Co-coordinator of the Family Advocacy Network (FAN)

Mary Ann McGuirk has spent the last sixteen years advocating for children, as well as adults, with disabilities. Mary Ann's daughter, Nicole, who is dually diagnosed with cerebral palsy and autism, has taught her that healing does not always come from a cure.

In 1995, Mary Ann started to volunteer at United Cerebral Palsy of Pittsburgh (UCP/CLASS). She had learned early on that the better she was informed as a parent, the better prepared she would be to get the best services from medical, educational and community programs for her daughter. What she observed from the staff and participants at UCP was that it's not so much that something can't be done, but doing it the same way won't get you there – think differently and look outside of the box.

Mary Ann is the co-coordinator of the Family Advocacy Network (FAN) whose mission is "to provide individuals with disabilities important resources and information and to give families the opportunity to network and exchange ideas which will help them to be better advocates.” She is also a Community Partner with UCP Kids, working with families of children with special needs to become an integral part of their communities.

She lectures to high school and college students, as well as being a presenter at workshops and trainings on disability. As an advocate for the Education Law Center, she informs families about the law and how to use it to receive services for their children. She is also the Vice-Chairman of the Local Task Force (LTF) on the Right to Education of Allegheny County (LTF3) which serves as a resource for children with all disabilities and their families in the forty-two school districts in Allegheny County.

Mary Ann graduated from Duquesne University with a degree in Journalism and lives in Jefferson Hills with her husband, David, and their 4 children. She is the co-author of "Together is Better".