NCIL Member Center

Presenters

Aaron Baier 

AARON BAIER (he / him) serves as Director of Administration for the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley in Troy, New York. Aaron also serves as the Region 2 Representative on the NCIL Board of Directors, covering New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Aaron is blind and has been part of the Independent Living Movement for more than 17 years. Aaron holds a Master of Public Administration from Marist College and focuses on advocacy, nonprofit administration, and program development. Aaron is also a musician and enjoys playing music with his loving wife, Maria. Their two dogs, Stella and TARDIS, and weird cat, Guinness, enjoy Aaron’s company, especially when he wrestles and feeds them.

  • Image: A white male with red hair and red beard, brown eyes, and wearing a black and white collared shirt.  
  • Workshop: Staying Engaged in a National & Global Movement   
A white male with red hair and red beard, brown eyes, and wearing a black and white collared shirt.  

Sarah Basehart

SARAH BASEHART is the Executive Director of Independence Now, a Center for Independent Living in Maryland. While maintaining the core Independent Living Services, Independence Now is also the state WIPA and hosts the Maryland Youth Leadership Forum annually. Independence Now serves as a Supports Planning agency, providing case management for individuals on Medicaid Waivers. Sarah has been an active member of the Maryland Partnership for Affordable Housing for many years, working to bring opportunities for subsidized housing to people with disabilities. Sarah has worked within the disability advocacy community for 25 years and has been known to bring her teenagers to Annapolis for Medicaid hearings to help pack the room!

  • Image: Sarah is a white woman in her late 40s with long graying brown hair
  • Workshop: Raising Our Voices: Empowering IL Communities to Engage in Legislative Advocacy 
Sarah is a white woman in her late 40s with long graying brown hair

Nancy Boutot

NANCY BOUTOT is a Manager of Financial Empowerment for National Disability Institute and provides training and technical assistance on integrating Social Security Administration benefits guidance and financial counseling, develops materials on financial capability measures, and Discovery (Facilitated, Guided Group and Self-Guided) and its role in both customized and integrated employment. Nancy is a Certified Partner Work Incentives Coordinator (CPWIC) through Virginia Commonwealth University and a Certified Financial Counselor through the National Association of Credit Counselors.

  • Image: A headshot of a white woman in her early 50’s with brown wavy hair and glasses, smiling for the camera.
  • Workshop: Employment and Financial Empowerment: Tools and Resources to support DEAI CIL Core Services 
A headshot of a white woman in her early 50’s with brown wavy hair and glasses, smiling for the camera.

Theo W. Braddy

THEO W. BRADDY is the NCIL Executive Director. Theo served as Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Independent Living of Central PA (CILCP) for nearly 31 years, from the beginning of the Center in 1989. He is noted for being one of the first, if not the first, CIL leaders to develop and embrace the concept of Living Well with a Disability. Under his leadership, CILCP built a gym and developed resources to support that goal. Theo was instrumental in PA becoming the first state to pass a law establishing an affordable, accessible rural transportation program. He has also played an important role in establishing and expanding Medicaid waiver services in PA. Theo has served as an adjunct professor at Millersville University, teaching courses on “Discrimination and Oppression of Persons with Disabilities” and at Temple University, teaching graduate courses in Social Welfare Policy for graduate students entering the master’s degree program for social work.Theo has also served as an adjunct professor at Millersville University, teaching courses on “Discrimination and Oppression of Persons with Disabilities” and at Temple University, teaching two graduate courses in Social Welfare Policy for graduate students entering the master’s degree program for social work.

  • Image: A black man with a bald head, a full grey beard, and glasses. He is wearing a black shirt with white flowers liked symbols on it.
  • Workshop: A Few Things You Need To Know About Racism and Ableism
A black man with a bald head, a full grey beard, and glasses. He is wearing a black shirt with white flowers liked symbols on it.

Kate Brady

KATE BRADY, PhD ABD is Project Manager at HSRI for NCAPPS HCBS Engagement. She is dedicated to advancing critical public systems changes that align with HSRI’s goal of seeing all people living healthy, fulfilling lives as powerful members of society. Kate has worked in the field of disability policy, service, and systems advocacy for two decades with experience in HCBS, VR, Medicaid, Social Security, and Workforce Development systems. Kate thrives leading organizational, team, and individual change through the development and implementation of elaborate research and technical assistance endeavors and is adept at problem identification, process improvement, and program design, implementation, and evaluation.

  • Image: Middle-aged white woman using wheelchair with short brown hair and glasses.
  • Workshop: Advocate and Community Engagement with the HCBS Final Settings Rule 
Middle-aged white woman using wheelchair with short brown hair and glasses.

