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Meet the AutismTN Team!
Jessica Moore – Executive Director
Jessica grew up in Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University with a BA in Human Ecology. She spent 5 years working as an Interior and Project Designer helping clients design and remodel kitchens and baths before deciding to stay home when she and her husband’s first son was born. She is a graduate of The Sleep Lady’s Gentle Sleep Coaching program and has helped many children develop healthy sleep habits. She has served with AutismTN beginning in 2018 as a HELPline Advocate and most recently as Membership Director. Jessica now lives in Hendersonville with her husband, two sons (one of whom is autistic), and dog Jinxie, and enjoys spending time with friends and family, and gardening.
Omegbhai (Ojior) Uriri, MSPH – Community Relations Director
outreach@autismtn.org
Omegbhai (Ojior) Uriri is the Community Relations Director at Autism Tennessee, and has been a part of Autism Tennessee for over 15 years. As the Community Relations Director, Omegbhai coordinates parent workshops, provider training, organizes community outreach events to create networking opportunities for individuals, parents, and other family members, and represents the organization at fairs, on councils, conferences and other stakeholder meetings. In her role, she works hard to develop programs that will equip families with the tools they need to effectively advocate for their children/family members. Omegbhai became involved in the disability community after her youngest daughter was diagnosed with autism. The challenges she encountered while seeking services and support for her family made her passionate about advocating for autistic individuals who are more severely impacted by autism spectrum disorders. She also advocates passionately to ensure that other families, especially immigrant families, do not experience the same challenges she had. Omegbhai received her Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health, and a Master’s in Public Health (Microbiology) from the University of Benin in Nigeria. She is a LEND Fellow (2015), a graduate of the Vanderbilt Advocacy Project (VAP) and presents on “Advocating for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families” at VAP annually. She is a 2022 graduate of Partners in Policymaking. She has served on the Board of The ARC Tennessee, The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Community Advisory Board (VKC-CAC), and The VKC Multicultural Alliance on Disability. She was recently appointed to the State of Tennessee’s Middle Planning and Policy Council.
Dave Griffin – Teen & Adult Program ManagerDave holds multiple positions within the community in education and disability advocacy. He thrives in learning environments and excels in his position as Teen & Adult Program Manager. He is a self-advocate and a sought after public speaker in the autism community for sharing his story. Dave received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and Master's Degree from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. In addition to his work with Autism Tennessee, he is a substitute teacher for Metro Nashville Public Schools. Dave is also a participant in Spectrum Pathways at Vanderbilt. In his free time, Dave enjoys ballroom dancing, and he is a huge fan of the 1960's sitcom Gomer Pyle USMC.
Amy Correia – Communications Director
amy@autismtn.org
Amy is a Tallahassee, Florida, native who graduated from Florida State University in 2014 and made her way to Nashville in the summer of 2016. Amy began as a behavior therapist for a private, behavioral health clinic and has gone on to hold multiple leadership positions in clinical and school-based settings around Middle Tennessee. She connected with Autism Tennessee by first volunteering at Disability Day on the Hill with the Tennessee Disability Coalition and then, eventually, by attending AutismTN's Summer Expo fair. In August of 2019, Amy joined AutismTN as the first HELPline Program Assistant, where she supported the work of the HELPline Advocate. Amy now partners with the Executive Director to coordinate various strategic, philanthropic, membership, and community projects focused on strengthening engagement and building capacity. She completed three years of service in Leon County Public Schools as an AmeriCorps volunteer in the Florida Campus Compact Program. She is a 2019 graduate of Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's Volunteer Advocacy Project (VAP). She is currently pursuing a Master's of Education in Community Development and Action from the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Her praxis is grounded in being a reflective practitioner who believes the critical analysis of history, context, and power will lead to disability justice. Amy lives with her significant other and dog, Taco, in Nashville and loves chai tea, being outside, time with friends, handmade cards, and live music.
Leah Quazi – Operations Manager
leah@autismtn.org
Leah grew up in Texas and graduated from the University of North Texas in 2011. They have served the disability community providing 1:1 assistance to individuals of all ages and levels of support needs in Texas, Colorado, and Tennessee. Leah joined Autism Tennessee in August of 2020 as our HELPline Program Assistant and has since added the roles of facilitator for The Spectrum Connection and Operations Manager. Leah is passionate about social justice and prioritizes supporting the LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized communities. They currently live in East Nashville with their wife, daughter, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.
Kathleen Ferrelli, MS, CCC-SLP – Adult Program Director
kathleen@autismtn.org
Kathleen is originally from the eastern shore of Fairhope, Alabama. She has a Bachelor's degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Alabama and a Master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Georgia Southern University. She is currently working as a Speech-Language Pathologist at a private practice and serving as the Adult Program Director at AutismTN. Kathleen loves working in the field of speech-language pathology and as a program director because she gets to work in diverse age groups and with a variety of disabilities and disorders. Working in this diverse field motivates Kathleen to make a difference in multiple aspects of peoples lives. Kathleen enjoys watching old films, gardening, and hiking. Kathleen currently lives in Cookeville, Tennessee with her husband and new baby, James.
Crystal Miller – HELPline Advocate
crystal@autismtn.org
Crystal was born and raised in Illinois, married at 17, and moved to Tennessee. She has been married 34 years, has 5 children; two on the Autism Spectrum. She earned her nursing degree in 1999 and worked as a correctional nurse for six years for the Tennessee Dept of Corrections. She switched gears and went to college for psychology in 2009, for a degree in special needs and psych nursing. She worked for Maxim Healthcare as a special needs nurse for nine years. She has successfully completed training as a Family Support Specialist. She is the mother of Chris Miller the creator of Captain Spectrum and her son Curtis who is the co-writer for Captain Spectrum, both boys are on the autism spectrum. She took a position with AutismTN working as a HELPLine Advocate after her son Chris was tragically killed. She has a passion for helping others find the resources and support they need as she has been where so many parents are. Crystal lives in Big Rock with her husband of 34 years, their oldest son CJ and their two dogs Mozart and BooBoo. She enjoys spending time with her family, writing, and helping others.