Tri-Cities Autism Coalition

The Arc of Tri-Cities has been a voice of support and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities since it was organized in 1950, by local families who wanted education and resources and inclusive opportunities for their children.

Since that time, The Arc has been committed to establishing partnerships, creating beneficial programming, and supporting families through advocacy, in order to increase opportunities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.

Seeing the need for service options and support for individuals with Autism, The Arc has partnered with other concerned agencies to create a coalition that helps unite community efforts in developing awareness, support, and growing service options in the local community for people of all abilities.

This follows Mission Statement and motto of The Arc: The Arc of Tri-Cities promotes the rights of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by actively supporting full inclusion and participation in all aspects of the community throughout their lifetimes.

Melissa Brooks has called Tri-Cities home for twenty one years, first working as a pediatric nurse, then as her children were diagnosed with autism twenty years ago, she became very involved in helping her fellow autism community. Past involvement was as president of our local Autism Society chapter, then ten years ago she joined The Arc of Tri-Cities as a Parent-to-Parent Coordinator. She has four young adult children, three on the autism spectrum. As part of our newly formed Tri-Cities Autism Coalition, she’s passionate about increasing services, support and inclusivity for her children and the families she serves. She is involved with and helps where she can statewide with several entities improving the lives of those with autism and their families.

For nearly 7 years, Liz Vossenkemper has dedicated her expertise to serving the Tri-Cities community. As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Mental Health Specialist, Liz focuses on pediatric care with a specialization in neurodevelopmental and mental health diagnoses. Currently practicing at United Family Center in Kennewick, Liz provides comprehensive support, diagnosis, and care management for autism, ADHD, and other co-occurring conditions. Liz is a relentless advocate for neurodivergent and disabled youth and stands as a proud ally to the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

Theresa Buckendorf has been a business professional in the Tri Cities community for over thirty years, and is deeply rooted in the community. In addition to her role as a Director with Tri Cities Autism Coalition, she serves as the Board Chair for Columbia Industries, and as a Director for the Pasco Kennewick Rotary Club. She has a passion to serve her community, and to help make the Tri Cities a better place for its residents of all abilities.

Laurie Rivera, the Marketing and Communications Manager at Columbia Industries, is a seasoned marketing professional with a strong commitment to community service. Actively engaged in AAF Tri-Cities as a Board Member and Membership Committee Chair, as well as serving as the District 3 Secretary for Soroptimist International of Pasco-Kennewick, Laurie brings her skills and dedication to diverse organizations. Beyond her professional roles, Laurie is a proud parent to an 11-year-old son with autism, inspiring her active involvement with the Tri-Cities Autism Coalition.

Meet Jim and Karen Pridemore, the dynamic duo behind Spectrum Studios in Kennewick, WA, a passionate couple dedicated to making a positive impact in the world of Autism. With 47 years of business ownership under his belt, Jim has not only excelled in his entrepreneurial endeavors but has also garnered recognition for his outstanding contributions. From being honored as the Oviedo-Winter Springs Chamber of Commerce Innovative Business of the Year to leading special projects with the University of Central Florida Business College, Jim's track record is a testament to his commitment to excellence.

Partnering with Jim in their noble mission is his wife, Karen, who serves as Co-Director at Spectrum Studios. The Pridemore’s, parents to five children, opened their hearts and home to a young man with Autism when he lost both parents, showcasing their compassion and dedication to the cause. Their son Tyler, also on the Autism Spectrum, has been a driving force in shaping their advocacy.

Karen, a longstanding champion for Autism, brings decades of experience to the table. She served on the board of Directors for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of Central Florida, further solidifying her commitment to making a difference in the lives of individuals with Autism.

In what should have been their "Golden Years," Jim and Karen have doubled down on their efforts to shine a light on the challenges faced by young adults entering the real world after high school. They've observed the troubling reality that, once these individuals reach the age of 21, they often lose access to crucial programs and accommodations. Determined to address this issue, the Pridemore’s are steadfastly working through Spectrum Studios to create awareness and support systems for this vulnerable demographic.

Join Jim and Karen Pridemore on their journey with Spectrum Studios as they strive to make a lasting impact, advocate for those with Autism, and ensure that every individual, regardless of their abilities, has the opportunity to thrive in the world beyond high school.

Donna Tracy has worked with The Arc of Tri-Cities for over 30 years in developing services and advocating for opportunities in our local community. Donna moved to the Tri-Cities to be near family and found a family at The Arc of Tri-Cities. (Donna met her husband, Phil Tracy, while working at The Arc).

