David founded Perspectives in 1977. Prior to that he was a home Director, a house parent, and worked in a variety of human service areas. He has spent his entire professional career beginning in 1972 working with people with disabilities. David has a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Bachelors in Social Service. His belief in the right of everyone to live in and be part of the community regardless of disability has driven Perspective’s Philosophy from the start.

Judy has been with Perspectives since 1988, in the capacity of Assistant Executive Director. Judy’s role consists of supervising the Administrative Leadership team and the Clinical team as well as running the day to day operations of the agency.

Judy has provided significant contributions to the agency by developing new and unique services such as Youth & Family Services, Transitional School Services, Therapeutic Summer Program, while enhancing Vocational Development Services and creating unique living situations.

Judy's focus has been to work with significantly behaviorally challenged individuals.

 

 

Peter began working in the field of developmental disabilities as a sheltered workshop supervisor in 1977, subsequently moving into residential work as a Direct Support Professional. Peter became the Director of a group home for eight men in Newport, Rhode Island in 1980. Six years later, Peter received the call to move into administrative work, where he has been ever since. He has been with Perspectives since 1998.

Among his myriad of responsibilities, Peter manages all of the properties owned or occupied by Perspectives, and coordinates all of the transportation needs for the agency, including vehicle acquisition, insurance, and maintenance. Peter is also Perspectives' Safety Officer, and delivers regular training sessions in home management and safety, environmental resources, and safe driving.

Amy began working at Perspectives Corporation in September 2006, as one of the HR Department Heads. Currently, her disciplines are in Recruitment and Hiring and Workers Compensation. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Administration of Justice with concentrations in court administration and law enforcement and an Associates Degree in Philosophy. She has taken several courses on the Graduate Level for HR Management and holds a Human Resources Certificate from Roger Williams University.

Prior to working at Perspectives, Amy had worked in Human Resources specifically in health and mental health centers in RI and MA having extensive responsibilities with JCAHO accreditation.

Mary began her career in Human Service in 1978 after graduating from URI with a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Human Science and Services. Mary worked at the Adeline LaPlante Center, teaching independent living skills to a group of people who would soon be moving to a new group home on Circle Dr. in No. Kingstown. Mary began working for Dave Ruppell as the house on Circle Dr. opened in 1980 and also worked at the Kenyon Ave. and Rodman St. programs until leaving the Agency in 1984 to raise a family and begin work in the Human Resources field.

Mary was fortunate to return to Perspectives Corporation in 1995 as the Benefit Coordinator, working at the Main Office as the company grew from 250 to 850+ employees. Mary received her Human Resource Certificate from Roger Williams University in 2000 and has always made excellent customer service for the employees of Perspectives Corporation her top priority.

Kate is a graduate of the College of Holy Cross, with a degree in Psychology and has also obtained her Human Resource Certificate from Bryant University. Kate joined Perspectives in 2003, as the agency Receptionist, having been employed previously by Lifespan. Kate was promoted in 2006 to HR Assistant where she had the opportunity to contribute to the HR Dept in the areas of interviewing and training. Kate's most recent promotion to the Director of HR-Training and Project Depts will utilize her organizational, time management, and leadership skills.

Julie began with Perspectives Corporation in January of 1994, as the Secretary for the main office. Several years later, she joined the Finance Department and later managed the Administrative Assistant Team. She has performed a variety of duties through the years, from answering the telephone, to processing payroll, taking on the role of Department Head and is currently a Project Coordinator for the Agency.

Brian began working at Perspectives in September 2008. He is a graduate of Gibbs College, with a degree in Computer Science and comes with 10 years of experience in the IT field.

His contributions to the agency include a complete overhaul of all servers, computers, printers, scanners, fax machines, and the network as well as implementation of a virtual private network and wireless technology at every office and program location. The rollout of laptops along with the VPN has increased efficiency of remote employees who can now work in the field.

The fall of 2009 wasDale's 28th year with Perspectives. In 1981, Dale began as a part time Direct Support Professional at Heritage while working full time at LaPlante Center. She was hired as the Director of Circle Drive, a position she enjoyed for several years. In the early 1990s she had the opportunity to open a new home, Crestwood Drive. Her next experience was extremely challenging and a unique learning experience, Dale was hired as the Director of both Crestwood and Kings Factory and ran them simultaneously. These experiences, the talented, wonderful people Dale worked with and had the pleasure to serve prepared her for her current leadership position.

