Jerri Davison is the Director of the Center on Disability and the Pacific ADA Center, both housed at the Public Health Institute. Jerri has spent her career in the disability rights field.
After earning her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, Jerri served as a staff attorney with the state’s Protection & Advocacy System. There she fought cuts to Medicaid Home and Community Based Services, investigated institutional abuse and neglect, and advocated for the full participation of people with disabilities in their local communities. She also created and published resources and reports about navigating and dismantling barriers to access and inclusion.
Next, Jerri transitioned to Able South Carolina, a Center for Independent Living, where she spent a decade promoting equity, access, and inclusion through grassroots efforts. As the organization’s Senior VP and Chief Program Officer, she oversaw over two dozen programs, trained national audiences, and helped build and support state coalitions and advance legislative action to address the marginalization of people with disabilities.
Jerri’s areas of expertise include Olmstead and the Americans with Disabilities Act’s integration mandate, the overuse of guardianship, and employment and healthcare access for individuals with disabilities. As a person with psychiatric disabilities, Jerri is passionate about the importance of people with disabilities leading the way in developing any policies or practices that impact them.
Jan Garrett currently serves as the Deputy Director for the Pacific ADA Center at the Public Health Institute (PHI). She is the lead trainer, oversees all the Center’s Training and TA efforts, and approves all curricula.
Jan has a BA from Scripps College in Claremont, California, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Oklahoma.
Before joining PHI, Jan worked as a disability civil rights lawyer and served as the Executive Director of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living (CIL). A CIL is a disability-led organization that provides services for people with all types of disabilities. In her prior work and work with the Center, Jan has over 25 years of experience providing guidance and training on the ADA and other disability rights laws. As a person with a disability, Jan has a deeply personal understanding of why disability civil rights are so important.
Carol Shenon is the Operations Manager for the Pacific ADA Center at the Public Health Institute (PHI). She has been with the Center since January 2021.
Carol has a BA from the University of California at Davis and a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. Prior to joining the Center, she worked for a number of nonprofits, including the Contra Costa Asthma Coalition, the American Lung Association in California, and the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County. While with these organizations, she managed and provided health and education programs for adults and children.
Carol is a firm believer in the old saying, "Knowledge is power."
Don has been providing technical assistance to the ADA for the Pacific ADA Center since 2004. Don believes the ADA is about freedom: the freedom to pursue opportunities to contribute to and benefit from society. It is through the ADA that an otherwise qualified individual with a disability is guaranteed those opportunities.
Prior to working at the Pacific ADA Center, Don completed a graduate degree in education from the University of California while providing residential services for adults with developmental disabilities.
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Pat is a Technical Assistance Specialist with the Pacific ADA Center. She has provided technical assistance and training on the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) to people with disabilities, employers, architects, and business owners on rights and responsibilities under the ADA for over 8 years. Pat is a Certified ADA Coordinator (ADAC).
Pat holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education. Before working for the Pacific ADA Center, Pat spent her career as a special education teacher, an elementary school teacher and a school administrator. She was also a program manager for a nonprofit, and an Individual Service Provider contracted by the California Department of Rehabilitation. Pat also has experience as a Certified Trainer with the California School-Age Consortium (Cal SAC).
Pat has participated in Non-Violent Communication Trainings through Bay Area NVC. She holds a Mental Health First Aid USA Certificate through the Cypress Resilience Project, a Mediation and Conflict Resolution Training Certificate through SEEDS Community Resolution Center and a Human Resource Management Certificate from the Human Resource Department of California State University, East Bay Continuing Education.
Nikki (they/them) is part of the administrative team at the Pacific ADA Center. They're thrilled to work at the Pacific ADA Center after working for nonprofits for over 20 years. Nikki's previous roles let them stand up for groups of people who often don't get heard. These groups include people who don't have a place to live, older adults, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
For many years, Nikki also advocated for their own children who have disabilities. Now, Nikki is looking forward to be working to make the world a fairer place for people with disabilities. They dream of a world where people of all backgrounds can reach their goals and lead happy lives. Nikki lives near Chicago with their four energetic children.
Gabriel is a Program Associate with the Pacific ADA Center. He provides technological and program support to the staff of the center and assists in the administrative duties of running the various ADA Coordinator Networks that the Pacific ADA Center supports. Gabriel also provides support for the trainings and educational webinars offered by the Center.
Gabriel has a MPH from Touro University California and has been a part of the Pacific ADA Center since 2018.