Sandra Breitengross Bitter

SANDRA BREITENGROSS BITTER (she / her), a Hispanic, neurodivergent individual with lived experience in mental health, originally hails from a small desert town in California but now calls Texas home. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from California Baptist University, Sandra spent the first part of her career working in public policy for the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2012, she joined the Texas State Independent Living Council staff. She most recently held the position of Executive Director, where she led the organization in policy analysis, strategic planning, project management and evaluation, legislative and government relations, resource development, and community and stakeholder outreach and engagement. In 2022, Sandra became the Director of Training for the ILRU IL-NET T&TA Center for Independent Living. She collaborates with an outstanding team of subject matter experts from around the country. Sandra personally enjoys focusing on advocacy issues to improve accessible transportation and housing infrastructure, planning inclusive outreach and events, and expanding mental health and neurodiversity acceptance. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children.

  • Image: Sandra Breitengross Bitter is pictured wearing a black shirt, with her dark brown hair in a side braid, smiling at the camera.
  • Workshop: State Plan Evaluation: Using a Three-Pronged Approach to Assess Effectiveness 
Sandra Breitengross Bitter is pictured wearing a black shirt, with her dark brown hair in a side braid, smiling at the camera.

Deanna Robbins

DEANNA ROBBINS (Pronouns: She, Her, Hers) is the OVW Project Coordinator. She directs the OVW Disability Grant Program which aims to strengthen agency relationships and increase service capacity for providing accessible, safe, and effective services to survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors in Winnebago County. She has enjoyed a few roles at RAMP since being hired in January of 2019. These include Youth Education Advocate, Fast Track Coordinator, and Winnebago County Manager. She is a proud Rock Valley College alum and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with Ottawa University, minoring in Communications.

  • Image: White woman with curly, shoulder length hair, smiles while wearing an olive green top and standing in front of a brick wall.
  • Workshop: Workforce Innovation: Building the CILs of Tomorrow
White woman with curly, shoulder length hair, smiles while wearing an olive green top and standing in front of a brick wall.

Anita Cameron

ANITA CAMERON began working as Director of Minority Outreach for Not Dead Yet in January 2017. She has met with national and state policy makers and writes persuasively in opposition to a public policy of assisted suicide from the perspective of communities of color who experience disparities in access to healthcare. Anita also serves on the National Disability Leadership Alliance’s Racism Taskforce. She holds a degree in Biology from University of Illinois at Chicago Circle and a degree in Computer Information Systems from Community College of Denver.

  • Image: A Black woman with caramel-colored skin and long black locks smiling for the camera.
  • Workshop: “No One Left Behind”: Centering Multiply-Marginalized Disabled People in Assisted Suicide Opposition Work 
A Black woman with caramel-colored skin and long black locks smiling for the camera.

Molly Cole

MOLLY COLE is the Executive Director of the CT State Independent Living Council. She has over 40 years of experience in the fields of developmental disabilities and non-profit management. She has an array of leadership experience, including serving as the Associate Director of the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and the Director of the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities. She is the past president of the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, a founding member of Family Voices, a national grassroots organization, and past president of the National Family Voices Board of Directors. She has published articles on leadership and family support and written and directed numerous grant funded projects. She is the former executive director of FAVOR Inc., a statewide family advocacy organization, and directed the Family Center at CT Children’s Medical Center.

  • Image: White female with glasses and short brown hair
  • Workshop: Building Successful Collaborative Partnerships 
White female with glasses and short brown hair

Camica Credle

CAMICA CREDLE is CEO of Credle Consulting, LLC and Executive Director with The John Maxwell Team, the largest global leadership and training organization in the world. She currently works with Fortune 500 businesses, nonprofit organizations, government departments, school districts and small businesses. She is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader, Educational Consultant, and Executive Coach. She is an advocate, community leader, facilitator, and committed supporter for children, youth, families, and older adults, having served as a trainer and consultant for Senior Adult programs and USA Foodbank organizations throughout the country.

  • Image: A black woman smiling at the camera with shoulder length hair
  • Workshop: Beyond Impact “Cultural Awareness Tool” Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity -Finding Common Ground 
A black woman smiling at the camera with shoulder length hair

Misty Dion

MISTY DION is the proud CEO of the Roads to Freedom CIL (RTFCIL) of North Central PA with over 17 years of experience advancing disability rights and justice on a local, state, and national level. Under Misty’s leadership, RTFCIL has become a nationally recognized CIL for its relentless opposition to guardianship, successful transition services, and most recently, as the first CIL to provide emergency relocation services through FEMA. She is the President of the Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living and a board member of the North Central PA Workforce Board and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL).

  • Image: White female with long brown hair, wearing glasses and smiling, wearing a tan and black cheetah print sweater sitting in her office, in front of a bookshelf.
  • Workshop: Guardianship 101…Is this a New Frontier for CILs 
White female with long brown hair, wearing glasses and smiling, wearing a tan and black cheetah print sweater sitting in her office, in front of a bookshelf.

THOMAS H. EARLE

THOMAS H. EARLE is the Chief Executive Officer at Liberty Resources, Inc. (LRI), Philadelphia’s federally funded Center for Independent Living for people with disabilities. For more than 30 years he has championed the legal rights of people with disabilities as both an advocate and a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney. His practice includes employment discrimination; private and public housing discrimination; and improving accessibility in places of public accommodation including electronic access to voting machines, ATMs, and public transportation.

  • Image: Liberty Resources Inc. CEO Thomas H. Earle smiles in front of a wall of black and white disability rights activism photos that span decades. Mr. Earle is a black-haired Latino man with a white Oxford shirt and black and white striped tie.
  • Workshop: Guardianship 101…Is this a New Frontier for CILs 
Liberty Resources Inc. CEO Thomas H. Earle smiles in front of a wall of black and white disability rights activism photos that span decades. Mr. Earle is a black-haired Latino man with a white Oxford shirt and black and white striped tie.

Carrie England

CARRIE ENGLAND began working with the California State Independent Living Council in December 2019. Her prior job was at the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) as the Section Chief over the Independent Living, Assistive Technology and Traumatic Brain Injury Section. She also served at DOR as a Staff Services Manager I and Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Carrie has prior experience in Independent Living as a center Director in Council Bluffs, Iowa and Vice President, Treasurer and CIL representative for the Iowa SILC. She started her career as the Project Director for the Workability IV Program at Fresno State and served as adjunct faculty for the Rehabilitation Counseling program, teaching at the graduate level. Carrie holds two Master’s Degrees – Rehabilitation Counseling from CA State University Fresno and Business Administration with a focus in Human Capital Management from Bellevue University in Nebraska. She enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, crafting and playing with the family dog.

  • Image: Carrie England is pictured wearing a black sweater and glasses, with light brown hair, and is smiling at the camera.
  • Workshop: State Plan Evaluation: Using a Three-Pronged Approach to Assess Effectiveness 
Carrie England is pictured wearing a black sweater and glasses, with light brown hair, and is smiling at the camera.

Andrés J. Gallegos, Esq.

ANDRÉS J. GALLEGOS, ESQ. is a partner at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd., in Chicago, Illinois, where he focuses his practice on disability rights, corporate and healthcare law. Andrés founded and directs the law firm’s national disability rights practice, focused primarily on improving access to healthcare and wellness programs for persons across all categories of disabilities; accessible housing; and civic access. Through Andrés’ direction and leadership, a three-prong approach of education (for consumers and providers), advocacy, and, when required, litigation, is used to effect systemic change. Andrés also provides advice and counsel to healthcare and other entities on compliance matters relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Affordable Care Act, as well as state and local human and civil rights laws, ordinances, and regulations. In January 2021, on the afternoon of his inauguration, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. appointed Andrés to be the Chairman of the National Council on Disability.

  • Image: Caucasian male with black rimmed eyeglasses, short greying hair, a dark suit jacket with a white dress shirt and yellow tie.
  • Workshop: Opening Plenary Moderator; Persistent Barriers for People with Mobility Disabilities in Air Travel; Public Rights of Way; Recreation Facilities 
Caucasian male with black rimmed eyeglasses, short greying hair, a dark suit jacket with a white dress shirt and yellow tie.

Jules Good

JULES GOOD (they / them) is a disability justice activist and Assistant Director / Policy Analyst with Not Dead Yet. They are late-Deaf and multiply-disabled. Jules holds a Master in Public Policy from the University of New Hampshire, and formerly worked as the Relay and Assistive Technology Outreach Specialist with Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. They also founded their own organization, Neighborhood Access, which works with nonprofits, state agencies, and private businesses to aid in making practices and processes more accessible to the disabled community. Jules is deeply involved in disability justice work both locally in their current home state of New Hampshire, and nationally.

  • Image: A white person with short brown hair wearing yellow eye makeup and orange lipstick smiles toothily for the camera.
  • Workshop: “No One Left Behind”: Centering Multiply-Marginalized Disabled People in Assisted Suicide Opposition Work 
A white person with short brown hair wearing yellow eye makeup and orange lipstick smiles toothily for the camera.

E.K. Hoffman (they/them or ze/hir pronouns)

e.k. hoffman (they / them or ze / hir pronouns) is the Assistant Director of New Disabled South Rising and currently lives in Columbia, South Carolina. They hold their B.A. in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies and are currently completing their Master of Social Work degree at the University of South Carolina. With ten years of experience in various nonprofit and organizing environments, they bring perspectives in movement-building from LGBTQIA+ advocacy, abolition, voting rights, public health, inclusive sexual education, disability justice, and more. They are a leader in matters of accessibility, whether that be architectural, digital, or policy. They have held both “micro” client-based and “macro” policy-based positions that center on autonomy and interdependence. As a seasoned educator, e.k. is a skilled presenter who believes that once we know better, we can collectively do better. Intersectionality is a key priority in all of their work and e.k. does not seek to be a “voice for the voiceless,” but seeks to rather “pass the mic,” uplifting the voices of those most impacted. e.k. focuses on challenging white supremacy and the cis-het paradigm, advocating for accessibility and disability inclusion, and creating both safe and brave spaces for us all. e.k. has a passion for serving the South in particular and a respect for the power and resilience in our intersectional fight for liberation. e.k.’s experiences as a white, disabled, trans, queer, Appalachian, Jewish person inform both their work and their pursuit of growth. In their free time, e.k. enjoys scrapbooking, painting, cuddling their zoo of pets, and cooking (in cast-iron, of course).

