About the Presenters
With Gail Harris-Schmidt, Jacquelyn Coleman, Liz Crotty, Lisa Kelley, Michael Kelley, Gregg Harper, moderated by Hilary Rosselot.
Gail Harris-Schmidt
Gail is a retired speech pathologist and learning disabilities professor. She and her husband Steve have two adult sons, one of whom has Fragile X syndrome. Gail has co-written the book “The Source for Fragile X Syndrome” with her colleague Dr. Dale Fast and has presented talks about Fragile X syndrome at numerous conferences
Jacquelyn Coleman
Jacquelyn and her husband, Paul, are the proud parents of two children, Maya and Paul III, both of whom were diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome. When her son was diagnosed in 2002, Jacquelyn sought as much information as she could find. One of the first resources she discovered was the book Children with Fragile X Syndrome: A Parents’ Guide by former NFXF team member, Jayne Dixon Weber. It is a book that she still cherishes today. After learning more about Fragile X premutation conditions at her first NFXF International Fragile X Conference in San Antonio, Jacquelyn decided to get tested to determine her number of CCG repeats. She was surprised when she found out that she, too, has the full mutation Fragile X syndrome.
Jacquelyn and her family became involved with the NFXF Houston Chapter in 2013, and since then have participated in many local events and fundraisers, and attended NFXF Advocacy Day and International Fragile X Conferences. Jacquelyn has worked as a workers’ compensation administrative law judge for the state of Texas for the past 15 years. She is motivated by the desire to raise awareness in the community at large about Fragile X syndrome, to help underrepresented people gain better access to clinical trials, and to help self-advocates have a better future.
Liz Crotty
Liz Crotty is a mother of three, including one child with Fragile X syndrome. After beginning her career in tax accounting, she dedicated herself to advocating for her children and others with disabilities. She served as Chair of her school district’s Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), where she helped lead efforts to expand inclusive playgrounds, establish a Transition Academy for students with disabilities, and advocate for policies that better support individuals with disabilities and their families.
Inspired by her advocacy work, Liz returned to graduate school to earn a Master’s degree in special education with a concentration in adapted curriculum. She is now a special education teacher and remains passionate about empowering students with disabilities and supporting families through advocacy and education.
Lisa Kelley
Lisa Kelley is a passionate advocate for the Fragile X community whose connection to Fragile X spans three generations. Her 33-year-old son has full-mutation Fragile X syndrome, her father recently passed away from FXTAS, and she and her sisters are carriers affected by FXPOI. The impact of FX has profoundly shaped her life and inspired her commitment to health, nutrition, and wellness. Through her work in healthy food, education, and community building, Lisa strives to help individuals and families live healthier, more connected lives while creating opportunities for inclusion, resilience, and hope.
