The University of Scranton: Annual Conference on DISABILITY
Registration and Contact Information
Conference Mission
Session Information
Speakers
Rebecca Alexander
Rebecca Alexander, LCSW-R, MPH, RYT is an award-winning author, psychodynamic psychotherapist, keynote speaker, and disability rights advocate. Living with Usher syndrome, a rare genetic condition causing progressive vision and hearing loss, Rebecca combines more than two decades of clinical expertise with her lived experience to help organizations rethink resilience, leadership, accessibility, and navigating uncertainty. She has presented for organizations including Harvard Medical School, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Microsoft, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Peloton, and is the author of Not Fade Away: A Memoir of Senses Lost and Found.
Bob Casey
Bob Casey has dedicated his life to public service, working tirelessly on behalf of Pennsylvania families to advance economic opportunity, strengthen health care access, and protect the rights of all Americans. During his 18 years in the United States Senate, he established himself as one of the leading advocates in Congress for children, workers, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Over the course of his three terms in office, Senator Casey built a track record as a uniquely effective legislator, authoring and passing into law 99 pieces of legislation. His ability to work across party lines and focus on practical solutions led to legislative successes that made college campuses safer; required employers to grant reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers; improved cockpit safety on commercial airliners; and enhanced criminal penalties for online stalkers who victimize children. A generational leader on disability policy, Senator Casey’s signature achievement was the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act in 2014. Widely regarded as the most impactful disability rights legislation since the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ABLE Act allows people with disabilities to save for education, housing, and other essential needs in tax-advantaged savings accounts. Today, more than 187,000 people with disabilities hold ABLE accounts with assets totaling more than $2 billion.
Senator Casey served as a Member of the Senate’s Committees on Finance; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); Intelligence; and as the Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging. Earlier in his Senate career, he was a Member of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee and Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; as well as the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee in the 112th Congress.
Beyond his legislative accomplishments, Senator Casey delivered tens of billions of dollars in federal investments to spur job creation, modernize infrastructure, and incentivize clean energy development in Pennsylvania. Among them, he secured $857 million to complete construction of the Montgomery Lock and Dam, preserving the ability to move goods through southwestern Pennsylvania and stimulating significant job growth in the region.
Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Casey served two terms as Pennsylvania’s Auditor General, compiling a record as a fiscal watchdog who made nursing homes safer, child care more affordable, and government more accountable. His efforts directly resulted in changes saving Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $1 billion. In 2004, Senator Casey was elected State Treasurer to serve as custodian to more than $100 billion in state pension funds and securities. During his tenure, the Treasury Department earned competitive returns on taxpayer dollars and invested those funds in a way that improved the quality of life for Pennsylvania families. He strengthened the state’s 529 college savings program and created the first-ever Hospital Enhancement Loan Program (HELP), enabling qualifying hospitals to secure lower-cost financing for upgrades to improve the quality of patient care.
Born and raised in Scranton, Senator Casey graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1982. He spent the following year as a Jesuit Volunteer in North Philadelphia teaching fifth grade and coaching eighth grade basketball. After earning his law degree from Catholic University, Senator Casey returned to Pennsylvania to practice for six years before entering public service. He went on to win six statewide elections, more than any candidate in the Commonwealth’s history. Senator Casey and his wife, Terese, live in Scranton and have four adult daughters and three grandsons.
Senator Casey is currently Of Counsel, Dilworth Paxson LLP, and the Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service at The University of Scranton.
