Family Advisory Committee

Kerry’s Place established the Family Advisory Committee (FAC) in 2018 to create a forum for families in our Supported Living services. This committee is a space for members to share experiences and to advise, give input or make recommendations to management, ensuring the highest quality of programs and services for all people receiving Kerry’s Place’s Supported Living services.

The Family Advisory Committee meets approximately every six weeks. All meetings are held virtually. Each member commits to a two-year term, up to a maximum of four years.

Lise Lareau

Co-Chair

Lise Lareau’s sister Jackie has lived in a Kerry’s Place home in the Toronto region for 35 years. Lise has been on the Family Advisory Committee since 2019 and served on the KPAS Board of Directors in the 1990s. She is a part-time instructor at York University and a former producer at CBC News.

Steve Simkus

Co-Chair

Steve Simkus’ brother Richard has lived in a Kerry’s Place home in the Orangeville area for more than 40 years. Steve has served on the Family Advisory Committee since 2019. He is a former Vice-President of Marketing & Communications for the Canadian Standards Association.

Phyllis Disenhouse

Phyllis Disenhouse’s son Herschel has lived in Kerry’s Place group homes for 42 years, in Thomasburg, Caledon, and now Toronto. Phyllis has been on the Family Advisory Committee for two years. She is a retired teacher and helped run an information service for families of exceptional children for several years called The Exceptional Family Information Service.

Dianne Gaggi

Dianne Gaggi’s daughter Sandra has been with Kerry’s Place for 20 years and lives in a home in Toronto. Dianne has been on the Family Advisory Committee since 2019 and previously served six years representing families at Developmental Services Toronto. She is a former VP of Human Resources at Unisource Canada where she retired in 2013.

Jonathan Gross

Jonathan Gross’s brother Adam was one of the original residents at Kerry’s Place and now lives in the Supported Independent Living program in Toronto. Jonathan has been on the Family Advisory Committee for a year and is president of the entertainment distribution company ‘Unobstructed View’. His other claim to fame is that he once co-wrote an episode of Seinfeld.

Carolan Halpern

Carolan Halpern’s son Jeffrey has lived in Kerry’s Place homes for more than 30 years, including his current residence in the Durham Region. Carolan was president of the former Toronto Chapter of Autism Ontario and participated in fundraising for what was then called the Ontario Society for Autistic Citizens. She is retired and has served on the KPAS Board of Directors and other committees.

Vanessa Morgan

Vanessa Morgan’s brother Scott has lived in various Kerry’s Place group homes since the original pilot project in 1974, as their parents were among the founding parents of the organization. She has been on the Family Advisory Committee since 2022 and also served on the KPAS Board of Directors in the 1990s. Vanessa and her brother Jonathan were actively involved with the Evening for Autism organizing committee for 16 years. Vanessa is President & CEO of Morgan Meighen & Associates Limited, an investment management firm.

Howard Weinroth

Howard Weinroth’s son Jordan has been a resident of Kerry’s Place group homes for 38 years including his current residence in the Central region. Howard is a new member of the Family Advisory Committee but brings vast experience from several other boards, including the Behaviour Support Plan Review Committee at REENA and Kerry’s Place Residential Services. He has also volunteered at Autism Ontario, Surrey Place and the Geneva Centre.

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The following commitments and guidelines govern the Family Advisory Committee at Kerry’s Place.