Women’s History Month 2023
Scott & Lori have known ME since her days in San Diego when she was assisting people to be included naturally and (seemingly) effortlessly within their communitues before inclusion was a “thing”. ME’s ongoing work, ideas, and collaboration has continued to keep us motivated, energized, and focused while in the midst of funding and bureaucratic barriers that often make it difficult to provide the person-centered supports people deserve and need. ME is part of a wonderful group of California Colleagues with shared values and who keep us on the right path.
Mary Ellen’s Bio:
Since 1992, Mary Ellen has been Co-Founder/Director of Creative Support Alternatives, a grassroots-style organization that sits within SDSU’s Interwork Institute. As part of Creative Support Alternatives, she provides Supported/Independent Living Services, along with some related support services. Also known as “ME”, she is passionate about assisting adults with developmental disabilities to build the lives they choose.
ME has been honored to assist people to get out on their own, whether leaving a facility or their family home, supported many to move from their family homes to life on their own, increasing their inter/independence, building life-skills, participating in educational learning opportunities, accessing affordable housing, becoming homeowners, obtaining jobs and accessible transportation, and becoming active in their communities! She is known for her person-centered values (which were nurtured as a longtime member of TASH/CalTASH) and commitment to standing by people over time.
Mary Ellen has worked with, and for, people who have developmental disabilities for over 40 years. Her experience includes working as a Registered Recreation Therapist, Project Vocational Teacher/University of Maryland, Special Education High School and Transition Teacher/Montgomery County Public Schools, Interwork Institute/SDSU Project Coordinator, Technical Assistance Consultant on various state and national projects, Adjunct Faculty/SDSU, and of course, her work as Co-Founder/Director of Creative Support Alternatives. Since 2007, she lives in the Sierra Foothills where Creative Support Alternatives serves individuals in 3 rural counties that offer numerous challenges to meeting the needs of people with disabilities.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor Degree in Therapeutic Recreation/San Francisco State University and Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Severe Disabilities/University of Maryland. She is serving or has served multiple years on the CHOICES Insitute Conference Planning Committee, Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee, ILS/SLS/VMRC Network Group, and CalTASH Board of Directors.
In addition to what she refers to as the privilege of her “life’s work”, ME loves animals of all kinds and shares her rural home with a German Shorthair Pointer, a rescued German Shepherd, a goofy horse, and two barn cats who take their “rodent control” jobs very seriously! You’ll typically find her outdoors and in nature, where she embraces life as an active community member of a small Calaveras County town of 1,800 neighbors.
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