SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS CURRICULUM VITAE Timothy E. Hornik, LMSW Lawrence, KS 66049 Email: info@blindnotalone.com Licensed Masters Social Worker, KSBRSB #7921 Established public speaker on Veteran and disability topics including resiliency, transitions, accessibility, accommodations, healthcare, and education Extensive experience in crisis intervention, intake assessments, and program management 15 years of military and veterans services related multidisciplinary team facilitation Effective written and verbal communication skills EDUCATION Currently pursuing, PhD in Therapeutic Sciences from the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, August 2014 to Present Researching the impacts disablement possesses on personal and social identities and the roles adaptive technologies and devices influence rehabilitative outcomes Supervised and mentored a mixed methods exploratory design research project on the perceptions of medicinal cannabis executed by three Masters of Occupational Therapy students Assisted in the mentorship of undergraduate psychology students learning about research and addictions Masters of Social Work from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, August 2008 to July 2010 Focused on strengths-based interventions and family services in clinical social work practice Liberal Studies Degree from Viterbo University, August 1998 to July 2002 Degree comprised of interdisciplinary coursework from Bachelor of science and Nursing core curricula, upper level Psychology courses, and four years of U.S. Army s Reserve Officer Training Corps Elected Continuing Education Programs Project Visual Impairment and Assistive Technology For All (VITALL), Northern Illinois University Department of Special Education, 48 hours, Spring 2017 Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills (PAIRS), PAIRS Foundation, 12 hours, November 2013 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Military and Veteran Social Work Practice, 10 Hours, June 2013 California State University Northridge Assistive Technologies Conference, 18 hours, February 2013 Family Resiliency from Bowen Family Systems Theory, 6 hours, June 2011 HUMAN SERVICES EXPERIENCE Founder and Chief Executive Officer Blind Not Alone, LLC, March 2017 to Present Created Blind Not Alone, LLC, contracting with the VA and non-profits for technology assessments, grant writing, and program management Established a fee for service contractual relationship with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide technology assessments, training, and presentations to Veterans and healthcare providers working with visually impaired Veterans Continuously devise and execute the Blind Vet Tech educational series through podcasts, technology teleconferences for visually impaired Veterans, informative articles, and accessibility and usability advocacy Host and editor for the Heartland Regional Group of the Blinded Veterans Association website and newsletter Website developer and editor for BlindNotAlone.com Provide tutorials and training on Apple MacOS with Voice Over, ios with Voice Over, Windows 10 with Narrator, Amazon Alexa and Echo Designed and executed the first five man civilian light team participating in the Bataan
Memorial Death March in collaboration with Blind Endeavors and the Blinded Veterans Association Collaborated with KAMO Adventures draft a VA Adaptive Sports Grant for FY 2018, crafting sections for beneficial aspects and program components for adaptive sports for disabled Veterans from existing research Devised and managed United States Association of Blind Athletes Competitive and Recreational Community Sports Integration Project for Veterans, a $20,000 Veterans Affairs grant for adaptive sports Consultant (Department of Defense Contractor) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, February 2012 to Present Analyzed over 75 basic science and rehabilitative medicine research proposals for psychological health and Traumatic Brain Injury, sensory impairments, and other funding mechanisms investigating diagnostic to rehabilitative solutions for military traumas Served on seven scientific research review panels debating clinical feasibility and benefits of scientific research proposals Recruited consumer advocates and deliberated merits of the CDMRP with leading researchers from medical institutions Co-Founder (Pro Bono) Blind Vet Tech, March 2014 to Present Co-founded Blind Vet Tech to address the barriers and gaps in services impacting a visually impaired Veteran from integrating technology as a prosthetic device Recruited and established the Blinded Veterans Association national technology working group to assess Department of Veterans Affairs 508 compliancein preparation for a Congressional committee hearing on the VA, drafted and published the accessibility tool for screen readers, and co-wrote the published BVA congressional testimony on accessibility Supervised the execution of the usability assessment on ten VA webpages and one state website for the Blinded Veterans Association congressional testimony on Section 508 Represented visually impaired Service Members and Veterans at a panel discussion on technology for transitioning Service Members at M-Enabling Summit Composed and published a series of guides and informative papers on various features and applications available for visually impaired ios users Created and moderate two monthly national teleconferences for Veterans with visual impairments to learn and share information about assistive technologies Developed and executed technology training events during the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Blinded Veterans