The Family Support Research and Training Center (FSRTC) has a dedicated team of researchers, advocates, and collaborators working to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.
Many of us are caregivers, family members, or self-advocates, bringing personal insight and lived experience to our work. Our commitment stems from a shared belief in the critical role families play in ensuring dignity, independence, and community inclusion for their loved ones. The FSRTC is a resource for research, actionable insights, and collaborative opportunities. Here, you’ll find comprehensive information about our five major projects, each designed to bridge research, practice, and policy. Whether you’re a policymaker, advocate, service provider, or caregiver, we welcome you to explore our work and join us in strengthening the systems and solutions that empower families and individuals with disabilities.
Team
Sumithra Murthy
Principal Investigator
For 13 years Sumithra Murthy has conducted research and provided training and technical assistance on family support. She is a mixed methods researcher with extensive experience with family research, especially with minority populations and cultural competence. She is the current chair of the Aging Special Interest Group for AUCD.
Tamar Heller
Co-Principal Investigator
Tamar Heller’s research focuses on family supports, managed care and health promotion interventions for individuals with disabilities. She has published widely and served in leadership roles in national and international boards, e.g., AUCD (as president), the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (as chair). Tamar co-founded the Sibling Leadership Network.
Joe Caldwell
Co-Investigator
Joe Caldwell is Director of the Community Living Policy Center at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. Joe Caldwell has extensive research and policy experience in long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults and individuals with disabilities. His research focuses on improving access to Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services, self-direction, person-centered planning, and supports for family caregivers. He served on the RAISE Family Caregiver Council, and was Director of LTSS Policy at the National Council on Aging where he led a coalition of over 40 national aging and disability organizations to advance LTSS policy.
David Camacho
Co-Investigator
As a co-investigator and the director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, David Camacho will guide the efforts to translate and culturally adapt interventions and products through the RRTC and to disseminate to diverse communities.
Timotheus “T.J.” Gordon, Jr.
Co-Investigator
T.J. Gordon Jr. uses his self-advocacy, racial equity, disability culture, and autism acceptance lenses to educate the public. He co-founded the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition.
Kelly Hsieh
Co-Investigator
Kelly Hsieh leads the Evaluation and Public Policy Unit, having much program evaluation expertise and background in family studies, nursing, public health, and epidemiology, with over 20 years of research experience in IDD. She is currently serving on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for the Arc of Illinois. She has published widely on health, obesity, fall risk factors, health promotion and family support for persons aging with IDD.
Jae Jin Pak
Co-Investigator
Jae Jin serves as the Self Advocacy Training Mentor for the Illinois Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program, working to empower self-advocates through leadership development. He is co-founder of Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition. He has worked to build bridges between diverse communities and providers to foster collaborations and partnerships.
Sydney “Syd” Pickern
Co-Investigator
Syd Pickern is a disabled policy attorney and advocate who identifies as LGBQ+ and non-binary. They have an extensive history in policy analysis and development, including work with the Community Living Policy Center at Brandeis and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF). They have policy and advocacy experience on access to services and supports, convening stakeholder workgroups, and development of policy briefs.
Dinayra Rivera
Spanish Language Coordinator
Dinayra Rivera is a bilingual Spanish coordinator working with families on the V-FIN curriculum. She has a MS in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Adler University.
Abby Schindler
Project Coordinator
Abby Schindler has worked in coordinator roles for 14 years, including coordinating university research, non-profit ministry and higher education administration.