Family Employee Resource Group: Children with Special Needs

Amy Lowrie, Related Services Director & Early On Director, Eaton Regional Education Services Agency

Amy Lowrie is the Director of Early On and Related Services at Eaton Regional Education Service Agency. In this role, she leads the Early On Team, providing early intervention services for infants and toddlers. She has over 20 years of experience working in Special Education, with the majority of that working in Early Childhood, with infants and toddlers in their natural environment and preschoolers in special education and inclusive preschool settings. She also leads the Build Up Michigan Evaluation Team, providing developmental assessment to preschoolers with suspected developmental delay and supervises the Speech-Language Pathologists in the 5 school districts in Eaton County.

Diondra Straiton | President, Mid-Michigan Autism Association

Diondra Straiton (she/her) is President of the Mid-Michigan Autism Association and a doctoral student at Michigan State University’s clinical psychology program. She holds a master’s degree in Psychology from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Educational Studies from Swarthmore College. She is also a certified elementary school teacher. Diondra’s research focuses on methods to support autism clinicians to use evidence-based practices in community settings. She has experience working with clinicians in early intervention settings and community mental health agencies across the United States, Canada, and China.

Cathy Blatnik | Treasurer, Mid-Michigan Autism Association

Cathy Blatnik is a homemaker/wife and mother to an 18-year-old son with Autism, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, ADHD and Complex Partial Epilepsy; a 26-year-old daughter and a stepson who is 38 and married. Originally from Maryland, she has lived in Michigan for over 20 years. She is a Program Director of a non-denominational/ecumenical disability ministry, Treasurer of the Mid-Michigan Autism Association and Coordinator of Special Needs Ministry for the Diocese of Lansing. Cathy is affiliated with numerous disability organizations and represented the Mid-Michigan Autism Association when accepting the 2019 Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration and was one of the four finalists for the “2020 Remarkable Woman” contest sponsored by WLNS, Lansing’s CBS affiliate.

Jaimie Hutchison, LPC, SCL, Director Work Life Office

Jaimie Hutchison is the Director of the WorkLife Office at Michigan State University, supporting MSU’s recruitment and retention of a high performing workforce and the wellbeing of a diverse community of staff and scholars. Jaimie and her team contribute to the development of MSU’s policies and special initiatives, and the office oversees MSU’s University-wide work-life strategies. The office administers a range of programs for faculty, staff, academic staff, and postdocs, including those focused on mental health, workplace flexibility, dependent care, family support, workplace culture, career development, leadership, and workplace-based well-being. Jaimie has worked for 24 years as a leader, therapist, consultant, director, supervisor, trainer, mentor, and administrator. In addition to her work-life role, she is also a therapist at Insight Counseling working primarily with tweens, teens, and families. Jaimie is highly engaged with the local community and has volunteered over 10,000 hours. Jaimie received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Michigan State University, her master’s degree in community counseling from the University of Northern Colorado, and a post-master’s certificate in school counseling from Eastern Michigan University. Jaimie is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Michigan. Jaimie and her family are proud Spartans and enjoy the diverse events and activities that MSU and the Greater Lansing area have to offer. Jaimie is the mother of one teen and has been married to her spouse, Wayne (also a Spartan), for 24 years.

Jaimie is currently serving a three-year term for the College and University Work-Life-Family Association (CUFWA) Board of Directors. Jaimie also co-chairs the Membership Engagement Committee with Lourdes Rodrigues, Manager of Childcare and Family Resources, Life & Work Connections at the University of Arizona. Jaimie’s interests in her role on the CUFWA Board include membership engagement, leading initiatives to promote personal and workplace well-being, and being part of a vibrant, knowledgeable team in efforts to move our institutions forward by being leaders and innovators in the work-life industry.