Karen Lee

Karen Lee has worked as an Executive Director of Supporting Employment Equality and Community (SEEC) for 28 years. Under Karen’s leadership SEEC has grown from a $100,000 budget to near $14 million dollars. Karen has worked with her team to build an infrastructure that supports competitive integrated employment, supported living and supports that help people with people with disabilities thrive in a life of their choosing.

From 2015-2017, Karen was asked by Deputy Secretary Bernard Simons to assist Maryland to create a strategy for increasing competitive integrated employment. During her Fellowship, Karen worked with stakeholders including self-advocates, families, state personnel, providers and legislators to create an Employment First strategic plan, and supporting policies and practices. In her consulting work, Karen speaks at conferences, presents on webinars and contributes chapters and reviews literature on transformation and Employment First writings. She also does consultation at the department, agency, state and federal levels. Working with other professionals to create infrastructures to increase employment outcomes and other opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be full members of their community. Karen lives in Silver Spring, MD with her family.

Karen holds a Master of Education degree in Special Education, Transition, and Secondary Education from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Elmhurst College, Illinois.