Board of Directors
Megan Higgins
President & Founder
Megan Higgins is a children’s author, disability advocate, philanthropist and a mother to her beautiful daughter, Isabella. Megan began her journey as a disability advocate after her daughter was born with a neuromuscular disorder. She published her first book, Super Special Magic Shoes, in October 2021 and has traveled to schools around Ohio and beyond educating and normalizing the use of orthotics and other medical devices. She has been recognized in numerous national organizations including Ella’s Way, National Disability Book Week and Hey Momme and a feature guest with events through Summit DD, the Akron Art Museum and numerous libraries and bookstores. Megan is a board member and featured author of Piper’s Key, a local non-for-profit who gifts inclusive books to children with disabilities.
Dr. Jessica Hoefler
Dr. Jessica Hoefler is the founder and executive director of Piper’s Key, a nonprofit with the mission of gifting inclusive books to children with disabilities that represent themselves in a positive light. Piper's Key was formed in memory of Piper Grace, who passed away after 27 days on Earth due to the effects of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 0 (the rarest form of SMA). It was through Dr. Jessica’s grief that propelled her to ensure that Piper’s siblings were able to say their sister’s name without the heavy sadness constantly associated with her passing. She is currently an educational audiologist at Summit Educational Service Center in Cuyahoga Falls advocating for the needs of students with hearing and listening needs within multiple districts throughout Northeast Ohio. Most importantly, Dr. Jessica is a mom and wife who loves spending time with her living daughter Quinn, her son Leo, and her husband Ryan!
Regina Merle, CCC-SLP
Regina Merle is a pediatric speech-language pathologist at Akron Children's Hospital. She earned her master's degree from Case Western Reserve University and her MBA from the University of Akron. Regina loves working with children of all abilities - especially those with communication disorders that use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She is an advocate for children with disabilities and strongly believes that every child, regardless of their abilities, should have equal access to education, social inclusion, and participation in their lives. Her work emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive environments that embrace and support diverse communication needs. She lives in Hudson with her husband, Sean. ​
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Mary Schaeffer
Mary Schaeffer is an intervention specialist and a mom of two non-disabled children. An inclusive playground holds deep personal and professional significance for Mary, because it represents a space where all children, regardless of ability, can play, explore, and connect with one another. Professionally, Mary recognizes how such environments foster social inclusion, promote physical and cognitive development, and provide therapeutic benefits for children with disabilities. The Hudson Inclusive Playground will not be just a physical space; it will serve as a powerful tool for creating a more equitable and supportive community for all our families!
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Dr. Adam Bartlett
Dr. Adam Bartlett is a pediatric physiatrist at Akron Children's Hospital, specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He serves as the Co-Director of the Brachial Plexus Treatment Center and is involved in the Day Rehabilitation and Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs. Dr. Bartlett earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine at Rutgers University/Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in Newark, New Jersey, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Rehabilitation at Children's Specialized Hospital/Rutgers University in Mountainside, New Jersey.
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Greg Lawton
Greg Lawton is the former founder and CEO of Avesta Systems Inc., a human resources platform designed to enhance recruiting, hiring, and employee management. Avesta combined behavioral science insights with advanced technology to optimize the entire employee lifecycle. Prior to founding Avesta, Greg was Regional Vice President at American Medical Response, a publicly traded emergency medical services provider, where he managed regional operations and spearheaded multi-state business development initiatives.
Greg is married to Melissa Lawton, and they have two daughters: Alexandra, who lives in London, England, and Caroline, who resides in Brooklyn, New York.
Alyson Schoff
Alyson Schoff facilitates community outreach and has lived in Hudson for 8 years. She and her husband John have 3 boys and their youngest child Owen is blind. Alyson believes that the remarkable city of Hudson deserves to have a fully inclusive playground where all children and adults feel a sense of belonging in a supportive environment. She believes that a fully inclusive playground will help reinforce important values such as diversity, empathy, and collaboration.
Jordyn Zimmerman
Jordyn Zimmerman is a passionate educator and disability advocate. She grew up in Hudson, and is internationally recognized for her insights and work around accessibility. Jordyn firmly believes that design choices can either include or exclude. Excited about contributing to the intentional design here, she is eager to make this a space that welcomes everyone.
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