Executive Director
Stephanie Bilenker is the Executive Director of S.E.L.F. Since joining the organization in
2021, and becoming a Program Director in 2023, she has advanced S.E.L.F.’s mission
of ensuring that families have access to advocacy, legal support, and educational
resources needed to secure appropriate services for children with disabilities. Stephanie
also serves on S.E.L.F.’s Board of Directors and is an active member of the Grants
Review, Advancement and Hiring Committees.
Following a judicial clerkship, Stephanie practiced law at Troutman Pepper Locke
(formerly, Pepper Hamilton LLP) in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. After relocating
to Connecticut, she established an independent legal practice concentrating on
employment and contract matters. Driven by her longstanding commitment to disability
rights, Stephanie returned to her law school passion of special education law,
completing advanced advocacy training through COPAA and William & Mary Law
School’s PELE Special Education Advocacy Clinic. She is also a graduate of the
Parent Leadership Training Institute through the Stamford Public Education Foundation.
Stephanie earned her B.A. from Princeton University and her J.D. from the University of
Maryland School of Law.
Staff Attorney and Director of S.E.L.F. Legal Aid
Laura Sullivan is the Staff Attorney and Director of S.E.L.F. Legal Aid, a program dedicated to providing direct special education legal services to under-resourced families throughout Connecticut. She also curates and moderates the S.E.L.F. Webinar series.
Prior to joining S.E.L.F. in 2025, Laura owned and operated a private law practice focused exclusively on special education law, representing children and adolescents with disabilities and advocating to ensure they received the educational services and supports to which they are entitled under the law.
Laura earned her Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Binghamton University. She holds certificates in Special Education Advocacy from the PELE Clinic at William & Mary Law School and the COPAA Special Education Law & Related Services Training for Attorneys, and has completed a 60-hour Orton-Gillingham course to deepen her expertise in literacy issues.
Laura is a member of the Connecticut and New York State Bars and was admitted to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court in 2023. She previously served on the Boards of Directors of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities and the Western Connecticut Center for Human Rights, reflecting her longstanding commitment to advancing educational equity and advocating for individuals with disabilities.
Founding Executive Director
Christine W. Lai is the Founding Executive Director of Special Education Legal Fund. Since S.E.L.F.’s founding, Christine has created, launched, and disseminated all of Special Education Legal Fund’s programmatic work, including the Attorney Grant Program, the Agency Education Program, the Parent Education Program seminar and webinar series, Proyecto de Educación Especial, and the Advocacy Grant Program. Christine is a member of the 2025-2026 Stony Brook Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Long-Term Trainee (LTT) Fellowship program. She is a Trustee of the Villa Maria School (Stamford, CT). Previously, Christine was a member of the Board of Directors of NEXT for Autism and Abilis.
Christine has received numerous awards in recognition of her work, including the Greenwich Bar Association Liberty Bell Award, the New England Patriots Difference Maker Award, the Greenwich YWCA Women Who Inspire Award, and the Moffly Media Light A Fire Award “Best Friend to Families.” Christine’s previous professional experience was in the financial services area as Chief Financial Officer for a children’s personal care company, a hedge fund equity research analyst, and a sell-side equity research analyst. Christine graduated from Columbia College (Columbia University) with a degree in History.
Grants Program Director
Jennifer is the Grants Program Director, where she manages the organization’s grant programs. Jennifer also serves on S.E.L.F.’s Advancement Committee and Grants Review Committee.
Jennifer completed the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) SEAT 2.0 Intensive Training Program, which included more than 60 hours of advocacy training and a supervised practicum. She also maintains a private practice as a non-attorney special education advocate, guiding families through every stage of the IEP, Section 504, and Connecticut Birth to Three processes. Her work includes reviewing educational records, preparing families for school meetings, advocating alongside parents, and communicating with school districts to help students obtain appropriate educational services and supports.
Jennifer holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Administration from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan.
Grants Manager
Rachel Kelley has served as Grants Manager for S.E.L.F. since 2023. In this role, she supports grant operations and funding initiatives that advance S.E.L.F.’s mission. Rachel co-chaired S.E.L.F.’s 2024 Homecoming event and continues to serve on the organization’s Gala Committee. In addition to her work at S.E.L.F., Rachel maintains a private practice as an executive function coach, partnering with students to strengthen the organizational, planning, time management, and self-regulation skills that foster success both in and out of the classroom. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the New Canaan Mounted Troop, where she supports the organization’s therapeutic horsemanship programs.
Rachel holds a master’s degree in Educational Counseling from Loyola Marymount University and B.S. from University of Nebraska.
S.E.L.F. Legal Aid provides 20 hrs of special education legal support to qualifying families
Attorney Grants provide $6000 to qualifying families who need a special education attorney
Advocate Grants provide $1500 to qualifying families needing a qualified nonattorney special education advocate
S.E.L.F. Education provides free special education webinars, resources, & other information to families & caregivers
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