Deana Cairo, President
Deana started her life as an advocate in 1999, when she graduated from George Washington University School of Law. She began her career as a litigator, with her pro bono work focused on Medicaid and Social Security appeals. In 2001, Deana gave birth to her son, who has a rare and complex congenital disorder. He went home to live with his family with a tracheostomy and g-tube at four months old. In 2005, her daughter, Allison was born. She was healthy, but Deana quickly realized she was not developing as expected. For nearly twenty years, Deana juggled raising two developmentally disabled children with working in private practice, eventually ending up as a partner at DLA Piper LLP. The family moved to Colorado in 2016.
Both of her children (now adults) are cared for by their parents and their caregivers. Over the years, Deana tried to give back to her community as a volunteer EMT and Paramedic. Deana shifted gears a decade ago, retiring from the full-time practice of law to go back to school and become a PA. She decided she needed to give GW more money and graduated from George Washington University Medical School’s PA program. Deana was drawn to neuro-trauma and worked with the trauma teams at two hospitals, before being recruited to work in the outpatient Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) clinic at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood in 2023. Deana still has her law license, but she focuses these days on Medicaid policy and advocacy. She feels like she was in the right place, at the right time, to help bring COAAIDD into being.
Kathy Fieber, Vice President
Kathy & her husband grew up in Southeast Wisconsin and after meeting at a wedding there, they later moved to Colorado in 1992. They now have 4 grown children and 2 grandsons. One of their sons has Down syndrome and autism. Kathy learned to be an advocate for her children when they were young and hasn’t stopped since. Her full-time job is taking care of her family, house, and being a family caregiver to her adult son. Her par- time job is working as a manager at an event center where she helps clients have unforgettable weddings, fund raisers, and other events.
After spending many hours in 2024 in the JBC room and listening to the hearings about the Colorado budget in 2024 & 2025, Kathy became very vocal about the dire budget situation in Colorado. On a list-serve for parents of adults with disabilities and on Facebook groups, Kathy met other people who were just as upset about the budget. After exchanging a few texts, Kathy knew that being involved with like-minded parents was the place she needed to be. She is very thankful to have met a group of parents who are passionate about their children and who want to make a difference not only in their own children’s lives, but in other people’s lives too.
Kristin McCubbins, Secretary
Kristin graduated from Ottawa University in Kansas with a degree in Secondary Education and Theatre. She taught high school theatre in the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley school districts. In 2000, Kristin got married, and in 2002, welcomed her first born, Ashleigh, who overcame multiple health struggles early on. However, in 2004, Ashleigh was diagnosed with a profound autism spectrum disorder. In 2016, Ashleigh started having extreme behaviors and seizures. Kristin works as a Manager of Global Accounts, for HelmsBriscoe, while taking care of Ashleigh, and her two younger children.
Michelle Dumay, Treasurer
Michelle Dumay is a chemist, caregiver, and community advocate who has transformed personal adversity into purposeful leadership. Her daughter was born with a rare brain abnormality requiring emergency surgery within hours of birth. Today, her daughter lives with cerebral palsy, blindness, quadriplegia, and multiple forms of epilepsy. Having managed over 2,000 medical appointments, Michelle is deeply familiar with the challenges faced by medically complex families.
Michelle served on patient and family advisory councils for children’s hospitals in Los Angeles and Phoenix, as well as the insurer Mercy Care. In Denver, her advocacy extends to inclusive housing and civic engagement and representation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She has spent the past four years serving on the IDDEAS Advisory Council and the Community Advisory Council of Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS), where she amplifies the voices of underrepresented individuals and works towards systemic improvements. Most recently, she has served on the Denver Commission for People with Disabilities, the Denver Airport Accessibility Council, and an Affinity Group for Children’s Hospital of Colorado.
Driven by a commitment to equity and sustainability, Michelle advocates for accessible housing that is not only inclusive, but environmentally conscious. Her vision centers on creating dignified, community-integrated living solutions that reflect both social justice and environmental responsibility.
In 2024, Michelle was named one of WRW Business’s Top 25 Global Women of Influence for her impact in health equity, housing, and community leadership.
Whitney Cobb, Director