Exceptional Learners and Exceptional Instruction Speakers' Bios

Cindy Bivins, M.Ed., special educator and interim director, The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi

Cindy Bivins began teaching preschoolers with developmental disabilities in 1973 during her internship in Montgomery, Ala., pursuing a career interest that originated in 1957 with the birth of her younger brother, Steve, and reinforced in 1980 by the birth of her second son, Henry, both of whom have Down Syndrome. Since joining the staff at The Children’s Center in 1981, she has provided early educational instruction to infants, toddlers and preschoolers with a wider range of disabilities, concurrently working with families and other caregivers in their search for the best life for their children and themselves. Her greatest professional joys come from her association with the families and colleagues that she serves.  Interim director since July 2011, she also plans, administers, promotes and directs all phases of The Children’s Center, which serves approximately 90 children, with a staff of 11 full-time and eight part-time employees. Other work endeavors include serving as special educator on the Forrest General Hospital NICU follow-up team and facilitating local, regional and state collaborative efforts to improve and expand services for young children with disabilities. 

Donna Stauter, M.S., OTR/L, ATP

Donna has served pediatric populations ranging from birth to 21 with emphasis in early intervention, preschool and elementary educational settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy from ULM and a Master of Science in pediatric rehabilitation from the University of Oklahoma. Donna has additional training in neurodevelopmental training (NDT) and sensory integration and Praxis testing (SIPT). She is board-certified in pediatrics (BCP) and holds an Assistive Technology Provider certification (ATP). Donna has presented at state and local conferences and has been a guest speaker in multiple graduate and undergraduate college courses.

Kimberly Bellipanni, Ph.D.

Kimberly is a certified school psychologist at The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. As a staff member of The Children’s Center, Dr. Bellipanni participates in team assessments, direct intervention with students attending The Children’s Center, and provides behavioral consultations to teachers and parents of children receiving services. Her interests include using behavioral methodologies to help children with Autism and other developmental disabilities and offering training opportunities to schools and other community agencies. Dr. Bellipanni also serves as clinical director of Will’s Way, LLC, a private practice offering behavioral health services for children and adolescents with a variety of special needs.

Sarah Rouse Myers, M.S., CCC-SLP

Sarah is a speech-language pathologist at The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. She has been employed with The Children’s Center for two years and provides services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers in home, daycare and center-based settings. Sarah also participates in assessments and provides training for parents and teachers in augmentative communication use in the classroom and at home.

Ladell Kraft, M.C.D., CCC-SLP 

Ladell has a master's degree in speech-language pathology and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence, awarded by American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA). Ladell has provided speech-language services to children in Mississippi schools for more than 30 years.  Her current employment is at The Children's Center for Communication and Development at Southern Miss. Ladell is the lead speech pathologist in a center-based classroom for developmentally delayed preschoolers at The Children's Center. She supervises undergraduate and graduate students, conducts workshops for teachers, and provides staff development and consultative services to area school districts.

Sarah Case-Price, M. S., CCC-SLP

Sarah is a speech pathologist at The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi. She has worked as a speech-language pathologist in early intervention for the past nine years. As a staff member at The Children's Center, Sarah provides direct services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers, participates in assessments, and serves as referral and enrollment coordinator. She has presented at the state and regional level.

Judy Prehn, M.S., PT, PCS 

Judy holds a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from Medical University of South Carolina and a Master of Science in rehabilitation science with emphasis in pediatrics from Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy. Judy has been practicing pediatric physical therapy for more than 25 years. She is currently owner of Pediatric Physical Therapy, LLC, serves as physical therapist/assistive technology consultant at The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi and developmental pediatric physical therapist at Forrest General Hospital Intensive Care Nursery. In addition, Judy serves as guest lecturer for University Medical Center, School of Physical Therapy and clinical instructor at University Medical Center, University of South Alabama and Pearl River Community College.