Casey started at East Greenwich group home in June 1991 as a fill-in and became full-time direct care three months later. In March 1993 Casey became one of 2 assistant directors at East Greenwich group home; couple of months later, Casey also applied for and became a psychologist assistant, a position that he held concurrently with his AD position. In July 1994, he became the director of Crestwood Drive. In 1996, he opened Moonstone Beach Road (first one) and served as a director both this program and Crestwood. In 1998, Moonstone Beach Road became Whipple and Casey continued on as Director, adding Riverview and leaving Crestwood. In November of 1998, a temporary Administrator position was posted; he applied and was hired. The position became permanent a few months later.

Nancy started with Perspectives in July of 1997. She began her career at Perspectives with the Transitional School Services. Then was hired as an Assistant Director in the summer of 1998 with the TSS program. Next she was hired as the Director of the Coventry Program [Adult Day Services] in the fall of 1998. In the summer of 2000, Nancy was hired as an Administrator overseeing both residential and adult day services. Nancy graduated from RIC in 1990 with a BS in Early Childhood Education-Language Arts Concentration. Nancy has been an originating member of the Facilitator's Forum since April 1999. The Facilitator's Forum is a group that welcomes members from all facets of service provision throughout the State that comes together to share skills, ideas and experiences around facilitation.

In addition, Nancy is a Leadership Rhode Island alumni from the Beta II class of 2006.

Kim attended the University of Rhode Island. She started working at Perspectives Corporation in 1989 as a job coach at Alternatives Job Placement Center. While finishing her degree in Psychology at URI, Kim advanced her career through the years from direct support (at AJPC and Mockingbird Group Home) to various management positions (at Westerly Group Home, Circle Drive Group Home, Mockingbird Group Home and Spindrift Day/Vocational Program). Kim was promoted in 2003 as an Administrator and currently oversees Perspectives Adult Day Services and Adult Residential Non 24 Services programs.

Christine came to work for Perspectives in 1999. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, attended Northeastern University's Masters in Applied Behavioral Analysis program and received her Masters Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with thirty years of experience working with adults who have developmental disabilities and significant behavioral challenges. In 2002 she completed intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); applying this cognitive behavioral approach to those who have behavioral issues related to impulsivity and emotional regulation. Christine has worked in a variety of residential, day and outpatient settings in Rhode Island and Massachusetts but finds her home here at Perspectives because of the agency's deep commitment to core values that support best clinical practice.

Deb Harbin RNBC graduated from URI in 1991 earning a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing. She worked for several years at the VA Hospital in West Haven CT, starting out in neurology and later transferring to psychiatry.

Deb started working for Perspectives part time in 1995, eventually leaving the hospital to work full time at Perspectives. She has board certification as a Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse since 1996. She has personal experience in the human services field, as she and her husband, Marc, have eight children, several who have developmental disabilities.

Brenda has been an employee of Perspectives Corporation since 1994 when she began as a Direct Support Professional for the adult residential services. In 1998, Brenda graduated from Rhode Island College with a Masters in Social Work, and began working with a team at Perspectives to develop the Youth and Family Services division. Since that time, the Youth division has expanded to include a variety of services to support children diagnosed with special health care needs.

Sean began working for Perspectives Corporation in April 2000, as a clinical supervisor in the children's home-based treatment program. Along the way, he gained administrative responsibilities over Youth and Family Services as the Division began to expand. Sean became a full time Administrator in 2004 for this division. He accomplished his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Vermont and his masters degree from the University of Miami in Mental Health Counseling. At this time Sean carries licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Prior to working at Perspectives, Sean was an outpatient therapist in Miami, Florida and for five years in Fall River, MA. Overall, his professional experience has involved working with clients of all ages, providing psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and groups. As a native Rhode Islander it has been a pleasure for Sean to be a professional in the Perspectives family serving the Rhode Island community.

Jim has been providing clinical services to the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing community since 1995 when he began working as a school counselor at the Center on Deafness in Northbrook, Illinois. A native Rhode Islander, Jim received his bachelor degrees in both psychology and theater while attending the University of Rhode Island. Jim later received his Master’s in Social Work degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2001 and worked as an administrator with Mental Health & Deafness Resources, Inc., until moving back to Rhode Island in 2003. Jim currently works as the Clinical Director with Perspectives Corporation, Youth & Family Services Program, and serves as a Commissioner with the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing. Jim recently became certified as an Expressive Arts Facilitator through Salve Regina University and is excited to be integrating alternative forms of artistic expression as an adjunct to his daily psychotherapy practice.