  • Image: a headshot of e.k., a white trans person with cropped curly brown hair and gold round-rimmed glasses, from the chest up, smiling lips closed, wearing a white button down shirt with a grey wool blazer on top.
  • Workshop: New Disabled South: How Regional Disability Justice Strategy is key to Collective Power Building
A headshot of e.k., a white trans person with cropped curly brown hair and gold round-rimmed glasses, from the chest up, smiling lips closed, wearing a white button down shirt with a grey wool blazer on top.

Lakisha “Kish” Hudson

LAKISHA “KISH” HUDSON is a Homeless Outreach Specialist & Certified Peer Specialist at Independent Living Resources Lacrosse since June of 2018. As a Homeless Outreach Specialist, her lived experience offers peer support to those who are currently experiencing homelessness. She is always looking for ways to help others in the community to re-establish themselves in the community. She is a mother of seven and has seven grandchildren, is an active member at Bountiful Harvest of Faith Ministries where she teaches Sunday School and is a part of the Worship team. She is also a Lacrosse Community Foundation member as well as a Board member. She is active in Moms Group, Lacrosse Historical Society re-enactments as well as Women of Melanin with Hope Restores.

  • Image: Black woman with brown hair pulled back, smiling at the camera
  • Workshop: Elevating Lived Experience for Independent Living
A black woman with brown hair pulled back, smiling at the camera

Susan Hurd, MA, CAGS, LMHC

SUSAN HURD, MA, CAGS, LMHC is a licensed Psychotherapist, Disability and Green Health Consultant, and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. She has over 20 years of expertise in teaching, advocating and living a Green, Healthy and Mindful Living Style. She also is an inspiration in living with complex and disabling chemical sensitivities, fragrances sensitivities, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Severe Allergies, along with many other disabling medical conditions. Due to learning how to advocating well, she has had housing, and workplace accommodations provided to keep her healthy. She currently provides telemedicine services in order to help provide needed disability accommodations.

  • Image: Headshot of a small framed white woman in their mid-50’s, wavy, short brown hair and smiling.
  • Workshop: Living Green, Healthy and Mindful: Education and Sensitivity Awareness and Accommodation Suggestions for the Fragrance Sensitive, Chemically Sensitive and Allergic Disabled Populations 
Headshot of a small framed white woman in their mid-50’s, wavy, short brown hair and smiling.

Wednesday Jones

WEDNESDAY JONES is an Employment and Financial Literacy Specialist. As someone living with autism, ADHD, a psychotic disorder, and scoliosis, their expertise goes beyond their professional experience. Wednesday is passionate about providing culturally competent services to multi marginalized people. Through education, they believe people with disabilities can take pride in and advocate for themselves. Wednesday also wants to make society more accepting and accessible as a whole. Wednesday works out of the Columbia office and loves science fiction. Their favorite TV show is Star Trek: The Next Generation.

  • Image: A smiling brown woman with dark brown curls and brown eyes. She is wearing a fuchsia shirt and is smiling at the camera.
  • Workshop: Is Your Center REALLY Disability Led? 
A smiling brown woman with dark brown curls and brown eyes. She is wearing a fuchsia shirt and is smiling at the camera.

Elaine Katz

ELAINE KATZ oversees Kessler Foundation’s grant making program and communications departments. During her tenure, the Foundation has awarded more than $50 million for disability employment programs. Ms. Katz works with organizations in board development, fundraising, marketing, and business development. She serves many local and national boards focused on disability and workforce. Elaine served as a member of the Human & Children Services Transition Advisory Committee for Governor-elect Phil Murphy. Ms. Katz has received a number community awards for her work in the disability field.

  • Image: White woman with short brown hair and bangs, smiling. Wearing blue and brown eyeglasses, blue sweater and color beaded necklace.
  • Workshop: An Insider’s View to Grantmaking: Funding from a Grantmaker’s Perspective
White woman with short brown hair and bangs, smiling. Wearing blue and brown eyeglasses, blue sweater and color beaded necklace.

Dom Kelly

DOM KELLY is the Founder and CEO of New Disabled South. One of a set of triplets born with Cerebral Palsy, Dom has been a disability advocate since he was four years old. With a decade of additional experience in digital and editorial strategy, he has devoted his life to disability justice, progressive policy and advocacy. He was a 2021 New Leaders Council fellow, serves as a board member for The Kelsey, Society for Disability Studies, Neighborhood Access, and University of Pennsylvania’s Nonprofit Leadership Alumni Association, and is a member of the NationSwell Council.

