Meet Our Staff Heather Hebdon-Founder and Director of STOMP The mother of 3 children, all of whom were enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, during her husband's 22-year military career, she has a strong commitment to working with other military families. Ms. Hebdon's oldest son has Down Syndrome, lives and works in his community, and continues to be a source of inspiration and exasperation to his mother, as do her other two children. Heather is located at the Headquarters office, when she isn't traveling, and welcomes calls from families and providers. Luz Adriana Martinez- Parent Education Coordinator Luz Adriana Martinez is a native of Colombia, South America. For the past 18 years has been working in the field of advocacy for children with disabilities. She is currently working as the Assistant Project Director for STOMP out of the Central Regional Office in Arizona. She has been apart of STOMP’s Parent Professional Volunteer Network (PPVN) since 1992. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BA from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. “When I first heard about STOMP, I had three children under the age of three and two with significant disabilities.” Adriana has Down’s syndrome, type I diabetes (pump therapy) and thyroid issues. Her sisters Brenda and Sandra were preemie twins and Sandra later was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. ”STOMP was instrumental in giving me the tools I needed to be an advocate and ensuring services for my children and myself as we moved from one installation to another during my husband’s 22 year career in the Army”. Adriana is looking forward to your emails and phone calls and meeting you in person during one of our training sessions. Valerie Patterson - Parent Education Coordinator Valerie Patterson is an Army wife and mother of five children, four of which are enrolled in Exceptional Family Member Program. Jennifer (16) is deaf and attends Eastern Carolina School for the Deaf; Kimberly (15) is your typical teenager; Jeffery (13) is ADD and has learning disabilities; Amanda (11) is ADD, Mild metal retardation and has learning disabilities, asthma; and, Matthew (8) has serve asthma as well as learning disabilities. She volunteers in many different groups. She has worked as an assistant with the Exceptional Family Member Program for the last eight years. For the last two years she was Mayor / Activities Coordinator for her housing area on Post. I believe as a parent we need to hold active roles in our children's lives. I have told my children just because it may take them longer to do something never let that stop them for going after their dreams, "One Person Can Make a Difference". Amanda Burkhart - Parent Education Coordinator Amanda Burkhart is a wife of an active duty military soldier and mother to three little girls, Victoria age 9, Carrie age 8 and Gabrielle age 7. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in agency counseling. Her core interests and field of concentration was and still is children with disabilities. Her daughter Carrie, is a special needs child who has a moderate heart condition, epilepsy, Asperger’s disorder and is developmentally delayed in several areas. She is familiar to the in and outs of having a child with multiple disabilities and the road blocks that can arise both within a school system as well with the daily living of everyday activities. Amanda comes from a strong military family background. STOMP also welcomes her Seeing Eye service companion named Ivy (German Shepherd). Amanda has very limited vision due to a congenital eye condition from birth known as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), but say she is a very independent employee and very honored to be a part of the Washington PAVE staff and an employee of STOMP. Sandra "Sandy" Trujillo-Administrative Assistant Sandy has worked for Washington PAVE/STOMP since 1986 with a year and a half away in the DC area where she worked for the National Parent Network on Disabilities. She heard about STOMP through a former STOMP employee, and the rest is history. She says, "I've enjoyed working with all the staff and have learned so much." Sandy's family enjoyed 20 years of military life. Her husband is now retired from the Army and works for the City of Tacoma. Sandy has 3 wonderful children with 3 terrific significant others and 3 grandchildren who are the light of her life. She became involved in the disability field because her daughter had meningitis while the family was stationed in Germany, which left her with a profound hearing loss. "We are proud of all our children, but especially proud of Heather and the goals she has reached. She graduated from Galluadet University and is now working with children who have disabilities. Her advice to parents, "don't ever let anyone tell you your child with a disability can't do something - let the child tell you by action or word." Kate Mason - Parent Education Coordinator Kate Mason is the wife of an active duty airman and mother to 3 children; Colwyn 9, Britain 8 and Ashton 4. Colwyn has Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD and Anxiety. Britain and Ashton are normally developing. In the past Kate has served as a Key Spouse, President of the Squadron Spouses Club and in the Enlisted Spouses Club Presidency. Kate has extensive experience working with the military system and is able to relate that experience to the current PEC position. Kate hopes to complete her degree in the near future.

This Web Site © Copyright, STOMP 2003. Washington PAVE has a policy of nondiscrimination. In the event you, as an employee or recipient of services, feel that you have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, marital status, disabled or Vietnam era veteran status, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, or HIV/AIDS status, you have the right to file a complaint with the agency´s 504 Compliance Officer. Please contact PAVE´s Compliance Officer: Heather M. Hebdon, 6316 South 12th. Street; Tacoma, WA 98465-1900 (253) 565-2266 (v/tty); 1-800-5-PARENT (v/tty); Fax: (253) 566-8052, E-mail:hhebdon@wapave.org