The IntellectAbility Story

Health and wellness thrive in the absence of uncertainty, misinformation, and risk. While this is true for everyone in every stage of life, it is particularly true for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Understanding this is vital for those entrusted to support people in living lives they love.

This is what inspired us to create the first and most comprehensive suite of risk resolution and learning tools for professional supporters: tools that empower, educate and inform those responsible for protecting, maintaining and restoring health, wholeness and a good quality of life for people with IDD. Essentially, we support those who support others. 

IntellectAbility educates and empowers support teams, administrators and clinicians with necessary and proven tools for early risk detection replacing risk with health and wellness.

This is why IntellectAbility is the most trusted, leading authority and resource in the field. Our mission is more than risk reduction. It’s replacing risk with life.

Karen Green McGowen, center left, 1985

Karen Green McGowan began her career in nursing in 1963 when she graduated from Methodist Hospital School (now college) of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska. She joined the United States Air Force and served as a labor and delivery nurse at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana.

Her career in the field of intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities began at Glenwood State Hospital School, in Glenwood, Iowa, beginning in 1965. In 1972 she transitioned more than 60 children out of Nebraska’s Beatrice State Home into the community over the next several years.

Glenwood State Hospital School

Karen’s specialty has been with persons labeled medically complex, often labeled (without justification) with profound and severe intellectual disability. She has been a clinical nurse consultant since 1977 and provided technical assistance to more than 40 states and 9 Canadian provinces. She has also served as a technical consultant to the Disability Rights International organization and assisted in assessing needs of physically and mentally challenged persons in Romania, Serbia, the Republic of Georgia, Mexico and Ukraine.

Ms. McGowan has served as an Expert Witness in a number of class action and right to treatment court cases, specifically in Louisiana, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, North Dakota and New York among others. She has authored a number of developmental disabilities training manuals for clinicians such as nurses, physicians, therapists and direct care professionals, particularly in the area of Physical and Nutritional Management.

In 1992, while working as part of a federal review panel, she became the lead developer of The Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) (formerly known as the Physical Status Review), which has become an industry leader in identifying and managing health risks in vulnerable populations.

On January 1, 2015 she assumed the presidency of the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (national) and has since retired this position.

Our Mission

We provide tools and training to those who support people with vulnerabilities, helping them replace risk with health and wellness.

Meet Our Executive Team

Dr. Craig Escudé, MD is a Board certified Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Developmental Medicine. He is the author of “Clinical Pearls in IDD Healthcare” and “The Curriculum in IDD Healthcare”. Dr. Escude assumed the role as President of IntellectAbility in 2018.

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Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM

President

Johnathon has nearly 20 years working in the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. For many years he was the Vice President of Operations for a large Support Coordination agency in Georgia. Concurrently he worked as a Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) senior trainer with AAIDD, working in both the US and Canada. He is a certified Person-Centered Thinking Trainer by The Learning Community for Person-Centered Practices. He has been with IntellectAbility since 2013 and is currently its Chief Operations Officer.

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Johnathon Crumley

Chief Operations Officer

Lorene Reagan is a registered nurse with more than 35 years of experience providing supports for people with IDD. Prior to joining IntellectAbility in 2022 as Director of Public Relations, Lorene served as a state Bureau Chief for IDD services and as a Senior Medicaid Policy Administrator. She was Manager of Care Management for a Medicaid managed care organization and, most recently, a Principal at Mercer Government Human Services Consulting, providing consultation to Medicaid programs across the nation.

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Lorene Reagan, RN, MS

Director of Public Relations

Rob Refo has been with IntellectAbility since 2010. Rob’s background includes 20 years of training and management consulting of private-practice healthcare professionals. Prior to working with IntellectAbility he was the Senior Director of Operations for one of the fastest growing consulting companies in the United States.

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Rob Refo

Chief Sales Officer

Brandon Lancaster joined IntellectAbility in 2019 as our Director of Information Technology. Throughout his career he has amassed experience across the field of IT, including Information Security and Platform Development. His primary responsibility here at IntellectAbility is to oversee the continued development, implementation, and support of our tools, such as the HRST.

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Brandon Lancaster

Chief Technology Officer

Ryan Lutz joined IntellectAbility in 2021 as our IT Project Manager. Ryan is a seasoned Information Technology professional with years of experience in the healthcare industry. Skilled in Technical Project Management, Account Management, Customer Service, and Support, he oversees and helps facilitate the successful adoption and implementation of our products, including the HRST, eLearning, and Custom Development.

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Ryan Lutz

Director of IT

Gina Kugler has been with IntellectAbility, since 2014 as the Senior Director of Administration. Prior to joining IntellectAbility she was the VP Finance for a multimillion dollar video distribution company and held that position for 14 years.

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Gina Kugler

Chief Administrative Officer

Dina has been in the medical field since 1995. Most of her career has been spent working with individuals with Mental Health needs for a local government in Virginia. She successfully managed four ICF's, five Group Homes and the medical component of the Day Program. Dina joined IntellectAbility in January 2019 as Director of Client Services.

Director of Client Services

Dina Pizzurro-Smith BSN, RN, CDDN

Director of Client Services

Saskia Troio comes from an extensive background in team establishment & management. Throughout her long career as a vice president in a nationwide marketing firm, she has gained experience in marketing, sales, project management, and establishment. Saskia has a passion for our industry. Helping those who support people with IDD is near and dear to her heart. Her primary responsibility as our Director of Establishment is to oversee the hiring and training of staff and to keep a positive and diverse company culture alive in all aspects of our business.

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Saskia Troio

Director of Establishment