Virginia and has a daughter who has graduated from Fordham University, May 2009 and three grandchildren by her late son Jason R. Freeman. ^

Carrie Weeks, Board Member - Finance & Business

Carrie Weeks is President/Dealer Operator at Independent Lifestyles Mobility Specialist in Madison Heights, Virginia. She is a member of: VIADA (Virginia Independent Auto Dealers Association); NIADA National Independent Auto Dealers Association); NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association); and ADA (Adaptive Driving Alliance). Her civic and community sponsor activities include: Muscular Dystrophy; Children’s Miracle Network; Various Youth Baseball and Softball teams; Virginia Relay Partner; Rebuild Together Lynchburg; Ms. Wheelchair Virginia; local Chamber of commerce events; and Sun wheelers. She has been a member of: Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce; Amherst County Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors Amherst County Chamber of Commerce. Awards include: President of Amherst County Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors Amherst County Chamber of Commerce; and for Nominee Amherst County Small Business. Ms. Weeks has served and supported: Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living with legislative activities; vans for individuals to go to Richmond for legislative reviews Through Lynchburg Center for Independent Living; Legislative luncheon for Amherst County Chamber of Commerce; Amherst Planning commission; Lynchburg Beard Center on Aging; Senior Network Group; vans to MS society for yearly outing at Smith Mountain Lake; Ms. Wheelchair Virginia and provide transportation for contestants when needed; and Volunteer Rebuild Together Lynchburg. Carrie is a member of Elon Baptist Church and lives with her daughter, Allie. ^

Laura Wimmer, Vice President

Laura Wimmer has been working as a health educator for the past 21 years. Her background includes a Masters of Library Science from Kent State University. After positions in an engineering library and medical library, she began her career in health education at the American Lung Association where she spent 7 ½ years. She went on to the American Cancer Society for 5 ½ years and the Arthritis Foundation for 2 ½ years. Laura currently works with a grant from the CDC (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control) in heart attack and stroke prevention through the Virginia Department of Health.

Laura’s volunteer activities include the American Association of University Women, (AAUW), Ms. Wheelchair Virginia, the Alzheimer’s Association, Women’s Health Virginia and the Henrico Pops Chorus. ^