In 2009, I was part of Student First of Washington, where I became one of the first Student First presidents. During my time as president, I took my very first trip to Olympia Washington to talk to legislators for Advocacy Days. While there, I spoke in front of 1,000 people with disabilities to learn about what kinds of changes they wanted to see from their legislators.

During the past years, I have attended disability conferences and have learned about what the disability world is all about. And I met new friends from all over the world! I have also attended community summits in Wenatchee.

Throughout this journey, I became the People First official DJ and photographer, and then for the last four years, I was the Historian.

Now, 2022. Have courage and just go for it! I became board president. And now I’m ready to accept this position to help us get back on the right path together. Think smarter, not harder. One day at a time!

When you’re having a rough day, give someone a call, go out to eat, have a good laugh, and smile it up a little bit! Give some hugs and cuddles!

Remember, don’t give up this fight!

Bio to Come

I came to the United States from Cambodia when I was 5 years old. I have cerebral palsy. I attended Highline Community College. I am an advocate for people of color who have disabilities. I like to take the bus, act in plays, and Special Olympics soccer.

I am on the board of Open Doors for Multicultural Families, Allies in Advocacy, Developmental Disability Council, Self-Advocates in Leadership, Cambodian Cultural Alliance of Washington, and now am the Vice-President for People First of Washington.

I have always enjoyed being involved in things. My philosophy has been to dive into things, and after I’m in the water, then I put on floaties. I started off becoming part of the policy council of my daughter’s Early Head Start program. This led to being involved with Parent Ambassadors, a program for parents of children ages birth through 8 years old who are on the spectrum. It was a self-advocacy program that encourages members to tell their stories and talk to legislators.

The program also encouraged members to come up with a project that benefits the community. I was particularly curious at people’s reactions to my daughter’s recent autism diagnosis, so I made autism my project focus. I coordinated a panel discussion by bringing together people from the UW and PAVE and other self-advocates. The panel was such a success, Doreen from PAVE suggested making it monthly. So Awesome Autism was born and is still going strong. It’s mostly for parents to talk about issues and celebrations surrounding parenting children on the spectrum.

It was Doreen who also recommended People First and I became a member of the Pierce County Chapter in 2016. I’ve served as secretary, and also helped recruit people. I’ve gotten to know Tanika—and Ivanova, Robert, Josey and our other chapter members have become close friends.

After attending my first People First Convention—the 2020 convention in Spokane—I knew right away that I wanted to be a part of the bigger organization. In the past, I’ve struggled some with anxiety around not being able to spell or write that well, but our family’s motto is “Try, and try again and if that doesn’t work, try again!” So, I decided to not let the anxiety control me anymore, and at the Ellensburg Convention, charged ahead and self-advocated, making sure all the board members knew who I was, and that I wanted to serve as board secretary.

Over these past years being involved, People First has really shown me what community and inclusion really mean and has helped me more fully understand what people with disabilities go through. Seeing how people with disabilities are treated makes me feel kind of feisty, so I’m very excited about being on the board and working to improve the lives of folks in the disability community.

I’m married and have an 8-year-old daughter. We live in Lakewood with our cat, Donnie Darko, an orange tabby who loves to give actual hugs.

You can reach me at: kissredwolf@yahoo.com.  

Hi, my name is Mark Sitler. I am a good person. I like to help people and I am a self-advocate. I live independently in my own apartment in Olympia Washington, in the west side. I am the Vice President of the Thurston County chapter. My passion is that I want to close down the institutions (Residential Habilitation Centers). They do not belong. We deserve to live free like everyone else. I love meeting new people and making new friends. I am very social and I love learning new things.

I am excited and honored to be serving the People First of Washington family for the next 3 years from 2021 to 2024 as Treasurer of the state board of directors of People First of Washington. I want to be the members voice. If you have any questions or requests for the state board, you can email me at: ghostlvr2004@gmail.com.  

Thank you for your votes. I will do my best to serve the membership.

Hey! My name is Robert M. Wardell and I live in Tacoma Washington. I am a self-advocate and am passionate on closing institutions (Residential Habilitation Centers). I am involved with People First and am a member of the Pierce County chapter. I wear many hats! I am the vice president of my local chapter and I am also a member of SAIL (Self-Advocates in Leadership). I served on the board for Passport for Change and am now the Historian for the state board of People First of Washington. I am honored to serve as one of the state leaders of our great organization.

If any member of People First of Washington wishes to give ideas or request something from the state board, you can email me at:
wardell2017@yahoo.com.  

Thank you and God Bless.

