Mary Ortner, BCEA
Mary serves on the Advisory Board of NSEAI.
Mary is an active advocate locally and nationally. She is a national educational consultant that advises other advocates, agencies and parents. She has 3 children 2 of which have special needs. She is an exceptional teacher - having worked in special education classrooms in both public and private schools, including Camden City and Cherry Hill, NJ.
EDUCATION
- Glassboro State College/Rowan College BS Ed.
- Post graduate work at Glassboro in Education
- Certificate in Theology from Villanova University
- National Special Education Advocacy Institute - Board Certified Education Advocate - BCEA at the Fellow Level
She is a:
Peer Coordinator, an Educational Consultant and a trained Court-appointed special advocate (CASA). She is appointed by a judge to advocate for a child’s best interest in court, making life-changing differences for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. She assists the judges in developing a fuller picture of each child’s life, enabling judges to make the most well-informed decision for each child.
She is an active leader in the advocacy community and serves as a:
Parent Advisory Board Member of the Learning Disabilities Association of NJ (LDANJ), which is the state affiliate of LDA of America (LDAA). She volunteers by:
- Providing information so that learning disabilities are universally understood and effectively addressed
- Encouraging early identification of Learning Disabilities (LD)
- Promoting vocational and career education opportunities for people with LD
- Advocating for legislation that protects the rights of individuals with LD and their families
- Collaborating with other organizations with similar missions
- Ensuring that all people with LD have the opportunity to lead successful and productive lives
Resource Parent at SPAN of New Jersey
Providing information, resources, support, and advocacy assistance to families, professionals, and policy makers
National and NJ State Ambassador for the NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders, Inc. (NJCTS) which is the first Center of Excellence for Tourette Syndrome that provides programs and services to support families, public outreach and awareness campaigns, and education for schools and healthcare professionals.
She has also served as a member of the Main Street Woodborough NJ, Board of Directors
