"Ask the Expert" Sessions sponsored by:     

As it pertains to people with disabilities ... Experts in the fields of housing, job and career coaching, socialization and recreation, transportation and mental health will be available for one-on-one sessions to help answer your questions and concerns.

Ask The Expert is an Education Area where you can have face-to-face private conversations with an Expert in the following fields:

• Housing
• Career Counselors
• Mental Health
• Medicare/Medicaid Open Enrollment, Bexar Area Agency on Aging Alamo Service Connection: Your Aging and Disability Resource Center
• Transportation
• Socialization & Recreation

Housing
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm *3 hours
Pam Kelly has been on staff with RMI – Reaching Maximum Independence since 1993.  She is well versed in dealing with Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and Medicare and the many service provider systems including DADS, DARS, HCS and ICF.

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm * 2 hours
Rick Davis works as an AccessAbility Specialist with AccessAbility Home Modifications.  After 25 years of building ADA compliant Assisted Living Home & Post Offices as well as custom homes & remodeling, Rick joined his wife, Lizette Davis, an Occupational Therapist & Certified Aging in Place Specialist, in helping the community.  Together they combined the Construction & Medical Worlds to address the individual needs of each client in their own unique environments & remodel to “Maintain Safety & Independence in the Home”.

Career Counselors
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Kathryn Evans works for Job Adventures.  They are dedicated to helping disabled youth and young adults find meaningful and gainful employment.  Kathryn is the Lead Trainer, teaching participants the necessary work skills to be successful in the workplace.  Kathryn has a Bachelor of Science degree specializing in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University with teaching credentials in both Early Childhood Education and Special Education.

Mental Health
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm * 3 Hours
Gary Demers Ph.D. Mission City Family Wellness/CEO. 
Dr. Demers collaborates with Bexar County area psychiatrists, psychologist, clinicians, and church leaders (non-profit resources) to help Mission City clients with the best possible psychotherapy and life management outcomes. Dr. Demers holds degrees in Pastoral Counseling, PhD., Psychology, Theology, and Business. With over 20 years of counseling experience in combined disciplines of Holistic, Cognitive, Dialectical, Behavioral, Marriage, Depression, and Mental Health.

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm *2 Hours
Alec Miller. M.D. is a Clinical Professor on staff at the UTHSCSA in the Psychiatry Department.  Dr. Miller currently serves as a Hugo Auler Professor of Psychiatry and Chief of the Division of Schizophrenia and Related Disorders. He is also the Director of the Schizophrenia Module of the Texas Medication Algorithm Project.  Dr. Miller served on the American Psychiatric Association Task Force to update schizophrenia treatment guidelines.

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm *1 ½ Hours
Alisa Zinameyer Young, M.A., LPC, NCC with South Texas Neuropsychological Associates.  Alisa's primary areas of interest are counseling individuals who may be having difficulties adjusting to a recent diagnosis, anxiety, depression, health and physical disabilities, life management, and women's issues.

Medicare/Medicaid Open Enrollment, Bexar Area Agency on Aging
Alamo Service Connection: Your Aging and Disability Resource Center

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm * 3 Hours
George Losoya, BA is the Lead Connection Specialist with Alamo Service Connection an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) with The Bexar Area Agency on Aging which connects aging or disabled individuals to community services.  George has over 15 years of experience as a Case Manager with various State Social Service Programs providing health care and social services for individuals with disabilities.

Transportation
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Michael K Dominguez has worked for VIA for 25 years.  He is a Community Planner for VIA’s Public Affairs Office.

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Barron Jones is an Independent Handicapped Accessible Taxi Driver serving Greater San Antonio.

Socialization & Recreation
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Linda Mueller, VRC IV is an Independent Living Services Counselor with the DARS (Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services).  She is the Agency Liaison to San Antonio Independent Living Services and BAMC, to both Rehab Hospitals Warm Springs and Christus Santa Rosa NW.  She is also a Disability Rights Advocate.

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Albert Pulido works as a Benefit Specialist for SAILS and assist consumers with disabilities who want to work and follow guidelines from  the Social Security Administration, to retain their social security benefits. Albert came to SAILS after working for the Social Security Administration for 24 years.

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Gloria Aguirre is a full time Caseworker for SAILS.  She oversees all of the Support Groups and is an Information and Referral Specialist.  works as an Information and Referral Specialist.  

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Lori Crownover came to SAILS after working for 9 years for the Texas Department of Human Services as a Caseworker.  Lori has worked under several grant funded programs at SAILS and is currently an Independent Living Specialist and is working with a special adaptive equipment program.