  • Image: A photo of a white man in his 30s with dark brown hair wearing a light brown coat smiling and leaning against a white wall
  • Workshop: Opening Plenary Panelist; New Disabled South: How Regional Disability Justice Strategy is key to Collective Power Building 
A photo of a white man in his 30s with dark brown hair wearing a light brown coat smiling and leaning against a white wall

Autumn Kubatzke

AUTUMN KUBATZKE is RAMP’s Human Resources Manager. She started her career with RAMP in 2013 as the Curriculum Services Manager, in 2016 became the Stephenson County Manager, and most recently took on the HR role in 2023. Prior to her time at RAMP, Autumn worked for eight years in marketing as a Project and Client Manager. Autumn enjoys networking and loves to find new ways to improve day to day processes within the agency through her organization and communication skills. She has an Associate’s Degree from Highland Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Communication from Illinois State University.

  • Image: White woman with straight brown, shoulder length hair smiles while wearing a pink top and red blazer.
  • Workshop: Workforce Innovation: Building the CILs of Tomorrow
White woman with straight brown, shoulder length hair smiles while wearing a pink top and red blazer.

Katie Lee

Katie Lee is the Services Director of RAMP; a non-residential Center for Independent Living in Northern Illinois. Katie has provided services at RAMP for 9 years in a variety of programs. In her current role, Katie ensures that RAMP has the best services and programs available to achieve the organizational mission and provide impact. At RAMP, Katie develops and maintains systems to measure outcomes and results, provides direct supervision to the services leadership team, and ensures all direct services staff have the tools for RAMP to provide premium quality services to individuals with disabilities, their families, and the community at large.

  • Image: A headshot of a white woman in her late 30s with long brown hair, smiling for the camera.
  • Workshop: Workforce Innovation: Building the CILs of Tomorrow 
A headshot of a white woman in her late 30s with long brown hair, smiling for the camera.

Rich Luby

RICH LUBY has more than 15 years of expertise in disability and inclusion training, initiative development, and workforce development for nonprofits, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and Fortune 500 companies. He currently leverages these experiences as a Program Manager and Advocate at Independence Northwest of Connecticut, one of five Independent Living Centers in the state. Rich leads with an empathetic nature and attains results through collaborative approaches. “Music, family & laughter fuel me – Community impact keeps me moving.”

  • Image: Smiling white male with turtleneck sweater
  • Workshop: Building Successful Collaborative Partnerships 
A smiling white male with turtleneck sweater

Paula L. McElwee 

PAULA L. MCELWEE is the Director of Technical Assistance, for the IL-NET National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Independent Living at ILRU. Beginning in 1979 Paula McElwee directed Link, Inc., based in Hays, Kansas, one of the first ten states funded through the Rehabilitation Act. She worked in the disability field in Kansas for 25 years, and was appointed by two governors to serve three terms on the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas. In 2000 McElwee relocated to Fresno, California, where she has served on the board of Resources for Independence of the Central Valley, a long-standing California Center.

  • Image: A silver-haired sixty-plus woman with rosy Scottish complexion and blue eyes, wearing a black patterned shirt. 
  • Workshop: Is Your Center REALLY Disability Led?   
A silver-haired sixty-plus woman with rosy Scottish complexion and blue eyes, wearing a black patterned shirt.

Corey McKittrick

COREY MCKITTRICK is the Director of Programs at the Alliance of Disability Advocates (ADA) with 13 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Corey oversees the TCLI program and is responsible for bringing on the first adaptive sports team to the organization. After joining ADA in 2017 Corey became certified in Non-Profit Management as well as a certified Benefits Practitioner. In 2019 Corey became a member of NC Functional Assessment Support Teams to help in the event of natural disasters.

  • Image: A white male with a beard and bald head
  • Workshop: Using Measure of Community Living to Document Results 
A white male with a beard and bald head

Kimberly Meck

KIMBERLY MECK is the Executive Director of Disability Empowerment Center in Seattle, WA. She advocates extensively throughout the community with the beliefs that everyone deserves to be treated with equity, to be included and to have choices. Kimberly has a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and is also a Certified Disability Management Specialist and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She is currently the Chair of the Washington State Independent Living Council and serves as the National Council on Independent Living Region 10 Representative.

  • Image: Kimberly Meck is pictured wearing a floral tank top dress and silver hoop earrings. She has long curly brown hair and green eyes and is smiling looking at the camera.
  • Workshop: Staying Engaged in a National & Global Movement 
Kimberly Meck is pictured wearing a floral tank top dress and silver hoop earrings. She has long curly brown hair and green eyes and is smiling looking at the camera.

Beth Meyer

BETH MEYER is currently the Executive Director of the Florida Independent Living Council (FILC). She has over 25 years of experience working with people with disabilities, including as an ADA Coordinator and her work at Centers for Independent Living. Beth attended UNF as a Special Education Major, and has completed her ADA Certification.