Association National Convention Establish and regularly publish new episodes for the Blind Vet Tech podcast channels which receive an average of 150 listeners each week Crafted and publish the Blind Not Alone and Blind Vet Tech websites for Veterans with visual impairments to learn more about technology and for the general public to learn about Veterans and disability rights and resources Field Services Representative (Paid and Pro Bono) Coalition to Salute America s Heroes, (CSAH) May 2013 to December 2013 Successfully coordinated and executed informational briefings to the commands and staff of Warrior Transition Units at Fort Riley and Fort Sill, encouraging community partnerships Established helpful working relationships with the case managers of Wounded Warriors from the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers throughout Kansas, Army Wounded Warrior Advocates, and other non-profits helping Veterans Aided with the establishment of a therapeutic couples cruise for wounded Special Operations Forces veterans, utilizing the CEO of the PAIRS foundation Co-facilitated the PAIRS curriculum fostering a safe environment for the couples to engage with each other Provided family counseling and safety planning for families in need during a week long convention for roughly 100 disabled Veterans and their families Executive Board (Pro Bono) Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Heartland Regional Group, January 2013 to Present Devise and implement goals and initiatives for the only affiliate of the Congressionally Chartered Veterans Service Organization advocating on the behalf of blinded Veterans in Kansas and Missouri Advocated for increasing Defense Appropriations for research on service related visual traumas with Senators and Representatives during Washington D.C. visits and throughout Missouri and Kansas Advocated for various Veterans related bills and resolutions impacting Kansans Engage the membership developing objectives, active membership, and future leadership Establish rapport with Centers for Independent Living, Veterans Affairs, Kansas Commission for "2
Veterans Affairs, and other organizations informing each on the mission and needs of the BVA Established and published the Heartlander newsletter, the official publication of the Heartland Regional Group of the Blinded Veterans Association reaching over 300 readers Created and administer the regional group s website, featuring resources and blog post on blindness Advocated for and assisted with the development of peer support groups for visually impaired Veterans at the Leavenworth and Wichita Veterans Administration Medical Centers Served as delegate to the 2013 national convention of the BVA Established and moderate the BVA s Leadership Training and Discussion monthly teleconference, focusing on the history of the organization, advocacy efforts, and blind rehabilitation Formed a committee consisting of Dr. Chapin from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, VIST Coordinator at the Wichita VA, community partners, and Heartland Representatives, to begin planning a statewide strengths-based peer support and volunteer based services to enhance the quality of life for older visually impaired Veterans in rural Kansas Established partnerships with KAMO Adventures and US Association of Blind Athletes to develop and execute adaptive recreational activities for Veterans with impairments Advocated for the Governor s of Kansas and Missouri to recognize and celebrate National Blinded Veterans Day on March 28 Served on the Blinded Veterans Association national committees for membership activities, education and outreach, and digital media Represented Veterans with visual impairments at the 2015 and 2016 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Volunteer Social Worker for Vision Impaired Services Department of Veterans Affairs, February 2012 to Present Assist the Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) conduct assessments on the psychological, independent living, assistive technologies, and benefits needs of visually impaired veterans Develop and co-facilitate a peer support program educating on benefits, visual impairment skills, and coping Organized four in-services targeting hospital administrators, health professionals, and fellow veterans about Blind Rehabilitation Services and effects of sight loss Coordinated #CripTheVote inspired activities for the 2016 elections by educating Veterans with visual impairments about voting options and regulations protecting and promoting their right to vote Advise the VIST and Veteran enrollees on technology to enhance independent living skills Planned and executed the VIST support groups tour of the Kansas Capital, consisting of 35 participants Director of Veterans Affairs (Pro Bono, Ex-Officio) University of Kansas Alumni Association Veterans Chapter, 2012 to Present Assist the executive board develop a veterans resource center at the University of Kansas aiming to provide benefits education, health and mental health services, legal counsel, and other activities geared towards veterans students Conduct outreach efforts to organizations, civic leaders, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and other agencies to compile a directory of resources and advance the Chapter s vision Inform the board and membership about actions and updates for veteran benefits and legislation Educate the Graduate Military Programs office and associate Dean at the University of Kansas Medical Center on the importance of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for both researchers and consumers Established the first graduate student Veterans writing group, consisting of peer