leadership
Medical Liaison
Dr. Stephen Kinsman, a Pediatric Neurologist, is the Dyspraxia Foundation USA’s first Medical Liaison. He has extensive experience helping children with Dyspraxia and has a newly diagnosed grandson. He will be engaged in our mission to raise awareness, especially in the medical community.
Stephen L. Kinsman, M.D.
Medical Liaison
Bachelor of Arts at Columbia College and MD at SUNY at Buffalo in Buffalo New York
Practiced Pediatric Neurology in many settings, including running a few divisions, participating in many research projects, and National Leadership and Advocacy with The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA). Now a Physician Case Reviewer for Magellan Healthcare. Has been interested in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Dyspraxia for over 20 years.
Active as a husband, father and step-father, grandfather, and “down the block” son-in-law, to his wife’s aging parents (one of whom has a neurologic illness and disability).
Grandson was diagnosed with DCD and Dyspraxia and his daughter’s research for knowledge, resources and support led their family to Dyspraxia USA.
leadership
Medical Liaison
Dr. Stephen Kinsman, a Pediatric Neurologist, is the Dyspraxia Foundation USA’s first Medical Liaison. He has extensive experience helping children with Dyspraxia and has a newly diagnosed grandson. He will be engaged in our mission to raise awareness, especially in the medical community.
Stephen L. Kinsman, M.D.
Medical Liaison
Bachelor of Arts at Columbia College and MD at SUNY at Buffalo in Buffalo New York
Practiced Pediatric Neurology in many settings, including running a few divisions, participating in many research projects, and National Leadership and Advocacy with The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA). Now a Physician Case Reviewer for Magellan Healthcare. Has been interested in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Dyspraxia for over 20 years.
Active as a husband, father and step-father, grandfather, and “down the block” son-in-law, to his wife’s aging parents (one of whom has a neurologic illness and disability).
Grandson was diagnosed with DCD and Dyspraxia and his daughter’s research for knowledge, resources and support led their family to Dyspraxia USA.
Educational Liaison
Nirali Maru, an Occupational Therapist, is Dyspraxia Foundation USA’s Educational Liaison. She is a highly passionate neurodiversity affirming therapist and has extensive experience in working with children.
Nirali Maru, OTR/L
Educational Liaison
Bachelor in Occupational Therapy and MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management. She is a certified Autism Specialist and a handwriting specialist.
Experienced in varied settings including early intervention, child development, schools, neurorehabilitation and academia. She serves as a Regional Director for Occupational Therapy Association of California, a School based Occupational Therapist, Founder & President of an Education Technology start up and a nominated cadre for California Autism Professionals Training and Information network. Nirali has been passionately working with children for over 12+ years. She is on a journey of building a proactive neurodiverse learning system for children across the world.
Currently resides in California, nature lover, happily cruising through life with her neurodiverse partner.
Nirali has a great zeal for building a solid foundation and paving the pathway to learning that works best for every child. Praxis is a crucial foundational piece in the pyramid of learning. Difficulties with this piece affect all higher tiers of learning. Numerous children struggle with dyspraxia and families have a difficult time figuring out this hidden condition.
Educational Liaison
Nirali Maru, an Occupational Therapist, is Dyspraxia Foundation USA’s Educational Liaison. She is a highly passionate neurodiversity affirming therapist and has extensive experience in working with children.
Nirali Maru, OTR/L
Educational Liaison
Bachelor in Occupational Therapy and MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management. She is a certified Autism Specialist and a handwriting specialist.
Experienced in varied settings including early intervention, child development, schools, neurorehabilitation and academia. She serves as a Regional Director for Occupational Therapy Association of California, a School based Occupational Therapist, Founder & President of an Education Technology start up and a nominated cadre for California Autism Professionals Training and Information network. Nirali has been passionately working with children for over 12+ years. She is on a journey of building a proactive neurodiverse learning system for children across the world.
Currently resides in California, nature lover, happily cruising through life with her neurodiverse partner.
Nirali has a great zeal for building a solid foundation and paving the pathway to learning that works best for every child. Praxis is a crucial foundational piece in the pyramid of learning. Difficulties with this piece affect all higher tiers of learning. Numerous children struggle with dyspraxia and families have a difficult time figuring out this hidden condition.
Board of Directors
Each member of the Board of Directors shares the common goal of bringing Dyspraxia Awareness to the United States and beyond. They have all been impacted by Dyspraxia and hope to offer support and services to others.
