Tech Ambassadors are selected based on their qualities of enthusiasm, leadership, communication and accessibility. Ambassadors represent five regions of the state, including central, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest Ohio. Some events include all Ambassadors, while regional events focus on Ambassadors from that specific area. There are no limits to which events people may attend. As representatives, Ambassadors are expected to follow the Tech Ambassador Code.
Tech Ambassador Code
I am a Tech Ambassador. I strive to do and to be each of these things every day!
- I am a leader. I lead by example, speak up as an advocate and promote the use of appropriate technologies in all aspects of life.
- I am a listener. I listen to my peers and try to understand them beyond their words.
- I am a communicator. I am comfortable with myself and this helps me be comfortable talking to others.
- I am knowledgeable. I constantly learn technologies and how they can best be used to improve independence.
- I am creative. I think on many levels for possible solutions for my peers and others.
- I am accessible. I am visible to my community and easy to reach.
- I am responsible. I follow up with my peers and others who reach out to me after and in between events.
- I am relatable. I talk with my peers as equals, including both my successes and struggles in my story.
Meet the Ambassadors!
Tech Ambassador Profiles
Christopher Cooley
Christopher Cooley is a legally blind and deaf person from Portsmouth, Ohio, whose life is greatly enhanced by the use of his service dog, a three-year-old golden retriever named Larkin. A former student at the Helen Keller Institute, he appreciates life and believes in having fun, always enjoying meeting new people and making new friends. Chris is not only a positive person who dreams big, he is also big on standing up for the rights of disabled people and bringing awareness about disabilities and service dogs. As a result of his work with Ohio Representatives and Senators, in May 2016 Ohio Bill 121 passed in the 131st General Assembly, making Ohio the first state in the U.S. to have a “Service Dog Awareness Week,” which happens the last week of July each year.
Chris is also passionate about remote support technologies and the role they play in helping people with disabilities to live more independent lives. One of his favorites sayings is, “If you set your mind to do something you can do it, and I will be the first to show that as folks with disabilities, we can do it — maybe we have to do it differently, but we can do it.” This attitude shines through as Chris encourages his peers to use technology and advocates for businesses to accommodate people with disabilities.
Lauren Huff
Lauren Huff is one of our new Ohio Tech Ambassadors. She lives with her husband, Tanner, in Lawrence county, Ohio. She was diagnosed with a genetic condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 2 around the age of 13 months old. Lauren’s condition requires her to rely mostly on caregivers, family and friends to assist her with most of her everyday needs. Beginning at a young age, she learned to rely on caregivers for assistance with everything from picking up a pencil on the floor to transferring from her bed into her wheelchair.
Although her dependence on caregivers will most likely never cease completely, she uses more technologies these days and looks into a variety of options with her husband so they both can live as independently as possible.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a slow-progressing disease with a more positive outlook these days than long before with the help of advancements in technology. There are various challenges of living with a slow-progressing condition, however, Lauren views her work, her experiences and the people she has been introduced to, due to living with SMA, as the bright side to living with her disability.
Lauren is thankful to have a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Ohio University Southern. She knows that without the support from her family and friends, she wouldn’t be as likely to possess many of the means that are available. Her support system has actively educated themselves from the beginning of her diagnosis and continue to do so now. They have fought alongside and encouraged her to obtain the proper care throughout her public school years into adulthood. Lauren knows that not everyone is as fortunate, therefore, she hopes to use her experiences to educate other individuals with disabilities including their families to find the technology they need to thrive and live more independently within their communities.
She is excited to share more of her story and information about the technology and resources she uses in her everyday life.
Lauren believes in the brilliance and resilience of the disabled community, not only to use technology for independence, but to overcome the ridiculous barriers that society places on her and other individuals with disabilities.
One of Lauren’s favorite quotes is from Denise Jacobson, an educator on disabilities and author. The quote is from the documentary on Netflix called, “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution”. Mrs. Jacobson’s quote states, “The ADA was a wonderful achievement. But it was only a tiny tip of the iceberg. You can pass a law, but until you change society’s attitudes, that law won’t mean much.”
Jen Schlegel
Jen Schlegel wears a lot of hats. She is a recent Ohio State University Alumna and President’s Prize Fellow, a Biomedical Engineer with patents pending, a Camelback Ventures fellow, and a certified Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator. She owns an accessibility technology startup company, Beenabled, that has two active projects under development: Handicom and 119. Handicom is a software/mobile application that facilitates the connection between ideas and written work. Its finger-tap interface helps individuals with limited manual dexterity to import homework, images, diagrams, equations and more. 119 is a subscription-based service for smartwatches or smartphones that helps the chronic illness community reduce the number of 911 calls made on their behalf.
Jen has also contributed to efforts being made by DriveOhio, an initiative within the Ohio Department of Transportation, that aims to organize and accelerate smart vehicle and connected vehicle projects in the State of Ohio.
In her spare time, Jen enjoys learning and creating new things – a peer has called her The Idea Fountain! On a typical day, you can find her surrounded by whiteboards and 3D printers. Her life is made more interesting everyday by disability and chronic illness starring cerebral palsy and dysautonomia with a dozen other guest stars that require tubes, wheels, and machines.
Marci Straughter
Marci Straughter lives in Franklin County but is originally from California, where she attended acting classes at the Performing Arts School West before moving to Ohio. She represents the Franklin County Board of DD’s Self Advocate Advisory Council with Superintendent Jed Morrison. A strong believer in advocacy, she is a Project STIR Statewide Trainer and has trained over 100 people in the state of Ohio to speak up for themselves and has helped them become Ohio leaders.