  • Image: An older woman with blonde, grey hair pulled back with a grey shirt.
  • Workshop: Advocacy through SILC Collaborations 
An older woman with blonde, grey hair pulled back with a grey shirt.

Rosemary Miles

ROSEMARY MILES has served as the Executive Director for the Space Coast CIL d/b/a Resource Center for Disability Solutions, a non-profit organization designated a Center for Independent Living, since December 2015. Previously Mrs. Miles provided accounting services and supported various programs that enforced the Fair Housing Act through systemic testing procedures, fair housing education and outreach and Home Modifications with emphasis on accessibility. While at the Fair Housing organization, Mrs. Miles conducted systemic testing for housing availability for persons with disabilities in partnership with the CIL.

  • Image: A headshot of woman in her 50s smiling at camera
  • Workshop: Better Together! How to standardize home modification programming among CILs and maximize the outcome 
A headshot of woman in her 50s smiling at camera

Samantha Moreno

SAMANTHA MORENO is an Independent Living Counselor at Progressive Independence, Inc. in Norman, OK. She is a daughter, a sister, a wife, an owner of three wonderful dogs, and an advocate with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2. Samantha received her master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Tennessee and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She currently serves as the NCIL Region 6 Representative and is a member of the NCIL Healthcare Long Term Services and Supports Subcommittee.

  • Image: A person with long hair using a power wheelchair smiles toward the camera
  • Workshop: Staying Engaged in a National & Global Movement 
A person with long hair using a power wheelchair smiles toward the camera

Jeremy Morris

JEREMY MORRIS is the Executive Director at Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council. Before joining the SILC in 2017, Jeremy had spent almost 10 years working in Independent Living, previously serving as the Executive Director of the Access Center in Dayton, Ohio and Finance Coordinator at the Western Reserve ILC in Warren, Ohio. His background in Centers for Independent Living includes direct services, advocacy and community partnerships, and operations management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

  • Image: Jeremy Morris is pictured wearing a burgundy shirt. He has brown hair and a trimmed beard and is smiling.
  • Workshops: Writing a Complete SPIL; State Plan Evaluation: Using a Three-Pronged Approach to Assess Effectiveness  
Jeremy Morris is pictured wearing a burgundy shirt. He has brown hair and a trimmed beard and is smiling.

Marty Musser

MARTY MUSSER is the Advocacy Director at Disability Rights & Resources, the CIL in Charlotte, NC. Her advocacy work focuses on civil rights and discrimination issues related to disability. She is a certified Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator through the University of Missouri. She serves on the NCIL Board as the Region 4 Representative.

  • Image: A white woman in her 30’s with long, straight light brown hair. She is wearing a bright blue turtleneck and smiles directly into the camera. In the background are stacks of books on white shelves.
  • Workshop: Staying Engaged in a National & Global Movement 
A white woman in her 30’s with long, straight light brown hair. She is wearing a bright blue turtleneck and smiles directly into the camera. In the background are stacks of books on white shelves.

Shari Myers

SHARI MYERS is a nationally recognized expert on inclusive disaster services which integrate the access and functional needs of the whole community before, during and after emergencies. She is committed to advancing disability-led disaster preparedness, response and recovery, with a focus on civil rights protections and disability justice. She joined the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies on February 1, 2023, as the organization’s Disaster Operations Coordinator. She supports domestic and global preparedness, response, and recovery operations, and oversees the Partnership’s Disability and Disaster Hotline.

  • Image: Photo of Shari, an older white woman with grey hair, smiling.
  • Workshop: Disability-led Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery 
An older white woman with grey hair, smiling.

Amy Nicholas

AMY NICHOLAS is a Senior Attorney Advisor at the National Council on Disability (NCD) on NCD’s Policy Team and has been with NCD for over eight years. The National Council on Disability is an independent federal agency tasked with advising the Administration, Congress, and federal agencies on disability policy. Amy has served in the capacity as an agreement coordinator for multiple NCD reports including subjects such as: subminimum wage / AbilityOne, FEMA / emergency management, transportation, and employment. Amy served as the NCD designee on FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC) IPAWS Subcommittee and has represented NCD on multiple committees during her tenure. Prior to joining NCD, Amy was employed at the Department of Transportation as an Equal Opportunity Specialist in its Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights. Amy graduated from the Robert H. McKinney Indiana University School of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) and attended the University of Cincinnati where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Media.

  • Image: Caucasian female with long blond hair, a red top with a dark jacket, and with earrings and a necklace.
  • Workshop: Persistent Barriers for People with Mobility Disabilities in Air Travel; Public Rights of Way; Recreation Facilities 
Caucasian female with long blond hair, a red top with a dark jacket, and with earrings and a necklace.