support and professional writing services for masters and PhD level students Medical Social Worker Intern Lawrence Memorial Hospital, August 2009 to May 2010 Established professional networking relationships with various medical and social service agencies to ensure appropriate treatment and discharge planning Administered mental health screenings, conducted crisis interventions, and provided referrals in an emergency room setting Participated and coordinated in multi-disciplinary teams for discharge planning of palliative and inpatient care patients Experienced with utilization of electronic medical records to expedite patient information sharing and transmittal Social Work Intern Douglas County Correctional Facility, August 2008 to May 2009 Developed and administered a strengths based bio-psycho-social spiritual needs assessment tool which was adopted by the re-entry program Conducted the county's only direct contact visitation between inmates and their children School of
Social Welfare-and submitted summary reports Took a fundamental role in coordinating outreach programs in support of inmates re-integration US ARMY OFFICER EXPERIENCE Deputy Program Manager Army Wounded Warrior Education Initiative, August 2010 to December 2011 Coordinated and assisted with the recruitment, hiring, and post educational reassignments of program participants Conducted need assessment and provided educational outreach in support of participant educational success Researched and analyzed federal policies and programs mitigating chances of duplicated efforts Evaluated and modified hiring procedures while reducing amount of time required for in-processing MSW University of Kansas Student Intern Assignments at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Douglas County Correctional Facility, August 2018-May 2010 See human services experience above Operations Coordinator Operational Test Command, December 2005 to July 2008 As part of a team, received, delegated and followed up with inter-department requests Planned and coordinated a variety of events and projects throughout the United States Participated in training for Lean Six Sigma, thus receiving Yellow Belt certification Supervisor Multiple Forward Locations, July 2003 to November 2004 Supervised a 15 to 22 member team, assessing for physical, psychological, mental, and moral wellbeing Organized and executed a broad range of operations in stateside, overseas, and combat situations with minimal supervision and guidance Comfortable working within multi-national and multi-cultural environments PRESENTATIONS Keynote Speaker, St. Joseph s Vet 2 Vet Armed Forces Day Celebration, May 2017 Discussed the roles of community and military relationships in supporting Service Members, families, and Veterans integrate into civilian life Poster Presentation, University of Kansas Medical Center Student Research Forum, April 2017 Presented the findings from a literature review describing beneficial components of adaptive sporting and recreational programs for disabled Veterans Guest Lecturer, Strengths-based Assessments with Consumers with Disabilities, University of Kansas Medical Center Masters of Occupational Therapy, March 2017 Described how social workers might employ Empowerment Theory principals when serving persons with disabilities at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels Guest Lecturer, Transpersonal Theory and Resilience Following a Disability, University of Kansas Masters of Social Work, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, November 2016 Described the key components of transpersonal theory and how it relates to resiliency following a traumatic disability Keynote Speaker, Burns and McDonald Veterans Day Remembrance, November 2015 Discussed the role family, community, and personal resilience impacted my ability to recover from combat injuries, remain on Active Duty for seven years, and pursue graduate education to over 200 Burns and McDonald employees Guest Presenter, Kansas Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired Annual Convention, November 2015 Described the impacts and resources for low vision and blinded Veterans in Kansas Guest Lecturer, History of Visual Impairments Amongst US Veterans, University of Kansas American Studies, Disabled Veterans in History, October 2015 Discussed the evolution of services and programs impacted the lives of visually impaired Veterans "4
from the Civil War to present day, citing previous class assignments and personal narratives Guest Lecturer, Empowerment Theory for Persons with Disabilities, University of Kansas Masters of Social Work, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, September 2015 Described how social workers might employ Empowerment Theory principals when serving persons with disabilities at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels Panel Presenter, Celebrating 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Independence Incorporated, July 2015 Informed on the impacts of the Americans with Disabilities Act on disabled Veterans and the blind Panel Presentation Coordinator on Veteran Medical and Transitioning Services for Representatives from the Czech Republic, April 2015 Devised, coordinated, and orchestrated a panel of service providers from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Kansas Graduate Military Programs presenting on Veteran services Pledge of Allegiance Leader for President Obama s visit to the University of Kansas,, January 2015 Nominated and selected by the University of Kansas Chancellor s Office Panel Presenter, Effective Communications with People with Disabilities in the Healthcare Setting, University of Kansas Medical Center s