Meet Our Instructors

 

 

Thomas Carr, MS:  

Tom has been working directly with adults with Intellectual Disabilities for more than 25 years. Throughout his career in the field, he has been part of numerous programs committed to empowering individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) to realize their full potential. He received a Master's in Rehab Counseling from San Diego State University with an emphasis in counseling. He taught Disability and Society at Grossmont College from 2006-2009, with both in person and virtual instruction modalities. Tom is passionate to share with everyone that a disability is not what defines a person, and we should all emprace each other in spite of our differences and disabilities. 

 

 

Deborah Serban- Lawler, MS:

Since 1998, Debbie has been a motivational leader and instructor in the health, wellness and disability field in the state of California. She is the Founder and owner of Serban Wellness & Fitness. Debbie is a Certified Personal Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist and holds both Master and Bachelor Degrees. She is an enthusiastic professional who consistently motivates, energizes and encourages confidence in her students and clients. She is known for how she uniquely supports each person she works with. Debbie is an avid learner and loves to challenge herself and her clients of any age to grow, learn and improve their quality of life. Debbie sees the importance and value in dissecting the wealth of information in this huge industry and is known for bringing to her client’s key state of the art information to support maintainable lifestyle changes.

 

 

 

 

Janice Melroy, Ed.D:

Janice has worked in the disability and education field for more than 25 years. She has worked in residential, educational, and day program settings, supporting people with developmental disabilities. She has coordinated state and federally funded training and dissemination programs employing individuals with Developmental Disabilities, and has taught Disability Services courses since 2004. Janice is passionate about lifelong learning, and is very responsive to student needs- especially those who are first time distance learners. Janice’s educational background includes: an A.S. degree in Disability Services Management from Grossmont College, a Bachelor’s degree in Vocational Education, Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with emphasis on Rehabilitation Technology, and finally a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, with emphasis on Community College Leadership at San Diego State University. Her dissertation included research on the efficacy of Universal Design for Learning.