Martha began working for the Outpatient Clinic at Perspectives Corporation in July 2010. She has over 25 years experience working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in a variety of settings. Ms. Brunzos received her Master’s degree from Gallaudet University in 1990, in Counseling with the Hearing Impaired. Following graduate school, she served as an individual, group and family therapist at the Walden School program located at The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, Massachusetts for six years. After relocating to Providence, she worked as a part-time clinical consultant providing counseling and behavior consultation at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf for 10 years. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) she specializes in the treatment of trauma. This treatment includes her training in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) for which she has received intensive training. She is fluent in ASL (American Sign Language) and specializes in working with clients who have language delays combined with additional clinical diagnoses.

Rachel has been a Clinical Supervisor with Perspectives’ Deaf & Hard of Hearing program since 2010. Rachel was raised as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) by her Deaf parents in Rochester, New York. Rachel was brought up in Rochester by the Deaf community, CODA's and was exposed to the hearing culture through school, and social events. Rachel received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Daemen College, Buffalo New York in 2003 and later received her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Connecticut in 2006. At the Univeristy of Connectitucut, Rachel majored in Group Work practice and minored in Women, Children & Families studies. Rachel is a skilled American Sign Language and has an interest in expanding her work with groups in both outpatient and home-based therapeutic services.

In May 2005 Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhode Island College, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Management. Rachel has been an employee of Perspectives Corporation since February 2007 when she began as a Behavior Specialist and Lead Therapist for the Early Intensive Behavior Intervention team within the Youth and Family Division. In January 2008 Rachel began to learn American Sign Language through classes offered at the agency. In July 2008 Rachel became the Treatment Coordinator for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing team within the Youth and Family Division. Rachel works with a team of Clinical Supervisors, Lead Therapists, and Behavior Specialists to support children who have a hearing loss or are part of a family where one or more of the members have a hearing loss. These children have developmental disabilities and/or behavioral challenges that require assistance with communication, social skills, and daily living skills. Rachel contributes to the team by analyzing data, writing reports, supporting Behavior Specialists in the home, and working with Clinical Supervisors to provide individualized curriculum and behavior programs for each client.

Gerlany has been providing supportive services to the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing community since 2009 when she began working as a Behavior Specialist with Perspectives Corporation, Youth & Family Services Program in Rhode Island. Gerlany was born in the country of Colombia and has been living in Rhode Island since 1994. Gerlany received her bachelor degrees in Communicative Disorders and Spanish both while attending the University of Rhode Island. Gerlany is currently attending Simmons College in Boston, MA pursuing her Master?s degree in Social Work. Gerlany has also done work as a Lead Therapist and is currently working as a Treatment Coordinator with Perspectives Corporation within the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Program.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Heather graduated from Rhode Island School for the Deaf, along with a part-time mainstream experience. A native ASL user, Heather started working for Perspectives in 2007 as a Behavior Specialist and began working intensively with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in the Home-Based Therapeutic Services program in addition to the Therapeutic Classroom for the Deaf. Eventually, she became the Program Manger of the D/HOH HBTS program, and is currently teaching ASL. A dedicated advocate for the Deaf, Heather is involved with the Rhode Island Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She is also the Vice President for the Rhode Island Association for the Deaf and contributes to the community as a Commissioner with the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf & Hard of Hearing.

Heather graduated from the National Technical Institute from the Deaf and has been working as an American Sign Language Interpreter since 2007. She has experience in mental health, post-secondary education, video relay service and the medical sectors. She holds her National Interpreters Certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as well as being involved in professional organizations. Heather has served on a committee through the RID as well as holding both vice president and president positions for the Rhode Island Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She has also taught ASL at Perspectives Corporation since 2010. You can catch Heather sporadically around the offices and various programs at Perspectives Corporation.

Sean began working for Perspectives Corporation in April 2000, as a clinical supervisor in the children's home-based treatment program. Along the way, he gained administrative responsibilities over Youth and Family Services as the Division began to expand. Sean became a full time Administrator in 2004 for this division. He accomplished his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Vermont and his masters degree from the University of Miami in Mental Health Counseling. At this time Sean carries licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Prior to working at Perspectives, Sean was an outpatient therapist in Miami, Florida and for five years in Fall River, MA. Overall, his professional experience has involved working with clients of all ages, providing psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and groups. As a native Rhode Islander it has been a pleasure for Sean to be a professional in the Perspectives family serving the Rhode Island community.