Learning Courses

Scott currently serves as a Transition Specialist at the Institute for Disability Studies. Scott received his Master of Social Work in Social Work from The University of Southern Mississippi as well as a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Scott has assisted with the Project SEARCH employment program and mentored young adults with and without disabilities.  Currently, Scott provides transition to adulthood training and assists with national service and volunteerism services.  Scott also assists with two university student organizations, the Hattiesburg Campus STEP UP to Leadership Advisory Council and Special Olympics (SO) College Southern Miss. Scott is passionate about assisting youth and young adults with disabilities in reaching their employment and other life goals.

Taylor currently serves as the Self-Advocacy Coordinator for the Institute for Disability Studies. Taylor has several years of experience in national service, leadership, mentoring, self-advocacy and transition to adulthood services and was the first Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental (and Related) Disabilities Trainee in Mississippi. Taylor has received recognition on the national level and was featured as an Association for University Centers on Disability Emerging Leader, a guest on the national video series Tuesdays with Liz and, most won the 2019 Americans with Disabilities Video Contest with two self-advocate peers. Currently, Taylor provides one-on-one and group self-advocacy support and hosts his very own YouTube Series titled “Chit Chat Thursday with Taylor” that focuses on advocacy and disability efforts in Mississippi. Taylor enjoys sharing his story and his motto . . . “a disability is an ability, I am just like everyone else.”

Laura currently serves as a Transition Specialist at the Institute for Disability Studies. Laura received her Master of Psychology degree from Grand Canyon University, a Bachelor of Psychology degree from The University of Southern Mississippi, and her Associate in Marketing Management from Jones College. Laura brings over 20+ years of experience in the field of disabilities. She has worked with MDRS (MS Department of Rehabilitation Services) as an OSDP Case Manager and Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Counselor. Currently, Laura provides transition to adulthood training and assists with postsecondary peer mentoring services.  Laura is passionate about giving young adults with a disability the opportunity to be the best version of themselves.

Dr. Alliston currently serves as the Associate Director at the Institute for Disability Studies. Dr. Alliston has over 25 years of experience in the social sciences and disability fields focusing on medical social work, military disability case management, disaster case management, early intervention services, and transition services. Dr. Alliston received his doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from The University of Southern Mississippi as well as a Master in Social Work degree. Currently, Dr. Alliston researches, develops, obtains funding and implements best practice programs and has concentrated on the development of transition to adulthood programs and services including inclusive employment, national service, advocacy, leadership and post-secondary education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Dr. Alliston is passionate about improving, expanding and establishing best practice transition to adulthood services.

Dawn currently serves as the parent liaison at the Institute for Disability Studies. Dawn is the parent of an adult with disabilities and was the first Family LEND Trainee in Mississippi through the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Program. For her leadership/research project, Dawn developed a booklet consisting of stories by parents of children, youth or young adults with ASD and other developmental disabilities that promotes advocacy, awareness and education targeting legislators. Currently, Dawn provides one-on-one parent assistance with the transition to adulthood including a parent support group, assists with the Hattiesburg Campus STEP UP to Leadership Council and leads a weekly crafting activity.  Dawn enjoys helping fellow parents, and their youth/young adults, find their paths through the transition to adulthood.

Danielle serves as the assistant to the office manager at the Institute for Disability Studies. Danielle is a graduate of Forrest County Agricultural High School and the Project SEARCH Southern Miss Program. Currently, Danielle provides one-on-one training to office interns and works with various job skills trainers to promote learning. In addition, Danielle assists in training youth and young adults with disabilities who participate in an IDS office setting internship. Danielle enjoys helping others reach their dreams for employment.

Dan Lewis, Self-Advocate serves as the Technology and Advocacy Assistant at the Institute for Disability Studies. Dan has served in various STEP UP to Leadership Advisory Council officer positions including President and has hosted a YouTube Series “Technology with Dan” that focused on technology opportunities to enhance the lives of Mississippians with disabilities. In addition, Dan provided self-advocacy presentations at state and national conferences and won the 2019 Americans with Disabilities Video Contest with two self-advocate peers. Currently, Dan provides technology assistance at IDS and participates in the TRIAD AmeriCorps Program.  Dan specializes in putting closed captions on all videos for IDS.  Dan enjoys helping others find their path to employment.

Bryant “Tyler” Johnson, MPH serves as a Transition Specialist at the Institute for Disability Studies. Tyler received his Master of Public Health degree from The University of Southern Mississippi as well as a Bachelor in Psychology degree. Tyler was a two-year trainee in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Program in which he assisted with several activities including the development of a gaming handout for young people with disabilities. Currently, Tyler provides transition to adulthood training, assists with one university student organization, the coast campus STEP UP to Leadership Advisory Council, and also assists with national service and volunteerism services. Tyler is passionate about providing inclusive opportunities to promote overall wellness and assisting youth and young adults with disabilities in fostering their career interests and becoming more independent.

Beth Robertson, MA serves as a Transition Specialist at the Institute for Disability Studies. Beth received a Master in Counseling degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor in Education for the Hearing Impaired degree from the University of Montevallo in Education. Beth is a former teacher, counselor and interpreter and brings over 20+ years of experience working in the field of disabilities.  This includes several years working for the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services serving as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and then as an evaluator at AbilityWorks. Currently, Beth provides transition to adulthood training and earned her ACRE certification in Employment Services in July 2020.  Beth is passionate about empowering and assisting young adults with disabilities to reach their fullest potential by moving toward independence and competitive, integrated employment.

Alyssa Danielle Parks, LMSW serves as a Transition Specialist at the Institute for Disability Studies. Danielle received her Master of Social Work from The University of Southern Mississippi as well as a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Danielle served as the first two-year Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities Program (LEND) Program and was the first Mississippi AUCD Emerging Leader in 2018. Currently, Danielle provides transition to adulthood training and also provides training and technical assistance for university students with intellectual disabilities. In addition, Danielle assists with one university student organization, the STEP UP to Leadership Advisory Council. Danielle enjoys her work assisting young adults with disabilities reach their employment and postsecondary education dreams.