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CloseNorthwest Region
Serving Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

Contacts
- Outreach Specialist:
- Leslie Weilbacher lweilbacher@aph.org
Leslie is the Outreach Specialist for the Northwest Region with APH.
Leslie is a lifelong disability advocate and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature and German from the University of Oregon with her first guide dog Cammy. After interning with Mobility International USA (MIUSA) and the Wesley Foundation she pursued her Master of Arts in Special Education with emphasis in Visual Impairment and Orientation & Mobility from the University of Northern Colorado with her second guide dog Gwenny.
Her experience working with students with visual impairments extends over 6 years serving as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and O&M Specialist, including summer programs in independent living skills, and career experiences with her third guide dog Neil. Currently, Leslie lives in Washington state with her current guide dog Fame, retired guide Gwenny and two horses, and some chickens.
Regional Partner:
The Northwest Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT), cattnw@wssb.wa.gov
Program is a collaboration between the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) and the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB).
Our mission is to provide assistive technology training to teachers of blind/low vision children, utilizing a “train the trainer” model, while also providing support/training for other professionals working with blind or low vision children as well as parents/caregivers of a child who is blind or has low vision, including those with additional disabilities.
Assistive technology options are provided through APH and training is provided through WSSB employed trainers serving a ten-state/territory region: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
Northwest Region Ex Officio Trustees
-
Alaska
Olivia Yancey
Alaska Department of Education (Quota Account #5)
Alaska Department of Education
Executive Director
Address
3501 Denali Street Ste 101
Anchorage, Alaska 99503Contact
Phone: 907-334-1332
Fax: 206-330-0306
Email: oyancey@sesa.org
-
American Samoa
Olive Isaako
American Samoa Department Of Education (Quota Account #231)
American Samoa Department of Education
Visual Impairment Program Coordinator
Address
PO Box 4120
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799Contact
Phone: 684-699-4611
Email: ioane.75@gmail.com
-
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Jacqueline Che
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Education (Quota Accounts #239 & #242)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Education
Interim Federal Programs Officer
Address
PO Box 501370 CK
Saipan, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands 96950Contact
Phone: 670-237-3065
Email: jacqueline.che@cnmipss.org
-
Guam
Thomas C. Babauta
Guam Department of Education (Quota Account #236)
Guam Department of Education
Assistant Superintendent, Special Education
Address
501 Mariner Ave
Barrigada, Guam 96913Contact
Phone: 671-300-1322
Fax: 671-472-5001
Email: tcbabauta@gdoe.net
-
Idaho
Collene Kroenke
Idaho Commission for the Blind (Quota Account #47)
Idaho Commission for the Blind
Low Vision Storekeeper
Address
341 W. Washington St
Boise, Idaho 83720Contact
Phone: 208-334-3220, ext. 314 or 208-639-8380
Fax: 208-334-2963
Email: ckroenke@icbvi.idaho.gov
-
Jeanne-Marie Kopecky
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind (Quota Account #46) & Idaho State Department of Education (Quota Accounts #48 & #51)
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind & Idaho State Department of Education
Director of Outreach-Blind/Low Vision
Address
1450 Main St
Gooding, Idaho 83330Contact
Phone: 208-934-4457
Email: jeanne-marie.kopecky@iesdb.org
-
Montana
Miranda Briggs
Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind (Quota Account #120) & Montana Department of Education (Quota Accounts #122 & #123)
Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind & Montana Department of Education
Outreach Director
Address
3911 Central Ave
Great Falls, Montana 59405Contact
Phone: 406-403-1322
Email: mbriggs@msdb.k12.mt.us
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North Dakota
Emily Stenberg Brown
North Dakota School for the Blind (Quota Account #154) & North Dakota Department of Public Instructions (Quota Accounts #155 & #156)
Vision Resource Center (NDVSISB)
Director of ND Vision Services
Address
500 Stanford Rd
Grand Forks, North Dakota 58203Contact
Phone: 701-795-2709
Fax: 701-795-2727
Email: estenber@nd.gov
-
Oregon
J Beresheim
Oregon Department of Education (Quota Accounts #168 & #169)
Oregon Department of Education
Vision Specialist
Address
2060 Vista Ave SE Ste 100
Salem, Oregon 97302Contact
Phone: 503-435-5985
Email: j.beresheim@wesd.org
-
Jim Portillo
Oregon Commission for the Blind (Quota Account #73)
Oregon Commission for the Blind
Training Center Director
Address
535 SE 12th Ave
Portland, Oregon 97214Contact
Phone: 971-285-5244
Email: jim.a.portillo@ocb.oregon.gov
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South Dakota
Laurie Megard
South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind (Quota Account #185)
South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind
Communications Instructor
Address
2900 West 11th Street Ste 101
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104Contact
Phone: 605-367-5260
Fax: 605-367-5263
Email: Laurie.Megard@state.sd.us
-
Jessica J Vogel
South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Quota Account #184)
South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Superintendent
Address
605 14th Ave SE
Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401Contact
Phone: 605-626-2580
Email: jessica.vogel@sdsbvi.northern.edu
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Kathleen Slocum
South Dakota Department of Education (Quota Accounts #186 & #187)
South Dakota Department of Education
Accessible Library Services Manager
Address
800 Governors Dr
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-6962Contact
Phone: 605-773-8438
Email: kathleen.slocum@state.sd.us
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Washington
Pamela Parker
Washington State Department of Public Instruction (Quota Accounts #216 & #217) and Washington State School for the Blind (Quota Account #214)
Washington State Department of Public Instruction & Washington State School for the Blind
Director of Outreach WSSB/State Vision Coordinator WSDS
Address
2214 E 13th St
Vancouver, Washington 98661Contact
Phone: 360-947-3304
Fax: 360-737-2120
Email: pam.parker@wssb.wa.gov
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Damiana Harper
State of Washington-Department of Services for the Blind (Quota Account #133)
State of Washington-Department of Services for the Blind
Assistant Director, Participant Services
Address
421 W Riverside Ave Ste 830
Spokane, Washington 99201Contact
Phone: 509-456-4458
Email: damiana.harper@dsb.wa.gov
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Wyoming
Leslie Bechtel Van Orman
Wyoming Department of Education (Quota Accounts #226 & #227)
Wyoming State Department of Education
Vision Outreach Services – Program Manager
Address
215 Lincoln St
Lander, Wyoming 82520Contact
Phone: 307-857-9267
Email: leslie.vanorman@wyo.gov
Co-Chair, Trustee Advisory Committee (TAC) 2023