About Us
Purpose
The Arc of Nevada was created to help ignite the passion and energy of people with disabilities and their families to self-advocate in an effort to promote the well-being and general welfare of people with developmental and related disabilities. Together we build a support network of people and organizations to promote people with diverse abilities.
Michelle Gorelow
Michelle Gorelow has been an advocate for women and children’s healthcare issues for almost 25 years and has been an active member on several committees and boards including Nevada State Maternal Child Health Coalition (co-chair), Southern Nevada Maternal Child Health Coalition (chair), Tobacco Prevention Coalition (secretary), Advisory Council on the State Program for Wellness and Prevention of Chronic Disease, Clark County Children’s Mental Health Consortium, and many more. In addition, Michelle has served three terms representing Assembly District 35 in southwest Clark County. Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Wilmington College and Master’s in education from University of Phoenix. Michelle recently celebrated her 21st wedding anniversary and has two children, as well as three cats (Fat Eddy, Buffy the Vampire Kitty, and Gizmo), a fish (James Pond), and cockatiel (Bird).
Jennifer Lagana
Jennifer was born and raised in Las Vegas. While finishing her Bachelor Degree program at UNLV, she was selected as a participant in the Nevada Transdisciplinary Inclusion Project. A course assignment had Jennifer observe a Developmental Specialist working with a 12-month old girl with Down Syndrome on physical, language and social development. She knew at that moment Early Intervention was her calling! Jennifer went on to earn a Master Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from UNLV and began working as an Early Intervention provider in Southern Nevada. She has almost 20 years experience in Early Intervention serving countless children 0-3 years of age with delays and disabilities and their families, as well as training, supervising, and supporting EI staff. Jennifer whole-heartedly believes in the importance of working on development as early as possible and has witnessed the amazing progress children with delays and disabilities have made toward reaching their full potential as the result of Early Intervention!
Joel Jarvis
Joel Jarvis specializes in property and casualty for Municipalities, Professional Liability, Errors and Omissions Insurance, and Directors and Officers coverage for Boards of
Directors and Executives. He has extensive experience developing property and casualty programs for clients in various industries: including attorneys, transportation, hospitality, non profits and construction. He has 20+ years experience in the insurance industry and an additional seven years as an internal accountant working for Las Vegas Sands, Inc, Perlman Architecture, and Capitol Pacific Homes. Joel has served as a member of the boards of directors of Aid for Aids of Nevada (AFAN) and Opportunity Village Board. He also has served on the Accreditation Team for the United Way of Southern Nevada. He has been actively involved in the Clark County Bar Association since 2005; acted as Social Chair for the New Lawyer Committee and as a Co-Chair of the Community Service Committee.
He was awarded Ambassador of the Year by the Clark County Bar Association in 2004, and he is the Liberty Bell Award winner for 2005 with the organization. Joel holds bachelor degrees in accounting/finance and law from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois where he graduated in 1993.
Colleen Larks
Colleen graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 1974 and attended Los Angeles Trade Tech and Great Basin College. She worked in the insurance industry in California for 25 years and owned The Village Oaks Surety and Insurance Company. Her passion has always been to work with people with disabilities. She volunteered at the Hope House and worked evenings for a residential care facility while maintaining her insurance job. Both places allowed her to work with people with disabilities. In 1997 Colleen returned home to Carlin, NV and works for United Cerebral Palsy as Regional Manager in Elko NV for over 20 years which is her passion. In 2019, Colleen accepted the additional responsibility as UCP’s Corporate Compliance Office over the Reno and Elko offices.
Jacki Folger
Jacqueline Folger was raised in Massachusetts and moved back to Las Vegas over 7 years ago with her 31-year-old nephew Ryan who is vision impaired and intellectually disabled. She has fought for disability rights for over 30 years and has continued in Las Vegas. She works as a personal assistant and volunteers as the president of Family and Friends of Opportunity Village. Jackie is proud to have completed the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Partners in Policymaking training. She raised 2 sons of her own, her nephew, and 3 foster sons and enjoyed all the cooking and activities that comes
with a tribe.
Ashlee Cooper
Ashlee grew up in community organizing and walked her first picket line at the age of 6. Having worked as a Direct Support Professional, Ashlee is passionate about intersectional systems advocacy for people
with disabilities, their families, and the workforce that supports them. Ashlee has worked with people with disabilities professionally for 15 years. She currently serves as the Manager of Advocacy & Government Affairs at Opportunity Village, where she has been on staff since 2013. Prior to her current role, she led a team of 27 people training transition age youth and adults with IDD to navigate the workforce; helping hundreds of people find meaningful jobs with competitive wages throughout Southern Nevada.
Shirley Campbell
Shirley is the champion and advocate for her disabled son Thomas and many others in the Las Vegas area where she has lived for over 45 years. She has been a long-time member of Family and Friends of Opportunity Village and has completed the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Partners in Policymaking course. Shirley has been an advocate and is a founding board member of the A-Team Nevada. She has led self-advocate groups to Carson City twice and Washington D.C. to champion the cause for people with disabilities.
