LAVERDIA TAYLOR ROACH, Acting Executive Director

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Laverdia Taylor Roach earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education and Speech Pathology and Audiology from Southern University and A&M College, and a Master of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Her professional career began as Assistant Professor of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Southern University. Mrs. Roach began her career in Federal Government in 1970, and has assumed responsibilities that include: serving as Program Assistant in the Developmental Disabilities Office, where she helped write regulations governing implementation of the Developmental Disabilities Act and served as Acting Chief of the University-Affiliated Facilities Branch; serving as PCPID Prevention Program Specialist/Project Officer responsible for initiating and facilitating planning, coordination and implementation of PCPID initiatives in the area of prevention; serving on Administration transition teams; serving as Special Assistant to the PCPID Executive Director; and often serving as Acting Executive Director of The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, responsible for day-to-day staff administrative, managerial and programmatic functions and collaborating with both Department and constituency group officials.

From 1994 until 1999, Mrs. Roach served as Project Officer for the PCPID (formerly PCMR) initiative to plan and implement five annual National Collaborative Academies on Mental Retardation and Related Disabilities. She also serves on numerous Federal ad hoc groups and task forces concerned with disabilities. Mrs. Roach is the PCPID representative to the National Child Health and Human Development Advisory Committee; Honorary National Chairperson of the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center Prevention Commission; and Chairperson of the Southern University Special Education Advisory Council. She holds membership in national and local organizations including the American Association on Mental Retardation, the American Speech, Hearing and Language Association, the Art and Drama Therapy Institute, Phi Delta Kappa, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has been recognized for outstanding government service and named an “Outstanding Woman of America.”

SHEILA WHITTAKER, Administrative/Budget Officer

Sheila Whittaker started her Federal career in 1979 with the U.S. Department of Labor as an Intern from Mt. Ida Jr. College, Newton Center, Massachusetts , where she received her Associate's Degree in Human Services in May, 1983. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Southeastern University in 1996 and a Master of Science degree in Public Management from the University of the District of Columbia in 1998.

From 1983 –1987, Ms. Whittaker worked in the Office of General Counsel, Inspector General Office as a Claim Examiner for the Office of Appeals. In 1987, her career began at the Administration for Children and Families where she continues to work today. Ms. Whittaker worked in the Office of Refugee Resettlement from 1987-1989. From 1989–1997 she worked as a Budget Assistant within the Office of Budget and Legislation Affairs, ACF. Ms. Whittaker started her career within PCMR (now PCPID) in 1997 as PCMR's Administrative/Budget Officer.

Ms. Whittaker is responsible for logistical and administrative services for all Presidential appointees to The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities; and for the provision of technical advice, guidance and support to management in administrative and budget services.

Ms. Whittaker's key responsibilities include the preparation of the annual PCPID budget, and accounting for all costs and expenses incurred by PCPID.

MADJID (MJ) KARIMI, Executive Director Assistant

Madjid (MJ) Karimi became the Executive Director Assistant to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities on April 2, 2007. He received an AA in Pre-Medicine and AS in Environmental Science and Policy from Montgomery College; BS in Health Care Management from Southern Illinois University; and a MBA in Public Administration and Policy from the University of Phoenix.

He has written articles on "Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness" published in both English and Persian. In 2007, he was a Medical Coordinator for HIV patients at the Washington Hospital Center. From 1999 to 2004, Mr. Karimi served as Research Data Analyst and Quality Control Manager to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Drug Registration and Listing (DRLS).

Due to the bioterrorism threats to the pharmaceutical ingredients and drug products, he reviewed and fixed over 10,000 drug entries at the agency's database to ensure their accuracy and safety. Mr. Karimi is a member of the American Cancer Society and International Honor Society of the United States Colleges and Universities.

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