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NCBC Staff
Tom Fish, PhD
Program Director
Dr. Tom Fish has his Masters degree in Social Work from Boston University and Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling from The Ohio State University. He directs the Family Support and Employment program at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Fish is involved with teaching, interdisciplinary training, and program development activities. His research and clinical involvement centers around sibling support, self-advocacy, community integration, and school-to-work transition. Dr. Fish serves on the board of the Central Ohio Down Syndrome Association and was a recipient of a Mary E. Switzer Research Fellowship from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Jillian Ober, MA, CRC
Program Manager
Ms. Jillian Ober received her Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from The Ohio State University in June 2004. At The Nisonger Center, Ms. Ober manages programs that emphasize community inclusion and lifelong learning for adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These programs include Young Adult Transition Corps, an AmeriCorps program promoting successful transitions from school to adult life for young adults with disabilities, as well as the Ohio AmeriCorps Inclusion Project and NCBC outreach efforts. Ms. Ober conducts training workshops and coordinates technical support for the NCBC's affiliates outside Columbus, Ohio.
Vicki Graff
Program Manager
Ms. Vicki Graff earned a Bachelor of Arts in geography and social sciences and a Bachelor of Education in geography and elementary education, both from the University of Toronto, Canada. Ms. Graff has more than 30 years of experience in publishing, marketing, communications, advertising, public relations, administration, teaching, and training in a variety of academic, non-profit, and corporate settings. Her special interests are in health science, nutrition, and education. Ms. Graff came to The OSU Nisonger Center in 2005 to promote and publicize the Next Chapter Book Club. She now coordinates all the clubs operating in the Columbus area.
Paula Rabidoux, PhD
Literacy Specialist
For the past twenty years Dr. Paula Rabidoux’s research and clinical interests have focused on the issues involved in literacy learning for children and adults with communicative and cognitive impairments. She recently developed a model of Interactive-to-Independent Literacy that includes all levels of literacy participants. (Kaderavek and Rabidoux, 2004). This model has served as the theoretical foundation for the design and implementation of treatment programs for children and adults with a variety of communication impairments; it has also provided the literacy strategies for the Next Chapter Book Clubs. Dr. Rabidoux is also the Training Coordinator for the LEND program at Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University.
Anke Gross, Dipl. Heilpaed.
Assistant Program Coordinator
Ms. Anke Gross earned her Masters degree in Heilpaedagogik (Social Work) from the University of Cologne/Germany. During the past ten years she has steadily been working with people with MR/DD. She was Assistant Program Coordinator of the NCBC at the Nisonger Center (2005-2006) where she participated in all facets of program development. Anke is currently setting up Next Chapter Book Clubs (Neues Kapitel Leseklub) in Germany. In addition, she entered the Ph.D. program at the University of Cologne. Her dissertation focuses on the implementation of Book Clubs and analyses the reading culture of people with MR/DD. If you are interested in starting a book club in Germany or Europe please fell free to contact her.
Jeffrey Siegel, MSW
Aspirations Program Coordinator
Mr. Jeff Siegel was a LEND Trainee and received his Masters in Social Work from The Ohio State University in June 2007. He holds bachelor degrees in education and music. Jeff has served as Cantor of a local synagogue for 15 years and directs Jewish programming and religious services for Shalom houses (group homes for people with intellectual disabilities). Jeff has had extensive experience as an educational and youth director. Jeff co-facilitates one of the NCBC groups in Columbus and participates in program development. He also coordinates book clubs for Aspirations, a discussion group for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Joy Hayden
Down Syndrome Research Foundation Director, Programs and Services
Ms. Joy Hayden brings to the DSRF an extensive background in developing and managing services for children and adults with disabilities. With over 15 years experience, her accomplishments include the development of Quay View, a 42-unit, fully-integrated apartment building and family support program that provides information to families on transitional planning, will and estate planning, residential options, as well as social and vocational programs. Joy has also personally experienced the challenges and joys of raising a child who requires additional support, and understands the complexities of accessing quality supports and services. Joy supervises the training of Next Chapter Book Club affiliates in Canada.
Robert Melrose, MLS
Down Syndrome Research Foundation Librarian
Mr. Robert Melrose has a Masters degree in Library studies from McGill University and 14 years experience working in medical libraries. He comes to the DSRF after five years as the librarian with the Toronto-based Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE). Robert is responsible for selecting materials, expanding library services, maintaining the library catalogue database and providing reference services. Robert maintains the information section of the website and edits the DSRF newsletter, Hand in Hand. Robert is the co-instructor, with Susan Fawcett, for the Storytime literacy program and trains NCBC affiliates in Canada.
