image for the announcements. The image has a kid playing with some blocks.

Meet Our Staff

  Program Coordinator   Gail Olson 217.479.4320 Gail.Olson@illinois.gov  
  Gail Olson Gail Olson has worked in the field of disabilities since 1980. Her experience specifically in Early Intervention includes administrator of an early intervention program , Service Coordinator, Parent Liason, Local Intervention Council Coordinator, and Coordinator of Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach. She holds an Early Intervention credential in Developmental Therapy. She is also the parent of a child who has Down syndrome and has experienced Early Intervention first hand as a family member. She has served on numerous disability related boards and councils including The Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, Jacksonville Area ARC, Illinois ARC, Illinois United Cerebral Palsy, Jacksonville Center for Independent Living, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Council, the American Association of Home Based Early Interventionists , the Illinois Advisory Board for Services for Persons Who Are Deaf-Blind, Highlighting Education and Resources and STARnet Regions I and III. Gail trains on topics related to Early Intervention and Special Education Parent Rights.  
  Hearing Specialist Nancy Scott   Nancy.Scott@illinois.gov  
  Nancy Scott  Nancy Scott received a BS degree in Deaf Education from MacMurray College. She has worked as an educator at the Illinois School for the Deaf since 1979 where she has taught social hygiene, rhythm, music and dance, and parent infant education. She has experience working with infants though adults as a speech language pathologist focusing on language acquisition and communication skill development with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. She has worked in Early Intervention since 1988. She also has experience interpreting music and theatre for over 20 years. Since Hearing and Vision Connections inception in 1999, Nancy has been the Hearing Specialist providing statewide training and technical assistance for the Bureau of Early Intervention. She regularly provides workshops on deafness, deaf mentoring, and Early Intervention.  
  Vision Specialist Mindy Ely   msely@lunarpxl.com  
  Mindy Ely  Mindy Ely has worked in the field of blindness since 1993. Through the years she has worked as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired and as a Developmental Therapist/Vision. She currently works with Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach where she feels privileged to offer training and technical assistance on issues related to the blind and visually impaired. She also serves as a Resource Specialist for STARnet Regions I and III, providing training and technical assistance to early childhood teachers. When not at work, Mindy enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenage boys.  
  Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach Trainer Amber Gaddis 217.479.4318 Amber.Gaddis@illinois.gov  
  Amber Gaddis  We are happy to announce Amber Gaddis as our newest Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach Staff member.  Amber works out of our main office in Jacksonville.  
  Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach Consultant / Trainer Tracy Meehan   tmeehan@ilstu.edu  
  Tracy Meehan  Tracy has worked in the field of deaf education for over 25 years. She received her BS degree and teaching certificate from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She has taught children who are deaf or hard of hearing in regional programs and in mainstream settings. Since moving to Illinois in 1980, Tracy has served children and their families through her participation in state and national committees and through her professional career activities. Tracy received her Type 75 Administrative Certificate from National Lewis University and held a supervisory position within a regional program serving school age youngsters. Currently, she is a Grant Coordinator at Illinois State University where she manages the Listening and Spoken Language Professional graduate certificate program. She holds active credentials in Early Intervention as a Developmental Therapist/Hearing providing direct services and initial evaluations to infants and toddlers with hearing loss, and their families. She provides technical assistance and consultation through the Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach program.  
  Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach Consultant / Trainer Jane Redmon   redj44@gmail.com  
  Jane Stewart Redmon  Jane Stewart Redmon received her BS degree in Education of the Blind and Partially Sighted from Illinois State University. She received her MA in Education of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). Jane is National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in the area of Exceptional Needs. She has worked as an itinerant teacher for Children with Visual Impairments or an Orientation and Mobility Specialist for over 30 years with positions that include Coordinator of Vision Services in Southern Illinois and Deaf-Blind Specialist for Philip J. Rock Center. Currently she is a Teacher for Children with Visual Impairments/Orientation and Mobility Instructor for Franklin-Jefferson Special Education District (Benton, IL). She has been a presenter and an O&M Evaluator for the Opening Doors (Parent-Infant Institute) at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired since it began in 1983.