Donna has a BS in Sociology and has been instrumental in developing many of the services that The Arc of Tri-Cities provides. Other organizations recognized her passion for serving and advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities, including Tri-Cities Residential Services. This local non-profit awarded Donna the Georgia Carter Memorial Award in 2019 for enhancing local services for individuals with disabilities.

Special Olympics of Washington awarded Donna the Most Inspirational Leader Award in Washington State in 2019 and Most Impactful ALT Member in 2020 for expanding sporting opportunities for individuals with disabilities and creating a pathway for Special Olympics of Washington to host the Fall Games here locally annually.

Donna and her husband are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, annual cooks for the Special Olympics Bike Team, and enjoy numerous other activities supporting their family members with developmental disabilities, including Tiffanie and Jeff.

Joanna Perez resides in Pasco, WA and has been a stay-at-home mom for the last three years caring for her five-year old Autistic son and two-year old son. Prior work experience includes 10 years of being an HR professional in industries such as healthcare and biotech. She has a newfound passion of being an advocate for special needs children and hopes to help spread awareness within the Hispanic community in the area.

Nikki Zimmerman has called Washington home for the past 5 years. Nikki has a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Social Work. Nikki’s strengths lie in her ability to see the big picture, set goals, and work to elevate the individual within her team.

Nikki’s primary focus remains raising her 2 children, Emery (11) & Erik (10), alongside her husband Guy, of 13 years. Guy & Nikki were introduced to the disability community when their son Erik was diagnosed with nonspeaking Autism at 2 years old. What started as a necessity to understand her son has developed into an unshakable passion for advocacy within the Autism and Disability community with a focus on communication for non speaking individuals, inclusion, and supporting parents who are just starting out on this journey.

Did someone say, volunteer? Here she comes!

Yubi has been part of organizations such as TheArc of Tri-Cities and PAVE. She is a board member of PTA. She is also part of the committee of Grupo Hispano and much more.

When her son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 5 years old, she was heartbroken and didn’t know what to do or what to expect. She felt lost, and being a single mom didn’t make it easier. Yubi started knocking on doors and realized it wouldn't be easy to get help for her son, mainly because there were limited resources and a long waiting list to get the different therapies that Brayden needed. There was only one thing she knew she was not doing: sit down and wait. Yubi left TRi-Cities and brought the help Brayden needed to town, not only for him but for many other kids. Yubi realized that if it was so hard for her to walk this path, she could only imagine how harder it would be for parents who did not speak English; therefore, she decided to be that voice and the guide that parents like her need, especially at the beginning of the Autism Journey!

Scott McDonald has been a PAVE community volunteer for over 20 years. Pave is an organization that helps parents navigate the special education maze. This journey began as a parent of 3 children on IEPs and connected with the PAVE coordinator that way.

Scott’s children are now in their thirties, but he continues working with PAVE because Scott feels strongly that parents need someone to help them. Scott got involved with the ARC through his youngest son who volunteered with Partners and Pals. Through these connections Scott went on to serve on the Arc board. Scott is passionate about helping kids and excited about the Autism Journey.

Assistant Director, Tri-Tech Skills Center

Her 20 years in secondary education have made her passionate about helping provide meaningful and productive education and employment pathways for young adults on the Autism spectrum. After learning about the Ignite program in North Carolina, Lisa knew we needed to provided something in the Tri-Cities and after meeting Jim Pridemore at Spectrum Studios she knew she had to become more involved with their mission. Lisa comes with a background in a variety of industries that helps her understand what employers need as well as how we can help all young adults be successful after they complete their high school careers.

Pam Carrier is a retired community member, grandmother of two, and legal guardian of a gentleman on the Autism Spectrum. In her early career days, she spent 15 years in education working with children ages birth to 18 with developmental disabilities as well as children with severe emotional behaviors. Other experience includes working in a sheltered workshop assisting young adults transition from school to the work environment. Here she was able to develop a successful retirement program helping individuals transition into retirement years. Pam also worked at The Arc of Tri-Cities as the Community Program Director in the 90's. While working at The Arc of Tri-Cities, she became a guardian for one of her clients and decided to shift roles so she could actively care for her. Pam brings a strong background in education, developmental disabilities, sales and marketing, and board leadership to the group. When the opportunity to help with this great cause, she knew she needed to get involved.

Suzy is a local pioneer in the Tri-Cities Autism community as she started the group called "Better Together" in 2013 with other Autism parents to create social skill building opportunities for their children. It has since grown into what is now known as The Arc of Tri-Cities Autism group that serves as a support system for many families in the area.

