Our Board of Directors

Please click on a name or picture on the left for more information on our Board of Directors.

Mickey Damelio is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, and Orientation and Mobility specialist for Leon County Schools. Mr. Damelio is an adjunct professor with Florida State University, where he teaches two classes each year. Mr. Damelio received his master's degree from Florida State University in 2005 in Visual Impairments Education, with an emphasis on Orientation and Mobility, and Early Intervention. Mr. Damelio has always been interested in developing nations and their people. In the summer of 2008, Mr. Damelio was asked to consult with a school for the blind in Huế, Vietnam. The school was interested in bringing their teaching practices in line with the best practices of the field of Visual Impairments. While in Vietnam, Mr. Damelio was inspired to improve the lives of children with disabilities in developing nations, and came back to Florida to create and organize Ability Beyond the Horizon. Mr. Damelio will be entering the Doctoral program in FSU with an emphasis on international work with people with disabilities. Mr. Damelio is also the owner of Tallahassee Freecycle, a not for profit organization in Tallahassee of more than 5000 people that reduces landfill waste, as well as serving as Secretary on the board of Directors of Birdland, a not for profit in Tallahassee, FL that works in the rehoming of unwanted companion parrots, and education of people with companion parrots.

Mr. Strechay works with American Foundation for the Blind’s project CareerConnect a program to create greater employability for people with visual impairments. Before working with American Foundation for the Blind, he over saw the transition program for Florida Division of Blind Services, where he designed curriculum for work bound young people with visual impairments in the state of Florida to ease their transition into successful adulthood. He often presents at conferences about transition services for students with visual impairments all over the United States. He graduated with a Master’s degree from Florida State University, specializing in working with children with visual impairments, with a special emphasis on transition aged students. His Bachelor’s degree is from East Carolina University in Communication. He has mentored many people newly diagnosed with visual impairment, and serves as a role model for many teens who are visually impaired.

Sandra Lewis is an Associate Professor in the School of Teacher Education in the College of Education at Florida State University. Prior to joining the FSU faculty, Dr. Lewis worked for nearly fifteen years as a teacher of students with visual impairments and as an educational diagnostician. She currently coordinates the Program in Visual Impairment at FSU and conducts research in the current status and efficacy of services to students who are blind or who have low vision. Dr. Lewis is the author of chapters in professional books on topics as varied as educational programming, assessment, provision of low vision services, and teaching career education to blind and low vision students in elementary school. Dr. Lewis has directed several federal and state funded contracts and grants related to personnel preparation and improving services to all individuals who are visually impaired. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and is a Past President of both the Northern California and Florida chapters of this association. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Division on Visual Impairments of the Council for Exceptional Children and currently serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness.

Dr. Hanline is an Associate Professor in the Department of Childhood Education, Reading, and Disability Services at Florida State University. She teaches courses in the Special Education doctoral and Education of Students with Exceptionalities teacher preparation program focusing on children birth to 5 and children with severe disabilities. She is currently directing a U.S. Department of Education personnel preparation grant focusing on the development of infant/toddler personnel preparation and co-directing a U.S. Department of Education project of national significance, the purpose of which is to develop modules to educate early child care providers about positive behavior support. She publishes regularly in peer-reviewed professional journals; engages in national, state, and local service activities related to individuals with disabilities; and presents at international and national conferences.

Ms. Ricci has been an attorney specializing in immigration law since 1989. Ms. Ricci is a partner in the law firm Rambanna and Ricci in Tallahassee, FL, an adjunct professor for Barry University, and president of the Federal Bar Association, Tallahassee Chapter. In addition to holding distinguished positions in a multitude of other service organizations, Ms. Ricci is also active Rotarian in the Tallahassee Rotary Club. Elizabeth Ricci is the author of a number of publications relating to her professional field of immigration law. A true "global citizen", Ms. Ricci is fluent in Spanish, has served in the United States Peace Corps in Guatemala, and has lived in Spain, Ecuador, and Mexico.

Dr. Barbara Edwards is an Associate Dean for External Relations for the College of Education at FSU. She is the author of numerous articles, book chapters, and computer programs relating to education of people with disabilities. Dr. Edwards has a special interest in assistive technology for people with disabilities. She has assisted in the preparation of many special education teachers graduating from Florida State University since joining its faculty in 1989. Dr. Edwards has also co-directed several grants related to preparation of special education teachers at FSU.

Yvonne Gsteiger serves as senior cabinet advisor to Florida's Chief Financial Officer, Alex Sink, on environment, land use and climate change issues. Ms. Gsteiger graduated from Florida State University with a degree in law in 1987 and has since held positions as Assistant General Counsel for the Florida Department of Revenue, and as an adjunct professor with both Florida State University, and Florida A&M University. Ms. Gsteiger also served as a senior policy analyst for the South Florida Water Management District. Yvonne earned a certificate to teach English as a foreign language and has volunteered many hours teaching English to non-native speakers at FSU. Born in Switzerland and having a daughter from China, Ms. Gsteiger clearly has a deep interest and love for the world beyond United States' borders.