Karen Rispin

At LeTourneau University, Karen led the Wheels research project that developed and validated a set of research tools to determine how well wheelchairs work in low-resource settings. Because of this research, Karen was invited to international committees and became familiar with resources and training for appropriate assistive technology provision. Karen grew up in Kenya and is familiar with networks of mission hospitals. Karen and Phil started the Assistive Technology Catalyst Project. Phil’s skill as a videographer and photographer has been a key part of this endeavor.

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Jonathan & Kristi Biggers

Jonathan is an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) and works with AT Catalyst in Africa and Guatemala to facilitate access to appropriate provision of wheelchairs and other assistive technologies. Kristi is a nurse (RN, BSN) with over 10 years of experience who has also been a clinical instructor and preceptor for new nursing graduates. They will be living and working in Guatemala to help train teams to care for and bring hope to individuals with disabilities.

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Christine Broby

Christine has extensive experience with community-based health and is excited to come on board to lead an initiative to set up Ubuntu programs at each of our partnering locations. Christine was recently in Kenya to take training to that end. She’s excited about opening doors for children and their families to be less isolated and experience true hope and help in facing life’s struggles.

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Lauren and Sheldon Nest

Sheldon Nest has his MPH in Public Health and is IDEAS Health and Wellness Sector Director. Lauren Nest is BSN,RN serving with IDEAS programs. With their love of people and diverse cultures, they have a passion to invest their skills with under-served individuals and communities globally. Sheldon and Lauren have lived in Southeast Asia since 2015 and are in the process of moving to Guatemala to join the team faithfully working with individuals and families affected by disability.

They look forward to growing in their health care skills and knowledge specific to the area of disability care including pursuing training with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine through the Ubuntu Hub Program in order to help facilitate groups in a participatory approach to learning for caregivers.

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