About Starfire

Our Mission

Since 1993, Starfire has broken down walls of isolation for people with developmental disabilities—one relationship at a time. We partner directly with each person to uncover their unique talents and passions, connect them to welcoming neighbors, and fund community-led projects that celebrate ability over labels. By weaving these personal connections into the fabric of neighborhood life, we build truly inclusive communities where everyone belongs.

See how deep, lasting relationships can come from unlikely sources, and are best formed through shared passions and interests....

Our Programs

Starfire Family Network

Our Family Network is a family-led movement that guides families of loved ones with developmental disabilities in discovering interests and building identities outside of disability. Starfire provides year-long mentorship and financial support to help families create and launch Community Projects to share their gifts with the community, grow their social connections, and make our culture more inclusive.

Starfire hosts a variety of programs to connect families with our Family Mentors. Starfire also leads the Ohio Family Network, on behalf of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD), in Southwest Ohio. Learn More

Starfire Learning Network

Our Learning Network supports people and organizations at any point in their mission in building an inclusive culture and work environment, with resources to help create sustainable, life-making change.

Courses offer the wisdom and voices of people with developmental disabilities, their families, neighbors, and the people who support them. Learn more

Starfire Community Building Network

Our Community Building Network seeks to build connections between persons with and without disabilities based on common interests. Like the Family Network, individuals participating in the Community Builder Network receive financial support to create and launch Community Projects to share their gifts with the community, grow social connections, and make our culture more inclusive. Learn More

Our Team

Alen Amini | Executive Director

Tim Vogt | Learning Network Director

Jan Goings|Director of Strategy and Partnerships

Bridget Vogt | Community Builder Coordinator

Carol Combs | Family Network Coordinator

Achsah Fitzhugh | Family Mentor

Angela McArthur | Family Mentor

Nithya Narayan | Family Mentor

Nancy Fuller | Family Mentor

Sara Vank, SLP | Family Mentor

Board of Directors

Megan Selnick - President

Will Goering - Vice President

Bhargav Srinivasan - Treasurer (Finance Chair)

Kristina Arakelyan - Secretary (Programs Co-Chair)

King Adjei-Frimpong (Governance Chair)

Alen Amini

Laina Bosley

David Guhl

Jeremy Jarrett

Joseph Manning (Programs Co-Chair)

Laurent Mignot (Development Chair)

Steve Tensmeyer

A Pocketbook Guide to Building Community Wherever You Are

We think outside the box. (In fact we think the ‘disability box’ is part of the problem). By activating neighbors and neighborhoods, we know we can do more for people’s lives and our communities. That because it takes all of us to build community.

Download our Pocketbook Guide - be part of fanning the flame of inclusion!

When you sign up to download this pocketbook guide, you’ll also receive our email with updates and invitations from Starfire. You can unsubscribe any time via the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of all our emails.