Tammie Sebastian
Tammie Sebastian is currently a dedicated Special Education Advocate in Ohio. With a rich history of advocating for children with disabilities, she brings both personal and professional experience to her role as the mother of two young adult children with disabilities. Tammie began her career as an advocate for Tapestry Systems of Care, where she provided wraparound services to families. During her time there, she advocated on behalf of children facing sentencing within the juvenile justice system who were not receiving appropriate support or had not yet been identified as having a disability.
Her career includes 12 years with the Parent Training and Information Center, the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, three of which were spent as a Statewide Program Coordinator. In this role, she managed project work, collaborated with various stakeholders, provided professional development for staff, and developed comprehensive training materials for families.
Tammie currently chairs Ohio's State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children (SAPEC), which advises and assists the State Education Agency (SEA) on special education and related services for children with disabilities. This role has enabled her to contribute to the development of evaluations, corrective action plans, and policies related to the coordination of services for children with disabilities. She also serves on the Department of Developmental Disabilities(DODD) Family Advisory Council Core Group, which plans and leads the Family Advisory Council (FAC) to strengthen family collaboration, offer guidance to DODD, and encourage family leadership.
Additionally, Tammie contracts with the University of Cincinnati Systems Development and Improvement, providing consulting and technical assistance to enhance family engagement, particularly for families of children with complex needs, including those with combined hearing and vision loss. She has also served on numerous committees and advisory councils at the local, state, and national levels. With a strong background in education, Tammie is committed to driving positive change and fostering inclusive learning environments. During her time with the Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), she focused on dispute resolution and contributed to CADRE's learning community, providing guidance on building relationships with SEAs.
Throughout her career, Tammie has held strong, research-based opinions and empowered families to do the same, while empathizing with the dynamic issues that special educators face. Her emphasis on effective communication and problem-solving has significantly impacted the lives of students and families, fostering understanding and cooperation among all parties involved.
Outside of her professional life, Tammie enjoys working out, spending quality time with her family and friends, and caring for her Boston terrier, Milo. She remains an active and passionate advocate within her community.