Dr. Dennis A. Gilliam is the Executive Director of Special Projects for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. Additionally, Dr. Gilliam manages the Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT) program at AIDB. A 25-year veteran educator, his experiences span a myriad of exceptional education areas. Committed to lifelong learning, Dennis obtained both his B.S. and M.A. in mathematics from the University of Alabama. He went on to obtain certifications in Visual Impairments from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and in Educational Administration from the University of Montevallo. He obtained his Doctorate in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education from Lamar University. 

Beofre joining the Center for Assistive Training Technology (CATT) for Special Projects, Jason served as the Statewide Assistive Technology Specialist for the Blind for seven years at the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. Jason is a native of Talladega, Alabama and was the third generation of his family to attend Alabama School for the Blind. Jason later taught Assistive Technology to students who are blind or deafblind or have low vision at Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. He is a certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired and is currently the first and only Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist in the state of Alabama. Jason credits much of his work in the field of blindness to his father who is totally blind, and his mother who was visually impaired. In 2017, he was awarded Advocate of the Year by the Montgomery Area Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. He is a nationally known speaker in the field of Assistive Technology, transition, and STEM programs for students with visual impairments. Previously, Jason spoke at Princeton University on the topic of STEM education and students who are blind and has published his research in the Journal of Science Education and Students with Disabilities. Jason is married to his lovely wife, Shelby, has four incredible kids, and perhaps too many standard poodles.

Jason routinely consults with state and government agencies regarding accessibility, including the Department of Labor, the Department of Finance, the Governor's Office of Disabilities, and the Office of the Governor. Jason has previously held executive leadership positions on volunteer boards at the Alabama School for the Blind Alumni Association and the Alabama Council of the Blind. He currently serves on the Blind Advisory Panel for the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services and also serves on the two highest state advisory panels for Special Education, the Special Education Advisory Panel and the Interagency Coordinating Council for Alabama. 

Susie has been serving as a trainer since the inception of the Center for Assistive Technology Training program. Prior to working with the CATT program, Susie worked as a secondary science and English teacher for ten years, a Certified Teacher for the Visually Impaired for fifteen years, and a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for fourteen years. Additionally, Susie served as the Lead Outreach Provider for AIDB Outreach for a year and a half. Among her formidable experience, Susie is also a Certified Braille Transcriptionist and a National Board Certified Teacher. 

Jennifer Oldenburg serves as the Deafblind Trainer for the Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT) and Regional Early Acquisition of Language (REAL) programs at Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB). Jennifer began her career as a Speech Therapist at Helen Keller School of Alabama and Alabama School for the Blind in 1996. In 1999, Jennifer was honored to be named Lead Teacher of the Awakenings Pilot Program at Helen Keller School of Alabama (HKS). Jennifer taught at HKS until 2017 when she was named Lead Outreach Provider for Deafblind Services for AIDB as well as Coordinator of the Alabama Initiative for Children and Youth with blindness. During her time serving in this role, she traveled the state of Alabama providing technical assistance, observations, and resources to families, teachers, and students who are deafblind. In the fall of 2022, Jennifer accepted her current position as Deafblind Trainer for CATT and the REAL Program in Special Projects. Jennifer is married with two adult children.

Jill Dunaway currently serves as an Assistive Technology Trainer/Specialist at the Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT). Prior to joining CATT, she taught assistive technology at Alabama School for the Blind (ASB) for fifteen years. Ms. Dunaway is a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired as well as a Certified Braille Transcriber. Additionally, she holds certifications in ZoomText, JAWS from Vispero, and NVDA from nvacces. She also serves on the curriculum committee for the Quorum Programming language, a computer programming language specifically designed for users who are blind or visually impaired. A braille reader and screen reader user herself, Ms. Dunaway likes to say that assistive technology and braille literacy are keys to independence.

Originally from Alpine, Alabama, Eli attended Jacksonville State University where he studied graphic design. He became a member of the Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT) team for Special Projects in November of 2021. Previously, Eli worked with Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) as a graphic designer where he took on numerous projects. He designed flyers, t-shirts, logos, and much more. He has also assisted with multiple camps and events hosted by Special Projects at AIDB. He describes himself as a resourceful and detail-oriented designer and employee with an extensive skill set, specializing in design and media. In his free time, Eli enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as watching movies.

Katy Reid is a native of Oxford, Alabama. She serves as an assistant for the Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT) program at AIDB and is also a devoted Support Service Provider for DeafBlind individuals through the Talladega Regional Center. She has worked in the Alabama school system for over 16 years in various positions. She enjoys serving others and has a passion for people with disabilities. Katy’s belief is that all individuals with disabilities have the potential to be empowered to achieve their goals. Katy enjoys spending time outside, playing corn hole, kayaking, and enjoying time around a bonfire with her family.  She loves being active in her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. Her greatest joy in life is being a mother to her children.