about us
About the Authors
Jo Ann Simons
Jo Ann Simons was the original author of the Down Syndrome Transition Handbook (Woodbine House 2010). The book was the culmination of her work in transition that began when her son, with Down syndrome, came home from high school and asked, “When am I taking the SAT’s.” Shortly after, following one of her popular transition presentations, “From a Cruise Ship to a Dingy”, Dennis McGuire, PhD, told her the presentation should be a book. Jo Ann has over 40 years of experience in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field. She is currently the President/CEO of the Northeast Arc . Jo Ann also served on Governor Maura Healey’s and Charlie Baker’s Transition Committee on Health Care. Also, she serves on the Point32 Health Plan Foundation Board. She is past Chair of the National Down Syndrome Society and past President of the National Down Syndrome Congress. In addition she created Footprints for the Future, a personal planning tool that provides a place for families and professionals to record specific and personal information as part of their future and estate planning.
Stephanie Meredith
Stephanie has a Doctorate in public health focusing on disability and health, and she is the Director of the Lettercase National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources at the Genetic Support Foundation. Additionally, Stephanie works as LEND Family Faculty at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute and worked for five years on the KentuckyWorks project focusing on transition services in Kentucky. She’s also the author of “Understanding a Down Syndrome Diagnosis” and co-author of “Diagnosis to Delivery: A Pregnant Mother’s Guide to Down Syndrome” and “Welcoming a Newborn with Down Syndrome.” Additionally, she trains medical professionals on how to deliver a diagnosis and advocacy organizations on how to build medical outreach programs. Most importantly, she’s the mother of a 24-year-old son with Down syndrome, Andy, and two younger daughters, Kate and Lily. Stephanie has also written about her own experience as a self-described mediocre mom raising a cool kid with Down syndrome published by Good Morning America.