Marci was appointed by Governor Kasich to the Ohio DD Council in April 2014 and just completed her second term. She is the Chairwoman for the Advisory Committee for her provider, Ohio at Home, and is a member of the Board for The Council of Ohio Leaders (COOL). COOL serves as an advisory board for the Ohio Self Determination Association. Most recently, Marci was asked to be a part of the APSI and We Thrive Together boards. She has also been asked to serve on the I am Boundless board, a larger provider in Ohio. Marci is also excited to be a part of the ISP workgroup that is working to create a standard ISP for the state. Marci greatly enjoys cooking and has a Facebook page called Marci’s “Keep It Cookin” Cookbook!
Phill Kirk
Phill Kirk is from Licking County, loves music, and can often be heard by neighbors playing his drums.
Phil loves his remote support provider and is thankful for their help turning his house into a smart home, which includes a smart lock, smart lights, a smart thermostat, smart security cameras, a voice assistant, and more. His new favorite device is his WeWalk Smart Cane.
Tanner Huff
Tanner Huff is a passionate advocate for accessibility who has used technology to assist him for 22 of his 29 years. Tanner has proud memories of his earliest advocacy experience in Chesapeake, Ohio, where he gave a presentation to his district’s school board after meeting with the engineer who had designed the high school and identified where it needed accessibility improvements. Tanner’s efforts resulted in his school district receiving a $250,000 grant to make its buildings accessible. After this came other changes at Marshall University and at OU’s Proctorville and Ironton campuses where ramps, walkways and restrooms were made accessible at Tanner’s urging while he has worked on a degree in Human Service Technologies.
Tanner, who now lives in Ironton, Ohio, has volunteered at Mountain State Centers for Independent Living, where he worked with people who have either autism or mental health issues. He has also served as an advisor to RCBI, where he assisted in them with the accessibility of their Maker Vault product, which is hardware and software that enables people without engineering backgrounds to design high end professional equipment. Tanner is looking forward to continuing this effort once COVID-19 has passed as well as his hobbies of four wheeling and car shows. He is still pursuing his local school district about the accessibility of the football stadium!
Andrea Patrick
Andrea Patrick, a new proud member of the Ohio Tech Ambassador team! Residing in Lake County, Ohio, Andrea’s journey has been uniquely shaped by her experience with Nemaline Rod Myopathy, a genetic condition that impacts her muscles. Diagnosed at just one year old, Andrea has learned to thrive with the support of her dedicated nurses, caregivers, family, and friends.
Technology plays a crucial role in Andrea’s daily life, enabling her to embrace independence. With the help of essential devices such as a ventilator, feeding pump, and power wheelchair, she navigates her world with confidence. Her passion for smart tech drives her ongoing exploration of new technologies that can further enhance her independence at home.
We Thrive Together has been instrumental in helping Andrea gain her skills in smart technology and virtual programming. Through this program, she has become proficient in essential computer work, including Zoom and scheduling virtual trips and animal safaris. Participating in We Thrive Together full time during COVID inspired her to pursue a career in Hospitality and Tourism, aiming to become an event planner or program coordinator.
Andrea is truly honored to have been offered the Ohio Tech Ambassador position, a role she has eagerly wanted for quite some time. She is excited to collaborate with her favorite boss, Steve Pelton, while continuing her work as a program coordinator for We Thrive Together. In this role, Andrea coordinates virtual trips and animal safaris, contributes to Advocacy Wednesdays, and Share your Stories. As she embraces her new position as a Tech Ambassador, Andrea looks forward to promoting the benefits of technology within the community.
In her spare time, Andrea loves to sing, do crafts, and hang out with her close friends. She also enjoys exploring Ohio’s museums, attending musicals, and playing baseball with the Miracle League of Lake County, where she’s proud to be part of the A’s team. Additionally, she serves on the board for Theatre Agápe, participating in an adaptive production of a musical. Her first MainStage lead role was Jojo in *Seussical the Musical* last November. A member of Superheroes to Kids in Ohio, Andrea dresses up as a superhero or princess to bring random acts of kindness to those facing adversity at various events. She also loves to travel and explore tourist attractions. Notably, she is the Miracle League Miss National Anthem Star, singing the National Anthem across Northeast Ohio.
As a Tech Ambassador, she is eager to inspire others to discover how technology can empower individuals and foster independence. Let’s work together to create a more inclusive and supportive community!
Michael Yeamans
I am Michael Yeamans, and I am studying at Sinclair Community College for a
degree in cybersecurity. I am getting a double major for my NSA certification and my Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate. I am also CompTIA A+ certified and will be CompTIA Network+ certified soon. I have been on the Dean’s list for 3 consecutive terms, and I have a 4.0 GPA. I am scheduled to graduate in Spring 2026.
When I am not on my computer, I enjoy building Legos and spending time with family and friends. I love going to vacation destinations and eating at new restaurants. I love my smart home tech and the options they provide. My biggest dream is to start a cybersecurity firm and to employ people with developmental disabilities and to pay them a living and fair wage.
I believe people with disabilities are often overlooked and forgotten about what they can do. I was told by many doctors and people that think they know more about me than myself that I would never succeed in the workforce or for that matter go to college and I work everyday to prove them wrong about the disabled community. I have two dogs that live at my parent’s house – two cavalier king Charles spaniels named Sadie and Thatcher, and they are always eager to see me when I visit.
Evan Flanders
Evan became Summit DD’s first SMART Home Tech Champion and provided weekly tours to peers with developmental disabilities, community partners, and more. Evan said, “I used to not see myself as someone with a disability. I separated myself from them in my mind. Now that I have met so many others through my tours, I realize we are all the same and we can help one another!”
Evan shares his experience using technology and how he is able to do many more daily tasks on his own. Evan makes people feel comfortable and really tries to understand what assistive technology can offer each person.
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