Maryann Welch M.Ed., the Director of the Northeast Family Leadership Program, brings a wealth of experience to her role. As a parent of three children, one of whom has complex needs and is autistic, Maryann is passionate about disability issues. 

She holds a master's degree in education with a focus on literacy and has completed the FCSN Parent Consultant Training Institute and the Wrightslaw Advocacy Bootcamp. Maryann is also a certified Charting the Life Course Ambassador and Foundations Presenter. 

Prior to joining the Northeast Family Leadership Program, she worked as an elementary teacher in both special and regular education settings. Maryann chaired her local SEPAC, was a member of a school site council, and led non-profit organizations. For the past four years, Maryann has served as the Secretary of the Amesbury School Committee, Chair of the Teaching and Learning subcommittee, and member of the budget and finance subcommittee. 

She provides education, leadership training, and mentoring to families with children and adults with disabilities through Riverside Community Care, funded by the Department of Developmental Services.

Karen is a mother of three and an accomplished disability advocate who is passionate about making a positive impact on society. Her credentials include working as a Special Education Advocate, completing FCSN’s Parent Consultant Training Institute, COPAA’s Special Education Advocacy Training 2.0, and the Southeast Family Leadership Series. She is also a certified Charting the Life Course Ambassador. As a SEPAC Co-Chair, Karen received Girls Inc. Taunton's Love of Life award, which recognizes commitment to service and leadership within the community. 

Karen's philosophy is that there are no strangers, only friends she has yet to meet. She believes that one individual can bring about significant change. Her advocacy work is guided by the belief that everyone deserves equal rights and access to opportunities regardless of their abilities.  

She provides education, leadership training, and mentoring to families with children and adults with disabilities through the Nemasket Group, funded by the Department of Developmental Services.

Haran is passionate about education, empowerment, and advocacy. Before becoming the Regional Coordinator of the Central Family Leadership Program, she worked in higher education for over 15 years developing synergistic leadership programs for university honors students from diverse backgrounds. 

Additionally, she served for seven years on the National Honors Collegiate Council's Education of the Gifted Committee, promoting awareness within higher education about how to identify and educate gifted students with learning differences. She is the Co-Chair of her Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), completed the FCSN Parent Consultant Training Institute, and a Charting the Life Course Ambassador. She is also a published poet and artist and holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Critical Theory.   

As an individual with ADHD and a parent of a medically complex child with autism, she relishes empowering others in navigating the complexities of advocacy and systems change. She provides education, leadership training, and mentoring to families with children and adults with disabilities through Multicultural Community Services, funded by Department of Developmental Services.