Kurt L. Johnson, Ph.D, CRC, the director of UWCTDS and Principal Investigator for ETP, received his Ph.D in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught at UW-Madison, Florida State University, and now is a Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington where he serves as head of the Division of Rehabilitation Counseling in the Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Pat Brown, Ed.D. Dr. Brown's research interests include issues in the employment of persons with disabilities, mental retardation, disability policy, technology and disability, and adolescent transition from school to employment. She teaches disability policy and transition from school to employment and adult life. Dr. Brown earned her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology at Alfred University, her Master's of Education degree in Special Education at the University of Washington and her doctorate in Education at the University of Washington.
Stephen Weinhouse, MS, CRC received a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1976. Received a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from San Diego State University in 1978. He has been working as a Rehabilitation Counselor, in a variety of capacities, in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center since 1980. He has experience in both community based programs as well as hospital programs. Community experiences include drug education, community organizing, program direction and coordination, and vocational assessment, counseling, placement and training. Hospital experience has been in the area of clinical management, consultation, adjustment counseling, vocational assessment, counseling and placement, for individuals with physical disabilities and chronic pain. He has been with the Employment Training Program since July 2001 and specializes in vocational assessment, counseling and job retention for individuals with physical disabilities.
Peter Simonson, MSW is a Northwest native, born and raised in the City of Destiny, Tacoma, WA, and a graduate of Wilson HS. He attended St. Olaf College in far-off Minnesota and earned a BA in Religion, then continued eastward to Loyola University in Chicago where he earned a Masters in Social Work and did practicum work in alcoholism treatment and community mental health. Back in Seattle, he worked as a Counselor, and then Program Director, at Parkview Homes, a residential program for developmentally disabled adolescents, which, in turn, led to his current position at the UW Employment Training Program, where he's been since 1990. Having done all aspects of the Employment Specialist position, he currently coordinates ETP's participation in King County's School-To-Work Project and co-leads our job development team.
Scott Heartfield, BA received his Bachelors degree in Marketing at the University of Houston. A Seattle area resident since 1992, Scott has been involved in job development; job coaching and long term follow up services for persons with developmental and acquired disabilities since 1995. Having a sister with Cerebral Palsy has inspired Scott to work with people and their families to achieve their employment goals.
“I can only imagine the difference a supported employment agency would have made not only in my sister’s life but our families’ life as well.”
Gary Sheffler, MA began his career as an Employment Specialist at the Easter Seals Society in 1993. He joined the UWETP in 1995. Gary has worked with individuals with developmental disablilties (ages 18 to 60+) from diverse ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds throughout King and Thurston Counties to identify and reach their vocational goals. He presently specializes in vocational assessments, training and job retention for developmentally disabled adults.
Susan Loggins, MA. After receiving her Master’s degree from San Francisco State University, Susan taught high school English, established a parent-infant program and was a high school principal. Before leaving the San Francisco Bay Area and joining the UWETP, Susan was the director of a Career Center and Transition Partnership Program for young deaf adults. Susan believes work, paid or volunteer, has the power to change individuals, enhance the greater community and should be available to all.
Juliana O’Donnell, M.Ed is a native of New Jersey. She was educated by Sisters of St. Dominic from grade school through high school. Jesuits educated her in a small urban college in Jersey City, New Jersey, St. Peters College where she earned a BA in Urban Studies and Education, and a MA in Administration and Supervision of Education. She worked in the field of education from infant programs, preschool and remedial high school. She also taught early childhood courses in the local community college. Juliana was also given the opportunity to start an infant through kindergarten program, River School, in Jersey City which celebrated its 18th anniversary this year. Since moving to Seattle in 1997, Juliana taught preschool at Morningsong, a program for homeless children in Seattle; she also worked at Bellevue Community College’s Early Learning Program until coming to the UW Employment Training Program in 2005. Juliana has two grown sons who live in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Lee Olsen is the Program Coordinator for both the Employment Training Program and the Center for Technology and Disability Studies. Lee Coordinates the functions of these programs, providing support to the directors and several professional and classified staff. Additionally, he is involved in general office and budget management as well as a liaison on fiscal matters between the Employment Training Program and the King County Department of Developmental Disabilities. Lee’s Previous employment history and interests include Hospitality and Arts management, legal transcriptionist / assistant and English/Spanish interpreting & translation.
Liz Tyson is a Seattle native. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from Seattle Pacific University, double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. She completed an internship at Children’s Inpatient Psychiatric Unit in 2006, and taught children of varying ages for over 5 years as a Sunday school teacher. She greatly enjoys working with the many clients of ETP, and considers herself blessed to have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.
