LINC's Board of Directors
Dana Gover (Boise), Chair
Dana Gover provides training, technical assistance, onsite reviews, and guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability civil rights laws. Living with a disability since a 1979 car accident that resulted in quadriplegia, Dana brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work advancing accessibility and inclusion.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Public Administration from Boise State University and earned her ADAC certification through the national ADA Coordinators Training and Certification Program in 2013. Since the ADA’s passage in 1990, she has trained businesses, government agencies, and community organizations on accessibility compliance and best practices. Dana is a founding board member of the Idaho Access Project. She is also active in numerous community initiatives focused on inclusive recreation, accessibility, and disability rights advocacy across Idaho.
Chris Pruett (Bliss), Treasurer/Secretary
Chris Pruett is the mayor of Bliss, Idaho, and a longtime advocate for rural communities, accessibility, and independent living. A power wheelchair user himself, Chris has served on the board of LINC for more than two decades, helping advance disability rights, community accessibility, and independent living services across Idaho. In addition to his leadership with LINC, he has worked to support infrastructure and community development efforts in Bliss and the surrounding region.
Sharon Henderson (Boise)
Sharon Henderson is a longtime disability rights and independent living advocate who has served on the board of LINC for more than two decades. As a person who is blind, Sharon brings both lived experience and passionate leadership to advancing accessibility, independence, and full community inclusion for people with disabilities across Idaho.
Inspired by her mother’s encouragement to never say “I can’t,” but instead, “I’ll try,” Sharon developed a strong philosophy of independence early in life. After completing training through the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 1976, she went on to work in the Commission’s Business Enterprise Program and Orientation Training Center, where she taught activities of daily living and helped train blind individuals to live and work independently. Even in retirement, she has continued teaching Braille, adaptive living skills, computer technology, and peer support programs in Idaho and Montana.
Known as a fierce advocate for independent living, Sharon has spent decades empowering blind and disabled individuals to build confidence, develop skills, and fully participate in their communities. Her compassion, leadership, and commitment to peer support continue to make a lasting impact across Idaho’s disability community.
Paula Mason (Filer)
Paula Mason is an educator and advocate with decades of experience supporting students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or low vision across Idaho. She has served in a variety of teaching, outreach, transition, and leadership roles with Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind, helping expand educational access, communication supports, and opportunities for students and families statewide. Paula holds degrees in elementary education, deaf and hard of hearing education, and educational leadership from Idaho State University and is widely respected for her collaborative leadership and commitment to inclusive education and community engagement.
Ferne Brandt (Nampa)
Ferne Brandt is a licensed social worker and disability advocate with both lived and professional experience in the disability community. As a person who is legally blind, she brings firsthand knowledge of accessibility barriers and disability systems. Professionally, Ferne recently served as an Independent Living Specialist with LINC, where she supported consumers in achieving greater independence through independent living skills training, advocacy, systems navigation, and resource coordination. She has been actively involved with the Region 3 Behavioral Health Board, the Region 3 Housing Coalition, and other community initiatives focused on housing, behavioral health, and social justice. Ferne also brings fundraising experience through her internship with the Nampa Family Justice Center and maintains strong relationships with community stakeholders throughout the Treasure Valley. Her background combines lived experience, direct service knowledge, housing advocacy, and community engagement.
Sari Lipp (Twin Falls)
Sari Lipp brings both lived and professional experience in disability and healthcare systems. As a person with complex medical conditions and disabilities, she has firsthand experience navigating healthcare, accessibility barriers, and disability services. Professionally, she worked for LINC as a temporary emergency support staff during COVID. She also worked in patient-facing healthcare roles helping individuals navigate complex systems, coordinate care, and connect with services and supports. Her background in healthcare communications and marketing provides additional strengths in outreach, relationship building, public engagement, and community awareness. Sari has a strong interest in advancing independent living principles, healthcare access, adaptive recreation opportunities, and systems-level advocacy.
Jane Donnellan (Boise)
Jane Donnellan brings extensive leadership experience in disability employment, vocational rehabilitation, and workforce development. She previously served as Administrator of the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, where she focused on improving employment outcomes, independent living opportunities, and workforce participation for Idahoans with disabilities. Jane has also been actively involved in statewide workforce and policy initiatives through the Idaho Workforce Development Council, helping shape discussions related to education, workforce shortages, career pathways, and economic development. As a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) with a master's degree, Jane offers significant expertise in public policy, systems change, interagency collaboration, and disability services. Her experience working across government, education, business, and disability advocacy sectors brings valuable strategic and policy insight to the Board.
DR Reff (Boise)
DR is an active disability advocate and community leader who brings strong lived experience and extensive involvement in disability-related advisory and advocacy organizations. DR currently serves in leadership roles with several disability-focused groups, including Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Ada County Highway District ADA Advisory Committee, and Community NOW. DR previously served with Autism Society of the Treasure Valley. She identifies as a person with a disability and has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to disability advocacy and systems change.