Staff and Contact Info

Nicole oversees the provision of technology to individuals with disabilities of all ages through The NEAT Center’s innovative services. She leads a team of skilled professionals conducting assessments and trainings across the continuum of assistive technology. Presenting at local and national conferences offers her the opportunity to promote community awareness and share unique and powerful benefits in using technology to support education, employment, independent living and community needs.
Nicole can be reached by:

• Email at Nicole.Feeney@oakhillct.org
• Phone: 860-286-3101
• Follow Nicole on twitter to see where she is presenting and what AT she is passionate about! @NeatwithNicole

Elena is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Specialist and Speech-Language Pathologist at New England Assistive Technology (NEAT), an Oak Hill Center.  She provides AAC consultations and evaluations for individuals of all ages with complex communication needs and related disabilities.  Elena also offers trainings and workshops to families, caregivers, and professionals to promote community awareness of technology to support communication and independence.  She has extended her support beyond her immediate community by presenting at conferences at the local and national levels.Elena attended the University of Vermont (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (M.A., U.S. Dept. of Ed. Autism Spectrum Disorders Fellow).  She obtained her Assistive Technology Certificate from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a current member of the ASHA Special Interest Group 12 for AAC.  She is licensed by the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts as well as by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Jamie has been an Assistive Technology Specialist for over ten years. He specializes in finding AT solutions for students and adults with dyslexia and other learning and attention issues. Before joining the AT team at NEAT, he was an independent consultant. In that role, he traveled across the United States, working one-to-one with students, training teachers, and giving presentations. He also wrote articles on assistive technology for various websites. During his many years in education, he was an Orton-Gillingham language tutor before getting immersed in the world of assistive technology. Having a full understanding of how remediation and accommodation can work together, he developed a successful assistive technology program at The Kildonan School in Amenia, NY, an institution dedicated to the education of students with dyslexia.In addition to his work for NEAT, Jamie enjoys sharing his knowledge of assistive technology with the viewers of Understood.org. As a consultant to Understood, he regularly participates in live video chats, as well as Twitter and Facebook chats. He also writes articles and blog posts and reviews apps for the site’s Tech Finder tool.To stay current on the latest developments in assistive technology, Jamie regularly attends educational conferences, including ATIA (Assistive Technology Industry Association) and IDA (International Dyslexia Association), and he has given many presentations at those events.Jamie can be reached by:

• Email at Jamie.Martin@oakhillct.org.
• Phone: 860-286-3166
• Follow Jamie on twitter to see where he is presenting and what AT he is passionate about! @NeatwithJamie

Adam has been an educator since 2008, but he wasn’t always sure how he wanted to use his teaching skills and love for technology. He started as a high school math teacher but after realizing that he most enjoyed working one-on-one with students he ended up working as a math tutor for a university’s disability services office. There he learned that he loved working with people with disabilities, particularly in assistive technology. It was then that something clicked, he knew this was the right field for him. Fast forward to 2018 where he luckily found an opportunity as NEAT’s new team member in the role of Assistive Technology Specialist. Most recently, he is putting his love for videogames and AT together in a new service, gaming accessibility!Adam can be reached by:

• Email at Adam.Kosakowski@oakhillct.org.
• Phone: 860-286-3167
• Follow Adam on twitter to see where he is presenting and what AT he is passionate about! @NeatwithAdam

Jennifer is the NEAT Services Engagement Coordinator in charge of managing the Equipment Services, the Assistive Technology Lending Library, and assisting the Assistive Technology Specialists with the professional development, training, technical assistance, and consultation on a continuum of assistive technology devices.  Jennifer is trained as an NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist.  She also assists with providing services to families, educators, therapists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals as well as supporting with AT demonstrations to promote community awareness to people with disabilities of all ages.

Jennifer can be reached by:

• Email at Jennifer.Alexander@oakhillct.org
• Phone: 860-769-3856

Steve is the Manager of Blind Vocational Services and is responsible for providing Assistive Technology Evaluations, consultations and trainings to individuals with low vision, blindness and who are deaf/blind.  This technology can assist people to use a personal computer, a tablet, or mobile device.  People can learn the necessary skills to complete classroom assignments, complete college courses, obtain necessary employment skills or become gainfully employed.  Some examples of the software and hardware that Steve teaches include; screen reading, screen magnification, scanning and reading, Braille note takers and Braille displays. Many of these pieces of technology are easily integrated with Windows based computers, tablets, Macintosh computers and Apple mobile devices.Steve was born legally blind and uses much of this technology on a daily basis in his professional and personal lives.  He travels independently with his guide dog, a German Shepherd, named, Joel.  He brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to the people he serves each day.  Steve is also available to speak to individuals or groups to educate them on technology and services that can help them, their family members or friends.Steve can be reached by:

• Email at Steve.Famiglietti@oakhillct.org.
• Phone: 860-286-3100
• Follow Steve on twitter to see where he is presenting and what AT he is passionate about! @NeatwithSteve

Kris is trained as an NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist. He researches and implements new technologies for the Smart Home on Wheels (SHOW) and demonstrates how to gain control of your home environment by using a range of low to high-tech solutions, including commercially available smart devices. He also provides consultations, evaluations, installations and trainings on smart home technology. Kris also provides assistance for Oak Hill’s Blind Vocational Services Program, and manages The NEAT Center’s website.Kristopher has an educational and professional background in information technologies and he holds a degree in Computer Science.Kris can be reached by:

• Email at Kristopher.Thompson@oakhillct.org.
• Phone: 860-286-2274, ext 3325
• Follow Kris on twitter to see where he is presenting and what smart home technology he is excited about! @NeatwithKris

Working in conjunction with the DORS Level Up Program, Jeff fills the role of a mentor; having deaf students shadow him in the work place while developing a vast set of unique job skills. He can also be found guiding them through their pursuit of technical school, college, or job search.

Jeff believes that kindness is a language in and of itself.

Jeff can be reached by:

• Email at Jeffrey.Clark@oakhillct.org.

Thomas is responsible for repairing and restoring durable medical equipment for NEAT’s adaptive equipment reuse services. His helpful disposition and kind soul are a terrific addition to the team. He is always ready to creatively troubleshoot and support a customer’s need for better equipment.Thomas can be reached by:

• email: Thomas.Dieli@oakhillct.org