Linda Alexander
Linda Alexander is a person with a disability. A self-advocate, Linda receives services from Nevada providers for both job and residential care. She can speak to the quality of supports available for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and is a valued board member of the A Team NV.
Tracy Brown-May
Tracy is a passionate advocate and a champion of the people. She is a longtime disability advocate and
believes in the value of workforce development. She has spent the last 20 years engaged in community
building, disability support services, and systems advocacy. Tracy holds an Associate Degree from CSN,
Las Vegas, Nevada and a Bachelor of Science in liberal studies from Northeastern University, Boston,
Massachusetts. A former gaming employee, and current non-profit executive, Tracy also serves as a
Nevada Assemblywoman and is proud to represent the people of Assembly District 42. A dedicated
mother, Tracy has three adult children, all of whom were born and raised in Nevada. She and her
husband Jeff can often be found cycling around the city or walking their family dogs, Harry and Teddy.
Thomas Campbell
Tom is a person with a disability; a condition called Fragile X Syndrome. Tom resides with his mother Shirley and stepfather Fred at their home in Las Vegas. Tom has worked in numerous jobs, and received specialized services throughout his life. He completed the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Partners in Policymaking course. His is also a supporter of Family and Friends of Opportunity Village and a board member of the A-Team NV.
Regina Daniel
Community IDD Advocacy Activist, supportive of disabled adult son. Serves on Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (NGCDD), Voting member of Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities (CSPD). Retired Housing Authority Budget Analyst. Part-time On-Air Radio Personality, Advocate Volunteer. Building Positive Lifestyles, Member, R-
|Cares, CEO, Las Vegas Bowling Senate President, Las Vegas Bowling Senate webmaster, Project COPE Coordinator , A Team Chapter Organizer, Special Olympics parent volunteer.
Mike Fonseca
Mike Fonseca began his career as a Respiratory Therapist in Loma Linda, CA, where he also pioneered Anesthesia Tech programs across multiple hospitals. Transitioning to sales, Mike represented a diverse portfolio of medical devices and specialty products, excelling in cultivating stakeholder relationships, leading sales teams, and navigating complex sales processes.
Entrepreneurial by nature, he has helmed various ventures, including multiple businesses and a restaurant.
Mike and his wife currently live in Las Vegas, NV, where they enjoy RV camping, fishing, cooking, and are committed to advocating for the rights of those in need.
Amanda Shipp
Amanda Shipp, has over 23 years of working with people with disabilities. She has a degree in Psychology and a minor in Elementary Education from Arkansas Tech University. She worked as a Social Worker III at Conway Human Development
Center in Arkansas. She worked at Director of Program Services in Nevada for 11 years. Now, she started working at Capability Health and Human Services formerly known as Easterseals Nevada in 2015.
She is actively involved in the community and advocating for people with disabilities. She received 2015 MVP award from Best Buddies Nevada. She is currently serving her 10 year on Regional Transportation Commission TAAC
community.
She moved to Nevada in 2004 from Arkansas. She has 2 boys ages 13 and 16. She loves spending time with her family. Her oldest son is diagnosis with Autism. He was selected to ride on the Easterseals 100 th Anniversary Float during the Rose Parade in 2018.
Janine Stradling
Janine is employed by United Cerebral Palsy in Elko, Nevada. Self-identified as a person with a disability, Janine is a leader in self-advocacy in her community. She has visited with state leaders in support of improved services for herself and her peers and has completed numerous training opportunities to model self-determination.
Victoria Gonzales
Bio coming soon!
Margaret Covelli
Dr. Covelli has over 30 years of experience in management and leadership in nursing. She received her BSN in nursing from Youngstown State University, then went on to earn her master’s in health administration (MHA) from University of St. Francis, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from University of Nevada Las Vegas. Over the years, Dr. Covelli has received several honors including Alumna of the Year, Nursing from UNLV, Outstanding Recent Alumni from University of St. Francis, Distinguished Nurse of the Year from March of Dimes, and VEGAS INC Healthcare Heroes in the nursing category. Dr. Covelli is currently the Assistant Chief Nurse Executive at University Medical Center.
What We Do
We are people with diverse abilities interested in sharing our passion for life. We are individuals with unique experiences working to be engaged in our communities. We have families, spouses, children, siblings, cousins… We have jobs and hobbies. We promote the well-being and welfare of people.
We work to foster the development of support services designed to engage people with diverse abilities.
We work to create awareness in the community about the rights, needs and capabilities of all people.
We work to educate, advise, and aid members in the planning, development and execution of their life goals.
We work to advise and educate those who care for people with specialized needs to ensure that the people they support are, at all times, respected, protected, sustained, and honored.
We work to build a support network of people and organizations to promote individuals with diverse abilities.
How to Help
Be engaged — in your community. Participate in community events and activities.
Share your story — with everyone who will listen. Awareness is essential to the development of supports and the elimination of barriers.