About

 Brenda and Paul Sullivan are the parents of Katie, who was born with multiple physical disabilities including Cerebral palsy, Epilepsy and cortical blindness.

 

These were the result of a stroke in the days just before her birth that went undiagnosed until four months of age. This medical diagnosis is called “porencephaly.” In basic terms, the bleeding in the right side of Katie’s brain resulted in 80% of her right hemisphere being destroyed. She was left with a massive hole in the right side of her brain. Because of this, Katie is unable to speak, walk, eat food by mouth or hold herself up. She also requires around the clock care since birth.

 

We have been confronted with all of the emotional and interpersonal/family issues that a life changing disability like Katie’s inevitably produces. We have also had to deal with countless questions and numerous roadblocks in many areas including:

 

• The Healthcare System with respect to Katie’s medical treatment;
• The involvement of State Agencies in accessing programs and qualifying for funding;
• The local school system and associated education issues;
• Insurance and financial issues; 
• Identifying necessary resources to assist us in multiple areas of daily life; 
• Family; coping with the unexpected negative attitudes from some and celebrating the love and support from others.

 

Brenda Sullivan has twelve years of experience advocating for children with disabilities and has been a member of several Connecticut state boards, including:

 

• The State Advisory Council on Special Education (SAC) for the State Department of Education and is currently Chair of SAC.

 

• The Bureau of Rehab Services Council for The Board of Education Services for the Blind (BESB) and is currently holds the office of Vice President.

 

She also served as chair of the Local Interagency Coordinating Council for Greater Hartford (LICC) in Connecticut’s Birth to Three System. She is a member of First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut and volunteers on its Disability Team, which sponsors disability outreach projects several times a year.

 

Brenda works part-time as a grant writer, for Planned Life Time Assistance Network in West Hartford, Connecticut, a nonprofit that assists and serves individuals with disabilities.

 

Paul Sullivan has over thirty two years of multi-line Claim Administration and Risk Management experience in Connecticut’s insurance industry and the private sector. He has developed comprehensive Claims Administration and Loss Control programs for commercial accounts across a variety of industries. He also assists clients in managing the performance of insurance carrier and Third Party Administrator (TPA) claim services and advocates on clients’ behalf in policy and coverage disputes with insurance companies.

 

Paul is a member of St. Dustan’s Parish in Glastonbury, Connecticut and enjoys volunteering for Home Front Days and Habitat for Humanity projects. He also serves as a volunteer coach each spring for Glastonbury’s Special Olympics Track and Field Team.