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2025 National APSE Board of Directors At-Large Candidate

CLICK to meet all nominees before the election ends on March 10.

Please describe your history/nature of involvement/interest in promoting competitive integrated employment in your state. Additionally, explain why you are passionate about competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities:

In my role as Executive Director at Wellpoint, I have the direct responsibility of overseeing programs that support more than 56,000 Texans with disabilities. This position has afforded me a unique vantage point to witness the transformative power of employment on individuals’ lives. Employment is not just about earning a paycheck; it’s a key component of personal fulfillment. For many, it brings a sense of independence, satisfaction, and achievement—qualities that are universally sought after.  My team and I focus on empowering those who have the desire to work by assisting them in problem-solving and setting actionable goals to achieve their employment aspirations. Having been gainfully employed since the age of 12, I deeply understand the value that work brings. It is my joy and passion to help individuals realize their potential and gain the independence and satisfaction that comes from meaningful employment.  By promoting competitive integrated employment, we aim to foster an environment where individuals with disabilities can thrive alongside their peers, contributing to their communities and feeling valued for their unique skills and perspectives. It’s not just about providing opportunities; it’s about creating pathways to true inclusion and equality in the workforce.  

What best represents your position/lived experience?

Transition Coordinator; I design transition strategies for children transitioning to adulthood. Further, I suppport employment first opportunities in both adolescent and adult populations.

What skills, knowledge, or lived experience do you have that will contribute to strengthening and growing the financial health of APSE and promoting its mission to advance employment and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities?

To effectively contribute to strengthening and growing the financial health of APSE while promoting its mission, I bring a combination of skills, knowledge, and lived experience that align with these goals.

I possess a strong background in financial management and strategic planning, having overseen budgets and financial operations in my previous roles. This experience has equipped me with the ability to develop sustainable financial strategies and identify opportunities for growth and efficiency, ensuring that resources are optimally allocated to support APSE’s mission.

I have extensive experience in building partnerships and co-opting the resources of other organizations to satisfy goals. My ability to communicate the impact of our work to potential funders and partners has been instrumental in cultivating relationships that bolster financial support.

My lived experience working directly with individuals with disabilities has deepened my understanding of the challenges and opportunities they face in pursuing employment and self-sufficiency. This perspective allows me to advocate effectively for initiatives that truly meet the needs of the community and resonate with stakeholders who share our vision.

Through my collaborative and results-oriented approach, I am committed to advancing APSE’s mission by fostering an inclusive environment where innovative ideas can prosper, ultimately enhancing the financial health and impact of the organization.

What relevance does/should APSE and its chapters/members have in national and state conversations regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion?

APSE and its chapters and members hold significant relevance in national and state conversations regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion, particularly through their unwavering commitment to person-centered thinking and the principle of “nothing about me without me.”

By emphasizing person-centered thinking, APSE ensures that individuals with disabilities are not just passive recipients of services but active participants in shaping their employment goals and life plans. This approach aligns with the broader EDI objectives by advocating for personalized solutions that respect the unique strengths, preferences, and aspirations of each person. It underscores the idea that true inclusion can only be achieved when individuals are at the forefront of decisions impacting their lives.

The principle of “nothing about me without me” reinforces APSE’s advocacy for people with disabilities to have a direct voice in national and state policy discussions. Ensuring that people with disabilities are actively involved in decision-making processes centers their perspectives in conversations about policies and practices, thereby promoting equity and preventing decisions that might inadvertently marginalize them further.

APSE’s dedication to these principles enriches discussions around diversity and inclusion by highlighting the necessity of inclusive practices that genuinely consider and incorporate the needs and desires of individuals with disabilities. By advocating for these approaches, APSE ensures that policies not only support diversity in theory but also in practice, leading to more equitable and effective outcomes.

In engaging with EDI conversations on both national and state levels, APSE’s focus on person-centered thinking and inclusive empowerment exemplifies a commitment to creating a society where everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives with dignity and autonomy.

Biography

A native Texan, Aron Head graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Wesleyan University in 1990. From there, he went to work on the design team of a Swiss owned advertising company. Over the course of two years he became the Design Manager, Production Manager, and Sales Manager – all of these hats were worn simultaneously.

He hated advertising.

Deciding to take a break from a profession that brought him no joy, he quit to take a job with the Texas Department of Human Services (TDHS) where he started as an eligibility worker. His intent was to camp out in State employment until he could figure out what to do with himself.

Much to his surprise, he loved working in Medicaid.

He worked several positions in his seven years with TDHS: Eligibility Case Worker, Eligibility Unit Supervisor, Case Reader, Quality Analyst, etc.

In December of 1999, he took a position with the Texas Department of Health (TDH) as a provider relations representative in the Texas Health Steps (THSteps) program, which is the federal Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment program in Texas. There he designed, developed, and implemented the THSteps Dental training program in addition to providing training for both THSteps medical and medical case management professionals.

In May 2001, Mr. Head was hired by AMERIGROUP (now Wellpoint) to coordinate and manage the THSteps program for the company’s Texas plans. He developed a comprehensive training program for medical providers covering THSteps benefits, components of the checkup, laboratory requirements, billing, best practices, and reporting abuse and neglect. Mr. Head has trained hundreds of medical professionals across Texas.

Since 2016, Aron has served as Executive Director of the Wellpoint’s STAR Kids and STAR+PLUS program, Medicaid managed care programs for children and adults with disabilities. His passion is ensuring the safe transition of members from children’s medicine to adult, from childhood to adult.

In a partnership with The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, Aron developed a ground breaking transition program bringing together pediatric and adult care providers with the patient to ensure safe transitions from pediatric to adult medicine.

He leads teams focused on a person centered, trauma-informed approach supporting member goals for improved health, employment, and overall fulfillment.

Mr. Head has served as guest speaker for the annual meetings of both the Texas Pediatric Society as well as the Texas Association of Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers as well as at immunization and well-care forums across the state.

Mr. Head has served as chairman for the Texas Health Steps Coalition for the Tarrant Service Delivery Area as well as theTexas Health Steps Coalition for the Dallas Service Delivery Area and Immunize Kids! a Dallas Area Partnership.

He served three consecutive terms on Texas’ State Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee and chaired its Network Adequacy and Access to Care Subcommittee.

Mr. Head lives in Fort Worth with his wife, Suzanne, and their three dogs – Alice, Elmer and Flip. In his spare time, he gardens and spends unreasonable amounts of time perfecting his chicken enchilada recipe.