Peter Nye

PETER NYE is an independent living program officer at the Administration for Community Living. He is in charge of grants to some centers for independent living and some designated state entities, and he works with some Statewide Independent Living Councils. He has worked on a variety of projects that pertain to disability issues, including state plans for independent living, opportunities for connecting people to resources, and prize challenges on disability employment and disability housing. He has a bachelor’s degree in English from William & Mary and a law degree from the University of Kansas.

  • Image: Peter Nye has short, black hair and is wearing wire-rimmed glasses and a white shirt and a purple tie and a grey blazer. He is in front of a grey background with an American flag in the corner.
  • Workshop: Unifying Systems so People with Disabilities Have Housing Stability
Peter Nye has short, black hair and is wearing wire-rimmed glasses and a white shirt and a purple tie and a grey blazer. He is in front of a grey background with an American flag in the corner.

Chris Rivera

CHRIS RIVERA is the Director of Operations at Alliance of Disability Advocates. He has been with the agency for over 10 years now and started off as a consumer receiving assistance from each of their core services and thriving as a result. He went from consumer to volunteer, volunteer to part time work, and eventually full-time employment. Chris felt a stronger connection to the work as a result of his journey and involvement over the years. He is thankful for every day he is here and for anything he can do to help Alliance of Disability Advocates and the community they serve.

  • Image: Professional headshot- Latino male, short dark hair and goatee, wearing a plaid button-down shirt with a paisley tie.
  • Workshop: Unifying Systems so People with Disabilities Have Housing Stability
Professional headshot- Latino male, short dark hair and goatee, wearing a plaid button-down shirt with a paisley tie.

Thomas Olin

THOMAS OLIN is a photojournalist who has been involved with assisting and documenting the disability rights movement since 1985. He first became interested in disability rights when he worked as an orderly at a rehabilitation hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the age of 19. He got his start as a photographer after originally working at a video production company while in college at Berkeley, and he started to take photography classes at a community college. In addition to documenting the ADAPT movement he has documented many other disability rights events.

  • Image: A man with his hand on his face, wearing glasses and smiling for the camera in front of a banner with a bus and the words Disability Rights Are Civil Rights
  • Workshop: Guardianship 101…Is this a New Frontier for CILs 
A man with his hand on his face, wearing glasses and smiling for the camera in front of a banner with a bus and the words Disability Rights Are Civil Rights

Brian Peters

BRIAN PETERS is the Assistant Program Director of Independent Living Services at Independence First in Milwaukee, WI. He served as the co-chair of NCIL’s housing subcommittee for over 15 years, and served multiple terms on NCIL’s Board. He was very involved in housing advocacy in the Milwaukee area, which led to the creation of the City of Milwaukee’s Housing Trust Fund. He has served on the Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board since its inception, and most recently chaired a review process that allocated $10 million toward affordable housing projects in the City.

  • Image: A white middle aged male with a close cropped hair and goatee wearing a white polo shirt, standing in front of what looks like pink cherry blossoms.
  • Workshop: Unifying Systems so People with Disabilities Have Housing Stability
A white middle aged male with a close cropped hair and goatee wearing a white polo shirt, standing in front of what looks like pink cherry blossoms.

Nicole Ravens

NICOLE RAVENS has been working in IL for five years as a supervisor, home mod assessor and now statewide coordinator for peer run centers. She is a peer specialist and advocate serving on multiple state-wide committees for mental health and substance use recovery services and peer specialists.

  • Image: A white woman in her late 30s with brown hair pulled back, smiling at the camera
  • Workshop: Elevating Lived Experience for Independent Living
A white woman in her late 30s with brown hair pulled back, smiling at the camera

Shelly Richardson

SHELLY RICHARDSON was hired as Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois in March 2017. As Director, she works with the 22 Centers for Independent Living (CILs), and other agencies across the state, to provide the leadership, research, planning, and education required to support independent living services for people with disabilities across Illinois. She also serves as a member of the Statewide Rehabilitation Council (SRC) of Illinois, Illinois Social Services Advisory Council (ISSAC), Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) Advisory Council, Housing Action Illinois (HAI) Board, and has been a long-time member of HAI’s Advocacy Advisory Group.

  • Image: A middle-aged white woman with short red hair and glasses smiling at the camera.
  • Workshop: Advocacy through SILC Collaborations 
A middle-aged white woman with short red hair and glasses smiling at the camera.

Chris Rivera

CHRIS RIVERA is the Director of Operations at Alliance of Disability Advocates. He has been with the agency for over 10 years now and started off as a consumer receiving assistance from each of their core services and thriving as a result. He went from consumer to volunteer, volunteer to part time work, and eventually full-time employment. Chris felt a stronger connection to the work as a result of his journey and involvement over the years. He is thankful for every day he is here and for anything he can do to help Alliance of Disability Advocates and the community they serve.

  • Image: Professional headshot- Latino male, short dark hair and goatee, wearing a plaid button-down shirt with a paisley tie.
  • Workshop: Unifying Systems so People with Disabilities Have Housing Stability
Professional headshot- Latino male, short dark hair and goatee, wearing a plaid button-down shirt with a paisley tie.

