Brian is a first-generation American and United States Air Force Veteran whose academic and vocational passions center around the intersection of education, disability access, and mental health. Upon separating from the Air Force, he earned a Bachelor of Science with Distinction in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and a Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University.
Brian is passionate about applying science and education for social good. As a Peer Disability Advocate for the American Association for People with Disabilities, he...
Welcome to DSP! Compassion, integrity, and community are a few of my highest values.
Both inside and outside of my role as a Disability Specialist, I thrive in purposefully envisioning the future, and emboldening others in reaching their educational and personal aspirations. As a person with multiple disabilities, I was a first-generation college student grappling with the social and attitudinal barriers that can exist in the pursuit of a word-class degree at a competitive university. I bring these experiences to my role as a specialist.
Juliana has worked with students with disabilities for over four years, by coaching students one-on-one, connecting students to various on- and off-campus resources, partnering with faculty and staff, and leading academic success workshops and programming for gaining and maintaining study skills necessary for academic success. Prior to joining the Disability Specialist team, Juliana worked in TRiO DSP SSS as a Learning Specialist and an Academic Success Coach at the University of Rochester. She earned an M.Ed. in Counseling - Student Affairs at Northern Arizona University, where she...
I’m Jason. I’m originally from Pacifica (yes, the place with Taco Bell on the beach), and I have been working in education since high school. I started by tutoring peers in academic and social skills. When I graduated, I went to San Francisco State University and received my B.A. in Creative Writing. Once out of undergrad, I started working as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher for Special Education classes in the high school setting in the Bay Area. I received my Master’s in Special Education and Teaching Credential from Notre...
Jessica Mangaccat started as a disability specialist with DSP in 2023. Jessica is a first generation college student and a daughter of immigrants. She has an undergraduate degree in Legal Studies and previously worked in the legal field for 10 years as a paralegal before switching careers and getting her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Jessica was inspired to work with people with disabilities after her father developed a spinal cord injury. Jessica has experience working with people with disabilities across the lifespan, from children with physical, neurological,...
Greetings! My name is Vineeta Ram (pronounced Vee-nee-ta Rahm). I’ve spent the last 5 years working with students in various roles and positions in disability services in the Midwest. Prior to this, I trained and worked as an Occupational Therapist and Rehabilitation Counselor in various hospitals and non-profits.
My own academic journey has largely influenced my work and interest in improving access and equity in higher education. I received my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois in Chicago with a focus on creating accessible services and programming...
Interim Lead Disability Specialist / Disability Specialist
Hello! I started as a specialist with DSP in 2022, and worked with people with disabilities for about 10 years prior to coming to Berkeley. I started while I was an undergrad at UCLA, working with children on the autism spectrum to carry out behavioral intervention programs. I later earned a master's degree from Columbia University and worked in special education classrooms, in homes, and in a center based treatment program carrying out behavior analytic programs with children and adults on the spectrum. From there I shifted into higher education, where I worked in disability...
I’ve spent my career in education, first as a high school English teacher, then as a Learning Specialist for high school and middle school students. I loved the experience of working with individual students: fostering their metacognition, coaching them in self-advocacy, and helping them navigate the challenges of their classrooms and learning environments.
When I began working as a Disability Specialist in higher education in 2016, however, I discovered that this area allowed me to use my expertise towards social justice goals of educational equity and access. I...
Welcome to my DSP page! I joined the Berkeley community in January 2018...
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Alvaro Francisco Gomez has been working in the field of Disability and Higher Education for the past 25 years.