Mason Ameri
Mason Ameri specializes in disability employment and how Fortune 500 companies recruit, retain, and advance people with disabilities. Research, supported by $16.3M+ in external grant funding, has been published in leading outlets, including Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review, and featured in The New York Times, including selection for the “Best Live Conversations on Times Journalism.” Partnered with organizations on disability access reform, such as Deutsche Bank, Accenture, Salesforce, NFL, HSBC, EY, Hershey, World Bank Group, TEDx, U.S. House of Representatives, Department of Energy, Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, and Election Assistance Commission. Teaches Management Skills and Negotiations using simulations, case work, and applied exercises to connect theory with practice. Co-leads curriculum development across RBS and the Rutgers Honors College, including redesign of the Rutgers–New Brunswick Honors curriculum, launch of the Disability Studies minor, and contributions to Management Skills, Organizational Behavior, and Negotiations curricula. Recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Innovations, and recognition as one of Poets&Quants’s Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professors.
Kerry Magro
Dr. Kerry Magro (Mah-grow) Ed.D. was nonspeaking till 2.5, diagnosed with autism at 4 and didn’t speak in complete sentences until 7 years old. Today as an adult he is an award-winning autistic professional speaker, best-selling author and autism consultant to Netflix’s Emmy-Award Winning Series ‘Love on the Spectrum U.S’ and the HBO series Mrs. Fletcher. His work also includes being hired as a writer for the PBS Kids new series ‘Carl the Collector’ featuring the TV Network’s first-ever autistic main character.
He started professional speaking 4 years ago via the National Speakers Association after he fell in love with theater as a child to help with his social and communication skills. Today he has spoken at over 1400 events during that time include 2 TEDxTalks and a 'Talks at Google' presentation. In addition, Kerry is CEO & President of KFM Making A Difference, a nonprofit organization that hosts inclusion events and has provided 150 scholarships for autistic students for college and counting since 2011. He’s provided 27 small business grants for small businesses that hire people with disabilities and has played Santa Claus for autistic and special needs children for the past decade to give them an opportunity to meet Santa in a sensory-friendly environment.
In his spare time, he hosts a Facebook Page called Kerry's Autism Journey that now has 400,000 Facebook followers where he does on-camera interviews highlighting people impacted by a diagnosis to help break down barriers in our community. His videos he’s produced have been watched over 35 Million times.
Kerry’s best-selling books Defining Autism From The Heart, and Autism and Falling in Love, I Will Light It Up Blue and his latest, Autistics on Autism, Supporting Your Autism Journey and Santa Goes The Extra Mile for Children with Disabilities have reached Amazon Best-Seller Lists for Special Needs Parenting. His latest book ‘’ was released on April 2, 2024 for World Autism Awareness Day!
For his efforts in the community he’s been featured on NBC’s Today Show, CBS News, FOX5, Upworthy along with additional outlets. He frequently speaks in-person and virtually to companies on Neurodiversity in the Workplace including JP Morgan Chase, TD Bank, and S&P Global.
Supporting Your Autism Journey: Award-Winning Autistic Adult Answers Your Burning Questions
In "Supporting Your Autism Journey: Award-Winning Autistic Adult Answers Your Burning Questions," Dr. Kerry Magro Ed.D. offers a deeply personal and insightful look into the autism spectrum, drawing from his own experiences as a nonspeaking individual with autism who has grown into a professional speaker, best-selling author, and consultant for major entertainment projects, including Netflix’s "Love on the Spectrum U.S." This book emerges from Magro's desire to bridge the gap between the autistic community and a society that often misunderstands them, fueled by the countless inquiries he has received over the years. From parents and educators to first responders and corporations aiming to understand and support autistic individuals, Magro tackles the most pressing questions, including but not limited to ABA controversy, nonspeaking autism, employment, food aversions, special education, social skills, IEPs, the transition to adulthood, and a wealth of resources.
With a mission to illuminate the autism spectrum for a diverse audience, Magro leverages his journey and professional achievements to demystify autism through answers to frequently asked questions, offering a unique blend of personal narrative and expert guidance. This book serves as a beacon for those navigating the complexities of autism, providing not just answers but also hope and affirmation that with the right understanding and resources, individuals on the spectrum can lead fulfilling lives. "Supporting Your Autism Journey" is more than just a book; it's a companion for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of autism, from the perspective of someone who has lived it.
