WAPED Membership

Membership Activation

To ensure your membership for the current academic year, please follow the steps below:

Complete the 2025-2026 WAPED Membership Update Form with the information for each member included in the membership type you will be purchasing.

Submit payment via PayPal or with a check. If paying via check, please remit payment to WAPED at:

Andrew Pierce
WAPED Treasurer 2024-2025
Tax ID #91-2016488

Please remit payments to “WAPED” and mail checks to the address below:

WAPED
c/o Andrew Pierce
3401 S. Tyler Street
Tacoma, WA 98409

If you are current member, please update or change listserv membership. 

Membership Options

Professional Membership

Professional membership shall be open to those persons engaged in the administration of or individuals interested in the provision of services enhancing postsecondary educational opportunities for persons or students with disabilities. Members who join the Association as professional members shall be entitled to continue their professional membership regardless of change in employment and/or responsibility. Professional members are entitled to be a candidate for elective office, vote, have access to the listserv and pay reduced fees for conference registration.

Associate Membership

Any person expressing an interest in the purpose and general aims of the Association may be eligible for associate membership. An associate member shall not be a candidate for elective office or vote. Associate members have access to the email list, may serve as committee members, and pay reduced fees for conference registration.

Institutional Membership

Institutional membership is open to any four (4) professional members designated by the same post secondary institution. Institutional members have the same rights and privileges as professional members.

Emeritus Membership

Emeritus membership is open to a person who was member in good standing of WAPED for at least 10 years and who, while retired from active service in the disability support profession, continues an interest in the field and wishes to remain an active WAPED member. This membership category carries all the benefits associated with Professional or Institutional membership with the exceptions of voting rights and eligibility to serve on the WAPED Board of Directors; payment of a membership fee for this category is waived by WAPED. Any retired member who wishes to serve on the board or retain her/his voting rights would need to join as a Professional member and pay the associated fee.

Terms of Membership

The term of membership shall be September 1 to August 31.

Payment of Dues

Payment of dues shall be made to the Treasurer of the Association. Payments shall be due September 1 of each year. A member shall become inactive for nonpayment of dues sixty (60) days after the due date and shall lose all membership privileges until such time as dues are paid in full.

Contact the Board

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WAPED Members of the Board

Name Position Email Term
Kyle Gonzalez President kgonzalez@olympic.edu 2024 to 2027
Natalie Manfre Past-President NBarbero-Menchaca@greenriver.edu 2023 to 2026
Kaitlyn Vallance President-Elect kaitlyn.vallance@bellevuecollege.edu 202 to 2028
Andrew Pierce Treasurer apierce@pierce.ctc.edu 2024 to 2026
Sarah Van-Winkle Secretary svanwinkle@columbiabasin.edu 2025 to 2027
Shannon Garcia 4 Year Representative lea@uw.edu 2024 to 2026
Taylor Fisher
 4 Year Representative taya.williams05@gmail.com 2025 to 2027
Justin Smock 2 Year Representative justin.smock@skagit.edu 2024 to 2026
Melissa Medina 2 Year Representative mmedina@pierce.ctc.edu 2025 to 2027
Davi Kallman Conference Planner dkallman@pierce.ctc.edu 2025 to 2026
Jason Stariwat Incoming Conference Planner jason.stariwat@scc.spokane.edu 2025 to 2027

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Committees

WAPED Committee Structure and Information

WAPED has five standing committees as defined by the By‑laws. These committees, by definition, exist on an ongoing basis. The By‑laws also allow for ad hoc committees. These committees are appointed by the President on an as needed basis to accomplish a specific task.  Committees do important work that keeps the organization vibrant and contemporary, please consider joining one!
 
Notice: If you require interpreting or captioning services to attend committee meetings, please contact the committee chair. The committee chair and treasurer will work with you to accommodate your request. 
 

Awards Committee, chaired by the President-Elect

The Awards Committee shall consist of the President-Elect and at least four other members who will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the activities necessary for nominations of persons or organizations for awards at the Annual Spring Conference. This committee will also be responsible for planning the presentation and delivery of awards to the recipients.
 

Conference Committee, chaired by the Conference Planner

The Conference Committee shall be responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing, activities necessary to conduct the Annual Spring Conference. The President shall chair this committee. Other conferences may be planned and carried out at the direction of the Board.
 

Public Relations Committee, chaired by the Two-Year and Four-Year Representatives

The Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for initiating, coordinating, and implementing information exchange among the Board, the membership, and other organizations and agencies involved in the education and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The chair shall be a Board member or ex‑officio member of the Board.
 

Nominations Committee, chaired by the Immediate Past President

The Nominations Committee shall be responsible for conducting the nominations and election procedures, ref. Article 3, Section 4. The Immediate Past President shall chair this committee.
 

Membership Committee, chaired by the Secretary

Committee meets to discuss membership concerns, marketing, website and the development of resources for members.

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