Warren Fried
Founder & Board President
University College Chichester, West Sussex, England
Chief Advocate Dyspraxia USA / Entertainment with Jeremy Kareken
Married over 11 years and has 6 year old twins who also live with Dyspraxia
Because 1 in 10 matters.
Board of Directors
Each member of the Board of Directors shares the common goal of bringing Dyspraxia Awareness to the United States and beyond. They have all been impacted by Dyspraxia and hope to offer support and services to others.
Warren Fried
Founder & Board President
University College Chichester, West Sussex, England
Chief Advocate Dyspraxia USA / Entertainment with Jeremy Kareken
Married over 11 years and has 6 year old twins who also live with Dyspraxia
Because 1 in 10 matters.
Mitchell I. Fried
Board Member
University of Florida with a B.A. Psychology and J.D.
Admitted to practice law in Florida and New York
Married for 47 years with two boys
To help those with the condition understand why they may have limitations which are no fault of their own, and that the limitations may be overcome.
Jessica Guberman
Board Vice President
Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science and Doctorate in Organizational Psychology
Nonprofit Executive
Mom, fisher woman, mountain biker, rower
Dyspraxia matters because there are people and families living with Dyspraxia who feel alone and lost navigating complex support systems with little to no guidance. We want to be that guidance and ensure that each person living with Dyspraxia is connected and included in determining the blueprint of their life.
Lisa Holm
Board Member
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Radford College, Master of Education in Special Education from George Mason University.
Former Classroom Teacher, Reading Recovery Teacher, Reading Specialist, and Literacy Coach; National Board Certified Teacher — Early Childhood/Generalist
Resides just south of DC. Mom to daughter, Sarah, in Hickory, NC. Daughter to Mom, Edith, in Colonial Heights, VA. Frequent traveler on I-95.
On a personal level, I have a niece with Dyspraxia and have witnessed the challenges she has experienced. On a professional level, I now realize that it is very likely that I and colleagues have unknowingly encountered many children with Dyspraxia. My goal is to raise awareness about Dyspraxia, as well as to help provide tools and resources that will help improve the lives of those impacted by Dyspraxia.
Jeremy Karekan
Board Member
University of Chicago and the Actors Studio Drama School
Currently a playwright living in New York and Baltimore. His play The Lifespan of a Fact ran from 2018–2019 on Broadway and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Bobby Cannavale, and Cherry Jones. Served as producer and researcher for Bravo TV’s Inside the Actors Studio. As an actor he appeared in a number of commercials and two feature films.
Two children
Jeremy is passionate about improving access to education and professional development for all neurodiverse children.
Elizabeth McKinney
Executive Director, Board Secretary
University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science Degree of Nursing
Practiced as a RN in New Hampshire & Massachusetts. Currently a children’s book author and mommy blogger.
Happily married mother of two.
My son, Bryant, was diagnosed with Global Dyspraxia at 5 years old. I am trying to do my part to spread awareness and create acceptance for neurodivergent individuals.
Mary Pritchard
Board Member
Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Despite having an education degree, most of my career was spent in pharmaceutical research and development in both clinical and corporate settings. Most recently I worked as a Regulatory Medical Writer for 12 years.
My husband and I have a blended family of five children and six (soon to be seven) grandchildren. In 2019 we relocated from Indianapolis to the Valley of the Sun in Phoenix, Arizona and I retired in April of 2021. I enjoy hiking, camping, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
I have an adult son with Dyspraxia. It’s been a long, difficult road for him having a hidden neurological condition that is not widely understood and barely recognized in this country. I’m so grateful that this organization exists, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish spreading awareness and in providing resources and support to individuals with Dyspraxia and the people who love them.
Mitchell I. Fried
Board Member
University of Florida with a B.A. Psychology and J.D.
Admitted to practice law in Florida and New York
Married for 47 years with two boys
To help those with the condition understand why they may have limitations which are no fault of their own, and that the limitations may be overcome.
Jessica Guberman
Board Vice President
Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science and Doctorate in Organizational Psychology
Nonprofit Executive
Mom, fisher woman, mountain biker, rower
Dyspraxia matters because there are people and families living with Dyspraxia who feel alone and lost navigating complex support systems with little to no guidance. We want to be that guidance and ensure that each person living with Dyspraxia is connected and included in determining the blueprint of their life.
