Linda Cofield-Van Dyke is a therapist, program leader, consultant and teacher who specializes in life cycle issues such as spirituality, grief and death, and sexuality. She has also taught Very Special Arts for the handicapped artist.

Ms. Cofield-Van Dyke has been serving persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities for more than 30 years, and currently works as the ministry director for Luvability Ministries of South Bend, Indiana.

Across the United States, at conferences and at disability organizations, she teaches compassionate, person-centered methods. Her current project is a constantly-growing curriculum series called Creating a Meaningful Day: An Innovative Curriculum for Adults with Significant Intellectual Disabilities.

Linda began counseling in the area of death and dying while developing a life cycle curriculum to help persons with disabilities understand problematic issues. Out of this experience came the book Lessons in Grief and Death: Supporting Adults with Developmental Disabilities in the Healing Process.

Ms. Cofield-Van Dyke earned a bachelor of science degree in management and a master's degree in ministry from Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana. She is the mother of three sons, including one who has an intellectual disability. And, she is a grandmother.