Matthew J. Starr
Minneapolis
Overview
47
47
years of professional experience
Work History
Disability Integration Advisor
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Washington
01.2014 - Current
- To date, I’ve deployed to 35 major disasters, including Public Health Emergencies and four outside of the continental United States.
- I performed advisory service and technical assistance at Joint Field Offices, state Emergency Operations Centers and fields.
- My duties include, but not limited to, advising senior field leaderships with information & referrals, providing Just-In-Time briefings, devising workaround (problem solving), and collaborating with external community partners on inclusive emergency management and accessible public messaging.
- Department of Homeland Security
- Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC)
- Washington, DC
Senior Instructor Faculty & Community Liaison
National Center for Deaf Health Research
Rochester
09.2005 - 09.2013
- Performed administrative functions of a federally funded community-‐based participatory research center for a marginalized community.
- Responsibilities include overseeing budgetary and grant administration, handling human resource management of center’s employees, fostering capacity building with community and communicating with media & multiple audiences using a variety of accessible formats.
- Department of Public Health Sciences
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Rochester, NY
Program Director
The Health Association
Rochester
10.1988 - 09.2005
- Directed and managed United Way funded nonprofit programs essential to the quality of life for people with disabilities.
- Supervised 55 staff and contractors.
- Relevant Accomplishments: Consulted communication accessibility for a regional 911 Center. As a result, the 911 Center became a national model.
- Worked with Rochester (NY) Fire Department to obtain & install smoke detectors in Deaf households within the City of Rochester.
- Educated and consulted hospital administrators to provide quality sign language interpreting services to meet NY State’s accessibility legislation.
Supervising Clinical Technologist
Strong Memorial Hospital
Rochester
06.1979 - 10.1988
- Supervised and managed a busy regional pediatric laboratory.
- Functioned as a compliance and regulatory liaison to NY State Department of Health.
- University of Rochester Medical Center
Education
Master of Public Health -
University of Rochester
Rochester, NYBachelor of Science - Medical Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NYSkills
- Consummate communicator
- Practices inclusiveness
- Responsiveness to co-workers
- Community members engagement
- Handling ambitious schedules
- Project management
- Developing community-risk assessments
- Disability awareness
- Sensitivity education
- Humor in communication
- High appetite for excellence
- Proven asset to employers
- Agencies collaboration
- Disaster survivor support
Phone
585-709-2066, Text
Community Services
- Task Force Member, University of California, Berkeley
- School of Public Health
- Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center, 05/10, 05/12, Advised on emergency preparedness for Deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens.
- Ombudsperson, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 08/06, 09/13, Served as Americans with Disabilities Act ombudsperson to medical students., Evaluated effectiveness of accessible services for students with disabilities and campus accessibility.
- Committee Member, City of Rochester (NY)
- Rochester Police Department’s Police Citizens Interaction Committee, 10/04, 06/05, Invited by the Chief of Police to serve as an advisor to problem-solve relations between PD and Deaf and hard of hearing communities.
- Lead Consultant, Finger Lakes Regional Poison and Drug Information Center, 06/03, 10/03, Assisted with planning a conference, 'Enhancing Communications with Special populations: The Deaf and Migrant Worker (and Others).'
- Task Force Member, Deaf-Blind Collaborative Committee, Rochester, NY, 01/02, 01/04, Chaired needs assessment effort to improve services for Deaf-Blind individuals and their families.
- Council Member, City of Rochester/Monroe County Council for People with Disabilities, 12/10, 12/13, Provided input to municipal managers and engineers on evaluating accessibility at various city and county owned facilities, programs and events., Recruited local citizens with disabilities for public safety drill exercises (volunteers with pretend injuries)., Appointed by City Mayor and County Executive.
- Co-Chair, 'Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The First Step', 06/91, 09/91, Coordinated and developed a workshop for agencies funded by the United Way of Greater Rochester to comply with newly enacted accessibility legislation.
Presentations
- 04/10, 2010 Joint Conference of the Society for Public Health Education & CDC’s Preventive Research Centers, Atlanta, GA, Presented, 'Reaching out to Deaf Americans during public emergencies via The Internet.'
- 04/99, Rochester (NY) Police Department, Co-presented a 4-hour in-service training to 40 RPD commanders and officers on, 'Police communication with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.'
Timeline
Disability Integration Advisor
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
01.2014 - Current
Senior Instructor Faculty & Community Liaison
National Center for Deaf Health Research
09.2005 - 09.2013
Program Director
The Health Association
10.1988 - 09.2005
Supervising Clinical Technologist
Strong Memorial Hospital
06.1979 - 10.1988
Master of Public Health -
University of Rochester
Bachelor of Science - Medical Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology