Dr. Wehman has been a Professor of Physical Medicine with joint appointments in the Departments of Rehabilitation Counseling and Special Education / Disability Policy at VCU for over 30 years. He serves as Chairman for the Division of Rehabilitation Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has managed NIDILRR funded RRTCs and DRRPs. He was one of the pioneers in the development of supported employment in the early 1980s and has published over 200 articles and authored/edited 40 books and has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation,(JVR) since 1991. Dr. Wehman has three adult children with disabilities to include congenital heart disease, severe rheumatoid arthritis and ADHD/LD and brings a strong parental perspective to the project. He has been recognized as one of the 50 most influential people in special education for the millennium and on a daily basis works with PWD, communicates regularly with VA DARS and other VR Directors, policy makers, and professionals related to disability and diversity. Dr. Wehman is active in teaching and mentoring undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students.
Jaclyn Camden is a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University and has been supporting individuals with disabilities in a variety of capacities for over 10 years. She has experience with research and demonstration projects that look at planning for and supporting employment for individuals with disabilities in K-12, postsecondary education, and in the community. She serves as the career coordinator for VCU's postsecondary education program for students with I/DD: ACE-IT in College. Ms. Camden is the study lead for Effects of Trained Personnel Providing Employment Supports in Higher Education on the Employment Experiences of College Students with I/DD: A Quasi-Experimental Study.
Carolyn Cage is a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University. She began her encore career at VCU in 2019 after serving 36 and a half years with Norfolk Public Schools as a classroom teacher, department chair, district transition specialist, and senior coordinator for secondary transition. She is credited with developing innovative programs and services to facilitate and implement transition planning for students with disabilities like "Project Search" and "Start on Success". Currently, she is research staff on Effects of Knowledge Translation Methods on Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Providing Pre-ETS to Youth with Significant Disabilities 14-16 years of age.
Shannon McManus Jones has been a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University for 20 years. She has extensive experience in the development and design of accessible online courses, information, and publications. Ms. Jones is responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of all products including designing accessible web based materials, videos, and the online course.
Dr. Schall has over 40 years of experience supporting adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as a teacher, group home supervisor, administrator, researcher, and consultant. In addition, she has provided service to the autism community as an advisor on numerous critical projects in the areas of transition to employment, including regular international training. She provided positive behavior support consultation and instructional technical assistance for the Project SEARCH Plus ASD Supports program at Virginia Commonwealth University. She developed the ASD Supports Model for Project Search and was the research coordinator for this project. She developed the Community Based Functional Skills Assessment with Autism Speaks. Additionally, she has consulted nationally and internationally on issues related to adolescents and young adults with ASD. Finally, she has extensive research experience development and implementing quantitative and qualitative studies regarding interventions to increase employment outcomes for individuals with IDD.
Kendel St. John has 30 years of experience as a transition specialist supporting teachers, families, and students with disabilities, focusing on community partnerships in rural settings. Kendel joined Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center on Transition Innovations in 2014 as a Transition Training Associate. Kendel received a Bachelor’s degree in history and art history from Stetson University, certification in special education from Bridgewater College, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from James Madison University. Kendel started her career at Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, serving adolescents and adults in various capacities, including ten years working in the PERT program. She taught in public schools in Fredericksburg City and Rockingham County before spending seven years as the Transition Facilitator for Rockingham County. Kendel currently lives with her family in Augusta County, VA.