Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities. For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under Department of Education: Special Education.

State Department of Education: Special Education
Dr. Melody Bounds, Director
Office of Special Education
Department of Education 
P.O. Box 771 
Jackson, MS 39205-0771 
(601) 359-3498 
Web: www.mde.k12.ms.us/special_education/

State Coordinator for NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Nikisha Ware, Bureau Director 
Office of Innovative Support
Department of Education 
Central High School Building
P.O. Box 771 
Jackson, MS 39205-0771
(601) 359-3499
E-mail: nware@mde.k12.ms.us
Web: www.mde.k12.ms.us

Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 2 
Roy Hart, Part C Coordinator
First Steps Early Intervention System
Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) 
P.O. Box 1700 
570 E. Woodrow Wilson Boulevard, Room 107
Jackson, MS 39215-1700 
(601) 576-7427; (800) 451-3903 (in MS)
E-mail: roy.hart@msdh.state.ms.us
Web: www.msdh.state.ms.us

Programs for Children with Disabilities: Ages 3 through 5 
Trese Evans, Division Director
Margaret Robinson-Harris, Pre-School Consultant
Office of Special Education
Department of Education 
P.O. Box 771 
Jackson, MS 39205-0771 
(601) 359-3498
E-mail: tevans@mde.k12.ms.us
Web: www.mde.k12.ms.us/special_education/

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency 
Gary Neely, Director 
Mississippi Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Department of Rehabilitation Services
P.O. Box 1698 
Jackson, MS 39215-1698
(601) 853-5230
Web: www.mdrs.state.ms.us

Dr. Michael Gandy, Director
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind 
Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
P.O. Box 1698
Jackson, MS 39215-1698 
(601) 853-5100; (800) 443-1000
E-mail: mgandy@mdrs.state.ms.us

Coordinator for Transition Services 
Trese Evans, Division Director 
Office of Special Education 
Mississippi Department of Education 
P.O. Box 771 
Jackson, MS 39205 
(601) 359-3498
E-mail: tevans@mde.k12.ms.us
Web: www.mde.k12.ms.us/special_education/ 

Office of State Coordinator of Vocational Education for Students with Disabilities 
Dr. Marion Bihm, Coordinator 
Special Vocational Services for the Handicapped 
Office of Vocational and Technical Education
Department of Education 
P.O. Box 771 
Jackson, MS 39205-0771 
(601) 359-3089
E-mail: mbihm@mde.k12.ms.us
Web: www.mde.k12.ms.us

State Mental Health Agency 
Dr. Albert Randel Hendrix, Ph.D., Executive Director
Department of Mental Health 
1101 Robert E. Lee Building
239 N. Lamar Street 
Jackson, MS 39201 
(601) 359-1288
E-mail: sstokes@msdmh.org
Web: www.dmh.state.ms.us

State Mental Health Representative for Children and Youth 
Brenda Scafidi, Ed.D., Director
Division of Children and Youth Services
Department of Mental Health 
1101 Robert E. Lee Building
239 N. Lamar Street
Jackson, MS 39201 
(601) 359-1288
E-mail: bscafidi@msdmh.org
Web: www.dmh.state.ms.us

State Mental Retardation Program 
Edwin LeGrand, Deputy Director
Bureau of Mental Retardation
Department of Mental Health 
1101 Robert E. Lee Building
239 N. Lamar Street
Jackson, MS 39201 
(601) 359-1288
Web: www.dmh.state.ms.us

State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
Ed Butler, Director
Council on Developmental Disabilities 
1101 Robert E. Lee Building
239 N. Lamar St. 
Jackson, MS 39201 
(601) 359-1270
Web: www.dmh.state.ms.us 

Protection and Advocacy Agency 
Rebecca Floyd, Executive Director 
Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System
5305 Executive Place
Jackson, MS 39206 
(601) 981-8207; (800) 772-4057 
E-mail: info@mspas.com
Web: www.mspas.com

Client Assistance Program 
Presley Posey, Director 
Client Assistance Program
Mississippi Society for Disabilities
3226 N. State Street 
P.O. Box 4958
Jackson, MS 39296-4958 
(601) 362-2585
E-mail: presleymsd@bellsouth.net
Web: www.mississippicap.com

Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs 
Larry Clark, Director
Children’s Medical Program
Board of Health 
P.O. Box 1700 
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
(601) 987-3965; (800) 844-0898 (National/WATS)