She has been married to her sweetheart for 28 years and is a busy mother to three sons on the Autism spectrum. Suzy brings her homeschooling experience and years of advocacy for her sons to the event development team. She is excited to share her passion about the non-speaking community, creating opportunities for them, and sharing their voices.

Cecilia was born and raised in a small community north of Tri-Cities. Alongside her husband, they have lived in the Tri-cities since 1999 and raised their family here. Cecilia brings a strong background in finance, having worked in a variety of professional backgrounds. Her hobbies include research such as genealogy, learning different languages, and science. Art is a passion of Cecilia’s, specifically oil painting and portrait drawings. She is active in local clubs for running and volunteers with the RRGC Wood Duck Box Program. When their daughter was diagnosed, Cecilia became an at-home educator for all of her children utilizing local resources as a mentorship for their passions and research. She believes networking with resources is the avenue to success, and it’s a crucial step for us to thrive as a community.

Mayra has been a Loan Officer for the past 18 years. Currently with Summit Funding as a Residential and Commercial Lender. Her husband Ismael Avila owns a local business, Northwest Roofing & Exteriors LLC, where she manages sales and operations. She is also a member of the local BNI Chapter and many other business networks in the area. Originally from Cashmere WA, Mayra and her family have resided in the Tri-Cities for the past 15 years. She is the proud mother of two young boys, one being on the Autism spectrum helping spark her involvement with the event.

Alicia has been married to her husband for 24 years and they are the proud parents of three amazing kids. With two of her children on the Autism Spectrum, Alicia understands the importance of being proactive in her advocacy efforts. Alicia is helping build partnerships with the community for this event. She believes educating our community on what autism is and how it affects families is essential. Education will foster a better understanding of those who are impacted and how our community can help. Bringing awareness and resources to our community has become her passion.

Mimi has been providing high quality ABA programs in the Tri-Cities for almost 10 years and has been a BCBA for over 15 years. She is the Clinic Director at Caravel Autism Health and is passionate about expanding access to quality care and therapy for children with autism.

Mimi started her career as an in-home therapist for a child with autism. She decided to expand her knowledge by earning her Master of Education at Vanderbilt University and by becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Since that time, she has worked as a behavior analyst in a variety of settings: From working in schools, clinics and in-home settings to working in group homes for adults with disabilities. Mimi has experience using behavioral principles to help individuals of all ages learn to be more independent and live more fulfilling lives.

BreAnna (Bre) has called the Tri-Cities her home for 34 years. For the last 8 years she has been the VIP Day program manager at the Arc of Tri-Cities, carting around 20-30 adults from the movies, to McDonalds, and coming up with fun new games and crafts like human piñata and smiling strawberries. “These amazing people are my family, I have a unique, funny and loving relationship with each of them. If I’m having a bad day it quickly goes out the window the second I walk into those doors and I am greeted with tons of hugs and smiles”

BreAnna has been married for 17 years to her husband Josh and they have 2 sons Aiden (15) and Jude (3). Earlier this year Jude was officially diagnosed with autism. “Working at the Arc has been a guiding light for all the information, support and love during Jude’s journey, we are so grateful to have the people we do in our lives”

On top of working at The Arc BreAnna owns her own photography business Images By Bre. She’s had a camera in her hands since being a Sophomore in high school. You can find her work in the 2022 Spring/Summer issue of a local magazine Taylored Living spotlighting The Arc and a handful of the VIP participants.

Jodie Wilson has been married to the love of her life for 32 years in April. They have 3 amazing grown children, 2 wonderful son-in-laws, 3 adorable grandsons, and their first granddaughter will be joining the family the beginning of May.

Jodie grew up here in the Tri-Cites, but as an adult moved away for several years. They lived in Eugene Oregon where Jodie worked at an Elementary school for 15 years in a life skills class where she learned so many useful skills when working with kids with disabilities. With changes being made in the school district that didn’t align with her views, they made the decision to move back to the Tri-Cities. She wanted to continue working with people with disabilities and stumbled upon The Arc of Tri-Cites. Jodie has been working there for 8 1/2 years and manages the Adult Day Program. She said “5 days a week I get to hug, dance, laugh, be a nurse, a counselor, and a mom with my participant's. Pretty much every day we are taking the whole group out in the community. From going to movies, bowling, eating out, park, pumpkin patches, Christmas tree farms, and you name it we try and do it.”

Jodie’s oldest grandson Wyatt (age 8) was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2 1/2. Wyatt is blessed to have a mommy who grew up going to work with his Grammy when she was younger, so that gave her daughter a lot of skills to help Wyatt. Wyatt, is a very high functioning little boy with a fun and happy attitude towards life. He definitely stole his Grammy’s heart from day one.