Shirley Paceley (she/her/hers)
Shirley Paceley has worked with people with disabilities for 48 years and has a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology. Shirley is a published author, international trainer, counselor, consultant, advocate and visionary. Shirley served on the Board of Directors of End Violence Against Women International, the Editorial Board of Sexual Assault Report, and was a Project Advisor to the National Center for Criminal Justice and Disabilities. Shirley has co-created several educational curricula for people with disabilities and has trained professionals and self-advocates to teach abuse prevention programs. Shirley has dedicated her life to empowering people with disabilities to be free, safe, and live meaningful lives
Jae Jin Pak (he/him/his)
Jae Jin Pak is a social justice advocate, educator, and ally with over 25 years of experience. He identifies as an Asian immigrant with disabilities. He has worked on issues of gender-based violence, antitrafficking prevention, mental health, disability, immigration justice, and anti-oppression. He has conducted thousands of hours of training with diverse communities and professionals nationally. His identities and core values of collaboration and recognizing intersectionality has allowed him to build strong connections with diverse communities and providers. Jae Jin is the Self Advocacy Training Coordinator for IL LEND, Community Education & Training Coordinator for the Institute on Disability and Human Development at the University of IL at Chicago (UIC), and Project Specialist for the IL Self Advocacy Alliance. He serves on the Statewide Independent Living Council of IL, Quality Care Board, Disability and Immigration Taskforce of IL, The National Human Trafficking & Disability Working Group, and the Sex Ed Implementation Oversight Committee.
Linda Sandman (she/her/hers)
Linda Sandman has 35 years of clinical experience working with adults with disabilities, including mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). Currently, Linda is a Co-Director of Blue Tower Solutions, Inc., an organization dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations and systems to create cultures of respect, inclusion, dignity and equality for people with disabilities. She is an experienced trainer and consultant to agencies and organizations working with people with disabilities. Sexuality education and promoting access for people with disabilities has been the major focus of Linda's work over the past 15 years. As a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Disability and Human Development, Linda played an instrumental role in ground-breaking research on the sexual self-advocacy of people with ID/DD. She also supervised sex education groups at the UIC Family Clinics for 10 years, serving adults with IDD from 17 community agencies and schools in the Chicagoland area. Linda has been a member of several federally funded state-wide projects to address violence against people with disabilities, another focus of her work. These projects have emphasized collaboration as the most effective model to improve services and response to violence against people with disabilities. Linda is bilingual (Spanish/English) and bicultural and deeply committed to promoting diversity and empowerment for all. She is a member of the Sex Ed Implementation Oversight Committee and was the co-chair of the Curriculum Committee.