State CHIP Program
(health care for low-income uninsured children
Mississippi Health Benefits 
Division of Medicaid
Robert E. Lee Building, Suite 801
239 N. Lamar Street
Jackson MS 39201-1399
(877) 870-3110
Web: www.dom.state.ms.us/CHIP/chip.html

Programs for Children and Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired or Deaf-Blind
Mississippi School for the Blind
1252 Eastover Drive
Jackson, MS 39211
(601) 984-8200
Web: www2.mde.k12.ms.us/msb

Programs for Children and Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Rell Webber, State Coordinator
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
P.O. Box 1698
Jackson, MS 39215-1698 
(601) 853-5310 (V/TTY); (800) 443-1000
E-mail: rwebber@mdrs.state.ms.us
Web: www.mdrs.state.ms.us

Telecommunications Relay Services for Individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or with Speech Impairments
(800) 582-2233 (V/TTY); 711 (TTY)
(800) 229-5746 (Speech to Speech-English)
(866) 260-9470 (Speech to Speech-Spanish)

State Education Agency Rural Representative 
Dr. Melody Bounds 
Department of Education 
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205 

Regional ADA & IT Technical Assistance Center 
Shelley Kaplan, Project Director
Southeast Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center
Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access
Georgia Tech
490 10th Street
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 385-0636; (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY)
E-mail: sedbtac@catea.org
Web: www.sedbtac.org

Sara Jackson, Director
Toy Library and Technology Learning Center
University of Southern Mississippi
Gulf Park Campus
730 E. Beach Boulevard
Long Beach, MS 39560
(228) 867-2636; (228) 214-3286
E-mail: tlc@usm.edu
Web: www.gp.usm.edu/tlc/index.html

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Jane Z. Siders, Director 
The Institute for Disability Studies
University of Southern Mississippi 
118 College Drive, #5163
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-5163; (888) 671-0051 (V/TTY)
E-mail: jane.siders@usm.edu
Web: www.ids.usm.edu

Technology-Related Assistance
Stephen Power, Director
Mississippi Project Start
P.O. Box 1698
Jackson, MS 39215
(601) 987-4872 (V/TTY); (800) 852-8328 (V/TTY in MS)
E-mail: spower@mdrs.state.ms.us
Web: www.msprojectstart.org

State Mediation System
Tanya Bradley, Bureau Director
Department of Education
Office of Special Education
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205
(601) 359-3498
E-mail: tbradley@mde.k12.ms.us
Web: www.mde.k12.ms.us

Special Format Library
Rahye Puckett, Director/Librarian
Mississippi Library Commission
Blind and Physically Handicapped Library Services
1221 Ellis Avenue
Jackson, MS 39209
(601) 961-4111; (800) 446-0892 
E-mail: lbph@mlc.lib.ms.us 
E-mail: rahye@mlc.lib.ms.us 
Web: www.mlc.lib.ms.us/bphls/

Disability-Specific Organizations

Attention Deficit Disorder
To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either:

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
8181 Professional Place, Suite 150
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 306-7070
(800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet)
Web: www.chadd.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
P.O. Box 543
Pottstown, PA 19464
(484) 945-2101
Web: www.add.org

Autism
To identify an autism group in your state, contact:
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-0881; (800) 3-AUTISM
Web: www.autism-society.org

Dr. Mark Yeager, President
TEAAM (Together Enhancing Autism Awareness in Mississippi)
P.O. Box 213
Newton, MS 39345
(601) 683-4200
E-mail: myeager@cmrc.state.ms.us

Blind/Visual Impairments
Frances Mary D'Andrea, Director
American Foundation for the Blind-National Literacy Center
100 Peachtree Street, Suite 620
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 525-2303
E-mail: literacy@afb.net
Web: www.afb.org

Brain Injury
Brain Injury Association of Mississippi
P.O. Box 55912
Jackson, MS 39296-5912
(601) 981-1021; (800) 641-6442
E-mail biaofms@aol.com
Web: www.members.aol.com/biaofms/index.htm

Cerebral Palsy
Sheila Pearson, Director
Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Mississippi, Inc.
P.O. Box 16924
Jackson, MS 39236-6924
(601) 853-1961; (888) 852-1961 (toll free)
E-mail: cpfofms@aol.com
Web: www.cpfofms.org