Lisa Holm
Board Member
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Radford College, Master of Education in Special Education from George Mason University.
Former Classroom Teacher, Reading Recovery Teacher, Reading Specialist, and Literacy Coach; National Board Certified Teacher — Early Childhood/Generalist
Resides just south of DC. Mom to daughter, Sarah, in Hickory, NC. Daughter to Mom, Edith, in Colonial Heights, VA. Frequent traveler on I-95.
On a personal level, I have a niece with Dyspraxia and have witnessed the challenges she has experienced. On a professional level, I now realize that it is very likely that I and colleagues have unknowingly encountered many children with Dyspraxia. My goal is to raise awareness about Dyspraxia, as well as to help provide tools and resources that will help improve the lives of those impacted by Dyspraxia.
Jeremy Karekan
Board Member
University of Chicago and the Actors Studio Drama School
Currently a playwright living in New York and Baltimore. His play The Lifespan of a Fact ran from 2018–2019 on Broadway and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Bobby Cannavale, and Cherry Jones. Served as producer and researcher for Bravo TV’s Inside the Actors Studio. As an actor he appeared in a number of commercials and two feature films.
Two children
Jeremy is passionate about improving access to education and professional development for all neurodiverse children.
Elizabeth McKinney
Executive Director, Board Secretary
University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science Degree of Nursing
Practiced as a RN in New Hampshire & Massachusetts. Currently a children’s book author and mommy blogger.
Happily married mother of two.
My son, Bryant, was diagnosed with Global Dyspraxia at 5 years old. I am trying to do my part to spread awareness and create acceptance for neurodivergent individuals.
Mary Pritchard
Board Member
Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Despite having an education degree, most of my career was spent in pharmaceutical research and development in both clinical and corporate settings. Most recently I worked as a Regulatory Medical Writer for 12 years.
My husband and I have a blended family of five children and six (soon to be seven) grandchildren. In 2019 we relocated from Indianapolis to the Valley of the Sun in Phoenix, Arizona and I retired in April of 2021. I enjoy hiking, camping, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
I have an adult son with Dyspraxia. It’s been a long, difficult road for him having a hidden neurological condition that is not widely understood and barely recognized in this country. I’m so grateful that this organization exists, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish spreading awareness and in providing resources and support to individuals with Dyspraxia and the people who love them.
Marc Terdik
Board Treasurer
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina
Founder and Managing Principal at Piedmont Private Wealth, an independent investment advisory firm in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Active in the community and local & regional charities: Habitat for Humanity, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, American Red Cross in support of hurricane relief. Currently resides in Raleigh, NC with his wife, Kristin, of 21 years and 2 daughters.
This is a personal fight for my wife and I as our oldest daughter has dyspraxia. We consider ourselves very fortunate in understanding some of the challenges she encounters on a day-to-day basis. It’s our goal through involvement in the foundation that we can help raise awareness and educate people about diagnosis, treatment and resources to improve the quality of life for those with Dyspraxia and their families.
Marc Terdik
Board Treasurer
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina
Founder and Managing Principal at Piedmont Private Wealth, an independent investment advisory firm in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Active in the community and local & regional charities: Habitat for Humanity, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, American Red Cross in support of hurricane relief. Currently resides in Raleigh, NC with his wife, Kristin, of 21 years and 2 daughters.
This is a personal fight for my wife and I as our oldest daughter has dyspraxia. We consider ourselves very fortunate in understanding some of the challenges she encounters on a day-to-day basis. It’s our goal through involvement in the foundation that we can help raise awareness and educate people about diagnosis, treatment and resources to improve the quality of life for those with Dyspraxia and their families.
“Never underestimate the valuable and important difference you make in every life you touch for the impact you make today has a powerful rippling effect on every tomorrow.”
Leon Brown
Ambassadors of the Dyspraxia Foundation
These dedicated professionals work to champion people with Dyspraxia and the work of the foundation across the United States.
- Rachel Barcelona
- Theresa Bidwell
- Elissa Fried
- Shanda Husted
- Joe Mancini
- Randy Schmidt
Ambassadors of the Dyspraxia Foundation
These dedicated professionals work to champion people with Dyspraxia and the work of the foundation across the United States.
- Rachel Barcelona
- Theresa Bidwell
- Elissa Fried
- Joe Mancini
- Randy Schmidt