Hi, my name is Kieran. I am now the Region 1 representative after serving as the first-ever elected Student First rep who served on the People First of Washington State board. I heard of People First through my school and I was inspired to join my local People First chapter in Spokane. Now I am representing my region.

I am a community leader and I am here to make sure your voice is heard. If you wish to contact me, please email me at craig@pfow.org.  

I became involved with the disability community during the 20 years I lived in Eugene, Oregon. The group I belonged to there had twice monthly meetings, and I also traveled to Salem to talk to legislators there. I believe very strongly in taking action and educating Congress on the wishes and needs of disabled people. I like the group aspect of working together with others in the intellectual and developmental disability community. We are stronger this way, and the more people who make their voices heard, the better. We have lots of issues to solve!

My biggest desire is to see the law changed that prohibits people with disabilities from keeping their disability benefits if they marry a non-disabled person. Lots of people don’t know this, and I would like to educate others on this, as well as ultimately get that law changed.

I joined People First in 2022, and was elected as Region 2 Rep at the Convention in Ocean Shores. I look forward to being there for the disabled community and taking your thoughts and issues to the board, so that we can focus on solutions and move ahead in making our lives better.

People outside of the disability community need to know we are regular people like they are, and come from all different backgrounds, and deserve to live independent lives just as they do. We need to educate them on what services we need that will allow us to have better jobs and training that will lead to more independence.

I am a friendly and caring person, and want everyone to feel comfortable reaching out and letting me know what is on their minds. I would like to help people get better in expressing their needs, and would like to encourage others to also speak to their legislators to make real change.

I live in Clarkston, Washington with three dogs (a husky, border collie, and a Labrador) and one cat. I enjoy camping and reading.

I look forward to being the voice of Region 2. Please reach out to me and let me know your thoughts. If you email me your phone number, I'd be happy to call you. You can reach me at: julialynch43@yahoo.com  

I have lived in Washington, and Whidbey Island in particular, off and on my whole life. I have been a member of People First since about 2014 or so. I have been president of my local Island Chapter in the past, and currently serve as the Vice President.

The conventions are very memorable for me. I have met a couple of my best friends at the Conventions. I consider my People First friends as part of my family, and talk with some of them almost daily. I live on my own, but like to hang out with friends. We do things together on a regular basis like watch movies, bowl in a weekly league, participate in the Special Olympics, and have a twice-monthly Circle of Friends get-together.

People First is very important to me because I like to help out others where I can.

I can talk over email at mikegantala@gmail.com  

Hello, My name is Eric Matthes. I’m a member of People First of Washington, Self-Advocates in Leadership and the Chapter President of the King County Champions Chapter.

I work for the Arc of King County as a Community Advocacy Coordinator, and love my job (13 years with the Arc!). I am also a Board member of People First of Washington and Disability Rights Washington.

I have my own apartment that I call my home. I enjoy watching movies, playing video games, and walking in my neighborhood. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to me. Ensuring I have and maintain a meaningful life is important to me, this includes cooking my own meals from home, and connecting with friends by phone, FaceTime, or zoom for my pleasure. I love my life, and being an advocate!

You can email me at: kingcountychampionschapter@gmail.com  

I'm Courtney Thom. I have been with People First Of Washington for 12 years and am still going strong. I'm a member of SAIL (Self Advocates in Leadership) and I'm the President of the Lewis County Chapter, and I'm an officer on the National Council of Self Advocates (NCSA). I am involved in the Special Olympics advocacy committee, and the Athlete leadership program. My hobbies and interests are competing in Special Olympics. The sports I do are Powerlifting, Swimming, Golf, Cheerleading and Bowling, and I love volunteering for Special Olympics.

I am very outgoing and I love meeting new people and making new friends. I love learning new things. I am very passionate about ending the marriage penalty and shutting down the institutions (Residential Habilitation Centers). I would like to see the caps on SSI and SSDI increased. I want to be the voice of our members. I am honored to serve as the Region 6 Representative of our great organization. I'll stand by you always.

I can be reached at: lovedolphin504@gmail.com  
or you can call or text me at (360) 970-0490)  

Hi! I’m Aaron, and I'm excited to be on the board as the new Student First representative. I am in my second year with Student First, and also serve as the Vice President of the People First Lilac Chapter. I enjoyed attending the convention in Ocean Shores last year.

I ran for Student First representative because I’ve been told that I work well with other students, and that others look to me for taking action on things. I feel people with disabilities often don’t have a real voice, and it’s my desire to help them get their voices heard more loudly and more often. I live with my sister and our four dogs in Cheney, and enjoy taking walks and playing video games. I am a communicative person and want students to know they can come to me if they have any problems or if they need someone to talk to.

You can reach me at: aaronbrammer27@gmail.com.