Epilepsy
Beth Scarbrough, Executive Director 
Epilepsy Foundation of Mississippi 
2001 Airport Road, Suite 307
Jackson, MS 39232
(601) 936-5222; (800) 898-0291 (in MS)
E-mail: efm@netdoor.com

Mental Health 
Brandi H. Clarke, Executive Director
Mental Health Association of Mississippi
4803 Harrison Circle
Gulfport, MS 39507
(228) 864-6274
E-mail: mhagptms@aol.com

Larry Swearengen, Interim Director
Mental Health Association of the Capital Area, Inc. 
411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 401
Jackson, MS 39206
(601) 956-2800
E-mail: mhajxn@aol.com

Teri Brister, Executive Director 
NAMI Mississippi
411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 401
Jackson, MS 39206
(601) 899-9058
E-mail: namimiss1@aol.com

Tessie Schweitzer, Executive Director
Mississippi Families As Allies for Children's Mental Health
5166 Keele Street, Building A
Jackson, MS 39206
(601) 981-1618; (800) 833-9671
E-mail: tschweitzer@msfaacmh.org
Web: www.msfaacmh.org

Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities
Matt Nalker, Executive Director
The Arc of Mississippi
7 Lakeland Circle, Suite 600
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 982-1180; (800) 717-1180
E-mail: matt@arcms.org
Web: www.arcms.org

Speech and Hearing
Deirdre McGowan, CAE, Executive Director
Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association 
P.O. Box 22664
Jackson, MS 39225-2664
(800) 664-6742
E-mail: mshahelp@mshausa.org
Web: www.mshausa.org

Spina Bifida
Kelly Wedgeworth, Executive Director
Amy Wilkinson, President
Spina Bifida Association of Mississippi
P.O. Box 180594
Richland, MS 39218
(601) 214-1281
E-mail: kgwedge@yahoo.com 
E-mail: awsba@yahoo.com

Organizations Especially for Parents and Caregivers

Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) 
Terry C. Burton, Executive Director
Parent Partners 
P.O. Box 648
Newton, MS 39345
(601) 594-4570
E-mail: tburton@parentpartners.org
Web: www.parentpartners.org

Community Parent Resource Center
(Serving Six EMPOWER Counties)
Agnes Johnson, Executive Director
EMPOWER Community Resource Center
P.O. Box 1733
136 S. Poplar Street
Greenville, MS 38702-1733
(662) 332-4852; (800) 337-4852 
E-mail: empower@cox-internet.com
Web: www.msempower.org

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) 
Rick Tillotson, President
Mississippi Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc.
P.O. Box 1937
Jackson, MS 39215
(601) 352-7383; (800) 795-6123

Other Parent Organizations
Lori Bezada, Project Coordinator
Mississippi SAFE KIDS Campaign
615 Barksdale Street
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 969-0669; (877) 706-8741 (V/TTY)
E-mail: MSSAFEKIDS@mscoalition.com
Web: www.mssafekids.com

Parents for Public Schools of Jackson
3252 N. State Street
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 713-1633
E-mail: dana.larkin@parents4publicschools.com
Web: www.parents4publicschools.com/jackson

Mandy Rogers, President
Parents United Together
P.O. Box 2121
Madison, MS 39130
E-mail: MOM424@aol.com
Web: www.parentsunitedtogether.com

Other Disability Organizations
Mary G. Troupe, Executive Director
Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
615 Barksdale Street
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 969-0601 (V/TTY); (800) 748-9420 (V/TTY)
Web: www.mscoalition.com

Sam Gleese, Project Director
Healthy Futures
615 Barksdale Street
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 969-0601; (800) 748-9420 (V/TTY)
E-mail: hfutures@aol.com
Web: www.healthyfuturesms.com

Leslie Roark Scott, Executive Director
VSA arts of Mississippi
3310 N. State Street, Studio 1
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 713-3311
E-mail: jacvsa@netdoor.com

Independent Living 

To find out the contact information for the Statewide 
Independent Living Council (SILC) in your state, contact:
Independent Living Research Utilization Project
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
2323 South Sheppard, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-0232 (V); (713) 520-5136 (TTY)
E-mail: ilru@ilru.org
Web: www.ilru.org

To find out the contact information for centers for 
independent living (CILs) in your state, contact:
National Council on Independent Living
1916 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 209
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 525-3406; (703) 525-4153 (TTY)
E-mail: ncil@ncil.org
Web: www.ncil.org