Student Life, October 2014 Provided an overview of common barriers and stigma faced by blind consumers of medical services and within medical training Session Presenter, BVA National Convention, August 2014 Presentation on usage of a variety of applications and features within ios devices for visually impaired Veterans Public Speaker, Fort Leavenworth Rod and Gun Club, KAMO Adventures, DecemberJune 2014 Conveyed how how higher education and outdoors sporting activities positively impacted my recovery following a traumatic injury Panel Presenter, M-Enabling Summit Wounded Warrior Panel, TAVVI and BVA, June 2014 Defined the impact mobile technologies possess on war blinded Veterans when integrating back ing civilian life Panel Presenter, Road to Recovery, CSAH, December 2013 Described personal experiences while recovering and transitioning into civilian life following a traumatic wartime injury,and answered an array of questions from the roughly 100 disabled Veterans and their support systems Keynote Speaker, Heroes Amongst Us,Missouri Western University, November 2013 Keynote speaker at awards ceremony for Veteran students and faculty, featuring the board of Governors, president, faculty, and students Special Presenter, Blinded Veterans and Friends peer support group, November 2013 Provided an overview of changes in ios 7 as they relate to visually impaired users Guest Presenter, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Kansas State Convention, November 2013 Described the impacts and resources for low vision and blinded Veterans in Kansas Break-Out Session Presenter, BVA National Convention, August 2013 Presentation on successful implementation strategies of Apple ios devices within the lives of visually impaired and blind individuals Army Warrior Transition Unit Command brief, Fort Riley, July 2013 Provided an overview of community resources and partners assisting Wounded Warriors with recovery and transitioning into civilian life Presenter, Visual Impairment Services Team Peer Support Group at the Kansas City VA, June 2013 Described and demonstrated a variety of entertainment tools, techniques, and resources for the visually impaired Presenter, Leavenworth VA In-Service, December 2012
Conducted an overview of the visual impairment services in the VA and struggles visually impaired Veterans encounter Guest Lecturer, U.S. Military in Global Context, University of Kansas American Studies, November 2012 Historical overview and present day impacts of the U.S. military in global context Guest Lecturer, University of Kansas Bachelors of Social Work, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, November 2011 and 2012 General overview of social work with Veterans and the importance of resiliency during recovery from traumatic experiences Guest Speaker, Leavenworth Veterans Day Celebration, November 2012 Expressed the importance of community support during transitioning from military to civilian life Co-presenter, Social Work Days at Fort Leavenworth, April 2012 Described concepts and case studies of resiliency and spirituality as an intervention method and program models to mental health professionals Guest Lecturer, University of Kansas Masters of Social Work, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, December 2010) Addressed practice concerns when assisting disabled Veterans and Service Members Co-presenter, University of Kansas School of Social Welfare Practicum Liaison s In-Service, September 2011 Co-presented with Dr. Ed Canda on the importance of resiliency after sustaining a severe disability Keynote Speaker, Department of Defense Vision Center of Excellence convention, August 2010 Provided the opening marks and keynote presentation on the stages of loss in an annual multidisciplinary medical conference examining pathways for care AFFILIATIONS Kansas Council on Disability Concerns Service Animal Committee Member, January 2015 to present Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas Board of Directors, August 2012 to September 2015 State Plan for Independent Living of Kansas Employment and Transportation committee member, November 2013 to September 2015 Veterans sub-committee member of the National Council of Independent Living, July 2013 to December 2015 Blinded Veterans Association s Committee on Operation Peer Support, January 2015 to present Blinded Veterans Association s national board of directors committees on education and leadership member, January 2014 to Present Blinded Veterans Association, lifetime member, 2010 to present Disabled American Veterans, lifetime member, 2011 to present Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lifetime member, 2011 to present Military Officer s Association of America, lifetime member, 2012 to present Blinded Veterans of the United Kingdom, honorary lifetime member, 2011 to present National Association of Social Workers, member, 2010 to 2015 National Council of Independent Living, member, 2013 to 2015 National Federation of the Blind, member, 2013 to present Guide Dog users Inc lifetime member, July 2015 to present AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS Civilian US Army ROTC National Hall of Fame Nominee, January 2017 University of Wisconsin Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Inaugural Hall of Fame Inductee, November 2016 University of Kansas Veterans Alumni Chapter s Wounded Warrior Scholarship, May 2014 Margo Award for Clinical Year MSW Experience, The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, May 2010 Military Meritorious Service Medal, December 2011 Meritorious Service Medal, June 2008 and December 2011 Purple Heart, November 2004 Army Accommodation Medal for Valor, November 2004 "6