Chris Roe serves as Director of State Policy for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. In this role, he supports COPAA members in advocating for policies that support students with disabilities at the state and local levels. In addition, Roe currently serves as the co-chair of the Special Education Advisory Council for New Orleans Public Schools and co-founded Sunshine Parents, an advocacy and support group that empowers parents and guardians of students with disabilities to successfully advocate for their students at the school and district level. Roe is also the founder and President of EnAbled Learning Partners, which supports families, organizations and agencies in strengthening special education programs and policy. Roe received his Master’s of Public Policy from the University of California-Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy and his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Roe lives in New Orleans, Louisiana where he and his husband are raising two young boys, both of whom attend public schools and have a range of learning disabilities. 

Courtney Hansen is a passionate special education advocate, educator, and parent based in Northern Colorado. A former journalist, teacher, and military spouse, she’s fought for inclusive education across six states—driven by her experience raising a child with Down syndrome.

Courtney is an instructor for COPAA’s SBEAT advocacy training and serves as its State & Local Policy Coordinator. With a Master’s in Education and years in the classroom, she now champions inclusive IEPs and systemic reform focused on belonging and meaningful inclusion at every level.

Through her blog, Inclusion Evolution, and her advocacy services—offered in Colorado, Wyoming, and nationwide—Courtney empowers families and educators to ensure every child with a disability learns alongside their nondisabled peers.

Lucia Frohling is a passionate advocate, former public school teacher, and Director of Parent Services at an education non-profit. A mother of three, her journey began when two of her children were diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia, inspiring her to lead efforts that improve education policy and access to evidence-based interventions. Lucia also serves on the State & Local Advocacy team with COPAA, helping build a network of advocates driving systemic change for students with disabilities. She advises multiple state agencies, serves on several education boards and councils, and is deeply committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Daysi Ortiz es una defensora independiente (no abogada) y consultora educativa en educación especial. Daysi trabajó de manera independiente en California durante más de 17 años y, al mudarse a Florida, se convirtió en defensora en Disability Rights Florida. Cuenta con un certificado de estudios profesionales avanzados en Resolución Alternativa de Disputas (ADR, por sus siglas en inglés) de San Diego National University en La Jolla y es egresada de Florida Partners in Policymaking.

Daysi tiene amplia experiencia liderando talleres sobre colaboración efectiva entre familias y escuelas, transición a la vida postsecundaria y diversidad, así como seminarios web sobre derechos de las personas con discapacidad. Ha defendido a numerosas familias en múltiples estados y tiene experiencia participando en reuniones de Determinación de Manifestación (MDR), quejas estatales y audiencias de debido proceso. Daysi ha servido en varios comités asesores y juntas comunitarias enfocadas en la equidad educativa.

Miembro de COPAA desde hace muchos años, fue una de las primeras estudiantes en tomar el curso SEAT en línea en 2012 y volvio a completar SEAT 2.0 en 2024. Daysi también contribuyó a la creación del Código de Ética Voluntario para Defensores, como integrante del comité de COPAA. Es madre de hijos con discapacidades, vive con discapacidades y es una apasionada defensora bilingüe y bicultural en educación especial.

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Daysi Ortiz is an non-attorney special education Advocate and education consultant. She worked independently in California for more than 17 years and, upon moving to Florida, became an Advocate at Disability Rights Florida. She holds a certificate of advanced professional studies in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) from San Diego National University in La Jolla and is a graduate of Florida Partners in Policy Making. 

Daysi has extensive experience leading workshops on effective collaboration between families and schools, transition to postsecondary life, diversity, and the rights of people with disabilities. She has advocated for numerous families in multiple states and has experience participating in Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) meetings, state complaints, and due process hearings. Daysi has served on several advisory committees and community boards focused on educational equity. 

Cynthia Daniels Hall (NC), is the parent of children with diagnoses on the autism spectrum.  Cynthia is a special education advocate and owner of Every Child Solutions, a special education advocacy business. Cynthia is an COPAA board member, a Black American female born in the southeast, raised in the northeast, and now lives in North Carolina.  As a person who was raised in a family of educators, and as the parent of young adults with disabilities, she understands the process from a unique and personal perspective.  Cynthia understands how the inconsistent implementation of special education laws by public school systems affects parents and their children. As a military spouse, having lived in six states, she realizes that when helping parents obtain a free appropriate public education for their children in the least restrictive environment, any solution must be tailored to their individual child and their situation.  Cynthia interest in serving on COPAA's Board and as Chair of the Advocate committee is non-attorney special education advocate training that promotes the development of knowledge and skills to support, inform, and empower parent participation in the special education process.

David Beinke, former Director of Advocacy with the Cirkiel Law Group from 97-2021, now Advocate Nomad, provides a unique brand of support for children with disabilities and fellow advocates in their educational and community environment in the state of Texas and beyond in his “ Hotel Prius” After serving in the Marines, his career path started when he began working at Denton State School in 1977 in the Texas mental health/intellectual disability system.

David helps families in all areas of IDEA, as well as entitlement and benefits such as State VR, SSA, Medicaid Waiver Program, etc. As a musician, he frequents the various summer musical venues in the Central Texas area as a drummer. He is a long-time COPAA member, co-chair of the COPAA Advocate Committee, TOPAA Board member, and former COPAA Board of Directors sitting member.