Education For All: A Civil Rights Milestone—and So Much Further to Go

Join us as we mark a civil rights milestone: the 50th anniversary of the passage of Washington State House Bill 90 - Education for All. This virtual conversation, featuring leading voices in disability rights and education, will look at the history of the groundbreaking law and discuss what’s needed for the future of inclusive education. You can register here.

Below, meet our panel of advocates, educators, and professionals dedicated to equity, justice, and inclusion for those within the disability community.

Meet the Panelists:

Daniel "Dan" Evans

Former Washington Governor Dan Evans signed HB90 into law in 1971. Post-governorship, he served as a Washington State senator and founded his own consulting firm, Daniel J. Evans Associates, which he runs to this day.

Janet Taggart

Northwest Center founder and House Bill 90 author Janet Taggart  also helped write national disability education legislation. Her disability advocacy continues to this day through writing and publishing articles and letters to the editor in local publications.

William "Bill" Dussault

House Bill 90 author William “Bill” Dussault, a University of Washington law student in 1971, went on to specialize in disability law. He maintains a private practice in Seattle with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Jae Kim

Jae Kim is the Information and Resource Coordinator at the Arc of King County. As a social worker who has a developmental disability, she advocates for people with disabilities and supports them to lead successful lives.

Richard Mullen

As Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator for the Arc of King County, Mullen focuses on bridging the education gap for people who are members of the disability community and traditionally marginalized groups.

Christine Simonitch MA, CCC-SLP

Not only is Simonitch a Speech-Language Pathologist with Seattle Public Schools, but she is also the parent of a child with special needs, Kyle, who attended NWC Kids Early Learning.

Carrie Fannin

As director of CHILD, a nonprofit that addresses the needs of children denied access to local education programs due to disabilities, Fannin is a passionate advocate for inclusive education.

Ausha Martin

Martin is an Infant/Toddler Lead Teacher for Northwest Center Kids Early Learning. She has worked closely with children of all abilities aged birth to 5 in her 17 years with Northwest Center.

Jessamyn "Jessie" Lemus

Lemus is the Pre-K Lead Teacher for Northwest Center Kids Early Learning. In her 18 years with Northwest Center, she has specialized in teaching pre-school age children of all abilities.

Host: Gene Boes

Gene Boes joined Northwest Center as CEO in 2018, after serving on the Northwest Center Board of Directors for three years. Gene and his wife June are parents of two adult children: son Andrew and daughter Tori. Tori, who has autism, is also a client of Northwest Center Employment Services.

Moderator: Emily Miller

As Chief People Officer of Northwest Center, Miller is responsible for the full spectrum of Human Resources, including compensation and benefits administration, recruiting and employee relations. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, she founded the Northwest Center Equity Committee in 2015.

Moderator: Laura Kneedler

Kneedler is Northwest Center's Chief Education & Therapy Officer and leads a talented team of nearly 100 teachers, therapists, and support staff to serve over 600 children annually. With a comprehensive approach to ensure the inclusion of children with disabilities in the classroom, community, and home, Kneedler's team now trains organizations throughout King County to be inclusive.