Raised by fierce Parent Advocates, Melissa is an active member of the global cross disability community. She served on the developmental disabilities council in Washington State as a young adult. She continued bring disability to the forefront through numerous articles, presentations, teaching abroad in France, serving two years in AmeriCorps,   and working for Mobility International USA as Outreach / Training Coordinator for four years. As a member of the local disability community Melissa serves on community boards, attends community forums, and co-founded the Willamette Valley Assistance Dog Club. Partnered with assistance/service dogs for last fourteen years, Melissa, has become an outspoken advocate for responsible partnership benefiting both dog and human through her blog Service Dogs: A Way  of Life.

Working for the UCEDD, Melissa uses her skills as a writer and experiences as a member of the disability community creating new publications, articles, a community list serve, and updating our website.