John Flanders - President

Naomi Nova is a parent of two children on the autism spectrum and is a special education attorney for children with disabilities.  She is deeply committed to education reform with a special focus on exclusionary discipline, including the use of restraint, seclusion, suspensions, and expulsions on schoolchildren.    Naomi is an active member of the SEEK Legislative Committee, and has testified before the Education Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly in support of legislation to limit the use of restraint and ban the use of seclusion. Naomi graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2007.  She is currently in private practice and represents families at PPT meetings, mediations, and due process hearings.

Andy Feinstein has represented children with disabilities and their families pursuing appropriate educational programs for the past twenty-two years, first in Hartford with Attorney David C. Shaw, from 2008 to 2015, as a solo practitioner in Mystic, Connecticut, and, since July 1, 2015, as the owner of Feinstein Education Law Group, LLC. He is a founder, the treasurer and Legislative Committee chair of Special Education Equity for Kids in Connecticut (SEEK-CT).  He serves on the Board and as co-chair of the Government Relations Committee for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), the preeminent national special education advocacy organization.  He has argued a number of cases on behalf of COPAA before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.  He serves as an adjunct professor of special education at Central Connecticut State University, teaching both special education teachers and administrators. Attorney Feinstein graduated from Wesleyan University in 1972 and the New York University School of Law in 1975. He completed the Senior Manager in Government Program at the Kennedy School, Harvard University, in 1983. He has served as a professional staff member of the House Committee on Armed Services and Chief Counsel of the House Civil Service Subcommittee. Formerly, he chaired United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Hartford and served on the Board of Community Health Charities of Connecticut for many years.  He was formerly the Treasure of Temple Emanu-El in Waterford, Connecticut, and teaches eighth grade Sunday school.  Andy lives in Mystic with his wife Liz Bochain and their grandson Jacob.

Stephanie  Mitchell is an Independent College Consultant and owner of Grapevine College Consulting. Her specialty lies in aiding students with learning differences in finding appropriate post-secondary options. Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s in Art History from St. Olaf College and a Master’s in Italian Renaissance Art History from Syracuse University. After early experiences in general education, and working in other industries, she decided to return to her calling in education. She worked for 15 years as a decoding and 1-1 remediation teacher at Winston Preparatory School in New York and Connecticut. Notably, she was a proud member of the Leadership Team that started Winston’s Connecticut campus. In addition to teaching, she served as the Director of College Placement and Transition Planning at Winston for over 10 years. During her tenure, she successfully placed students in colleges, as well as comprehensive support, transition, and gap year programs. Equally important to her professional experience, Stephanie is the proud mother of two boys who have learning, hearing and attention deficits. She is passionate about applying her knowledge and personal experience to help other parents who are embarking on their journey through the special education process.

Helen Taylor earned her M.B.A. from Post University.  She has worked at Eversource Energy for 15 years and volunteers in many organizations including in leadership roles. Helen is currently a Chair of the Employee Recreation Committee and member of the Multicultural Business Resource group and Energy Toastmasters. 

Helen has made incredible strides to support Autism Speaks since 2006. She volunteers for the Western Connecticut Autism Speaks Walk (co-founder with Alan), organized two free Autism and Education forums, and is volunteer certified trainer for the State of Connecticut regional police department for autism safety and awareness class. She is an Autism Speaks Ambassador Volunteer and recently advocated with Congress representatives for the Autism Cares Act of 2019, which was signed into law in September. 

Since 2008, Helen volunteers weekly as a Special Olympics coach for the Waterbury PAL. She is the CT FEAT board president and board member of Focus Center for Autism. She recently started and volunteers for The Social Chase program which provides social activities for late teens to adults with social challenges. She also just started a cable show about autism and special needs awarenesss, The Social Chase. She is currently a volunteer grant writer for Granville Academy of Waterbury. Helen collaborated with the Waterbury police chief to have Autism Registry events, including registration in the computer emergency database for vulnerable citizens for a positive community and police relations.

Helen volunteers to support her husband’s ACTJamsproductions.com business to bring Jazz and R&B quality affordable shows and the free Brass City Jazz Fest to Connecticut.  She also volunteers her photography for non-profit organizations.