Tavarus Wesley

 
Tavarus Wesley is a former President of the self-advocacy group PossABILITY Partners and chair of the Illinois Self Advocacy Alliance. Tavarus is a member of the Arc of Illinois board of directors, executive committee and serves on the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.  Tavarus is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking-IL graduate. Tavarus is an accomplished presenter regularly speaking at the Illinois Speak Up and Speak Out Summit and has presented at the National Self Advocates Becoming Empowered Conference and at the Tennessee Mega Conference.  In addition to his advocacy work Tavarus is a long-time staff member on the maintenance team at New Star in Chicago Heights.

Leanne Mull

Leanne has been supporting people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to achieve their dreams since 1999. In her previous career as a corporate trainer and business manager Leanne hired someone who used a job coach, and that experience completely changed the course of her life.  She spent the next 15 years at a traditional agency in a variety of roles ranging from job coach to QIDP, Day Services Manager to Director of Employment and Advocacy, and everything in between.  Leanne believes that the key to meaningful lives for people who receive services is to encourage, empower and enlighten the staff who work for them.  As co-director of Blue Tower Solutions, Inc. Leanne fulfills that dream as a national speaker, writer and consultant improving organizations and systems supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and serving as President on the Board of the Arc of Illinois. Additionally, Leanne works as a Quality Enhancement Specialist for The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). Leanne holds a BA in Psychology and Master’s in Healthcare Administration.