Deanna Robbins

DEANNA ROBBINS (Pronouns: She, Her, Hers) is the OVW Project Coordinator at RAMP, a non-residential CIL in Northern Illinois. She directs the OVW Disability Grant Program, which aims to strengthen agency relationships and increase service capacity for providing accessible, safe, and effective services to survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors in Winnebago County. She has enjoyed a few roles at RAMP since being hired in January of 2019. These include Youth Education Advocate, Fast Track Coordinator, and Winnebago County Manager. She is a proud Rock Valley College alum and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with Ottawa University, minoring in Communications.

  • Image: White woman with curly, shoulder length hair, smiles while wearing an olive green top and standing in front of a brick wall.
  • Workshop: Workforce Innovation: Building the CILs of Tomorrow
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Rebecca Salon

REBECCA SALON works at National Disability Institute’s (NDI’s) LEAD / WIOA Policy Development Center. Dr. Salon is a recognized national leader in policy / program development that promotes employment and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. She has over 40 years of experience working with people with disabilities in both the private sector and for city / state government.

  • Image: A headshot of an older white woman with silver/gray hair, smiling for the camera.
  • Workshop: Employment and Financial Empowerment: Tools and Resources to support DEAI CIL Core Services 
A headshot of an older white woman with silver/gray hair, smiling for the camera.

Latricia Seye

LATRICIA SEYE – As the Director of Independent Living Services since January 2021, Latricia (Trish) Seye oversees all of Access Living’s direct services, including program development, evaluation of annual goals and objectives, budgeting and planning, and managing the largest department within the organization. Before joining Access Living, Trish was the Assistant Director of Fair Housing and ADA Compliance at the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), the third largest housing authority in the country. Trish is guided by a philosophy that not everyone is far off from needing help. Trish holds a bachelor’s in African American studies, a post-baccalaureate paralegal certificate, and a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in government management. In 2018, she was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success. In 2021, Trish was selected for The United Way of Metro Chicago and The Baumhart Center of Loyola University’s Responsible Business Leaders – Fall 2021 Cohort.

  • Image: An African American woman with curly shoulder-length hair, a white jacket and red shirt smiles next to a window.
  • Workshop: Building and Activating A CIL Race Equity Plan 
An African American woman with curly shoulder-length hair, a white jacket and red shirt smiles next to a window.

Lorna-Mae Silcott 

LORNA-MAE SILCOTT has been an educator and an advocate for over 20 years and is currently a disability advocate for The Freedom Center in Maryland. She provides Pre-Employment Transition Services to youth, assists with housing case management, is a certified benefits counselor, and is a valued part of the Employment Network at The Freedom Center. She hosts a weekly show called The Freedom Train which educates, informs, and encourages the community at large, and she is now the secretary of the Maryland SILC. She strongly believes in serving with excellence and is enthusiastic about letting others know they do not have to settle for less.

  • Image: Black woman with curly shoulder length hair. She is wearing a tan shirt with a beige sports coat.
  • Workshop: Raising Our Voices: Empowering IL Communities to Engage in Legislative Advocacy   
Black woman with curly shoulder length hair. She is wearing a tan shirt with a beige sports coat.

Carolyn Sithong 

CAROLYN SITHONG has over 20 years of experience as a clinical, educational and community-based occupational therapist with award-winning practices. She is specially certified in the area of environmental modifications (SCEM) by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She has spear headed aging in place initiatives and home modification programming for local, state and national organizations. She has served the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, The Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living, NC Statewide Independent Living Council, AARP, National Rebuilding Together, Home Depot and AOTA, with her expertise in the home modification area. She is the current CEO of Home for Life Design.

  • Image: A woman in her 40s with short hair, smiling at camera  
  • Workshop: Better Together! How to standardize home modification programming among CILs and maximize the outcome   
A woman in her 40s with short hair, smiling at camera

Vicki Smith 

VICKI SMITH was the Executive Director of Disability Rights NC from 2007 to 2018 when she retired. In early 2019, Vicki accepted a position at Alliance of Disability Advocates where she is currently Executive Director. She has over 48 years of experience in disability advocacy including ten years at NDRN in Washington, D.C. where she led their training and technical assistance center. Vicki started her career as a Special Ed teacher in rural West Virginia in the 1970s. Smith is a person with TBI and a mental illness.

  • Image: Older white woman with gray hair and glasses. 
  • Workshop: Using Measure of Community Living to Document Results   
Older white woman with gray hair and glasses

Amber Smock 

AMBER SMOCK has served as Access Living’s Director of Advocacy since 2010. She executes Access Living’s advocacy vision through policy, community organizing, and issue education. She guides Access Living’s power building at the local, state, and national levels across a range of disability topics, including healthcare, home- and community-based services, housing, education, transportation, racial justice, immigration, and diversion / reentry from the criminal system. Amber is currently appointed to the Illinois State Medicaid Advisory Committee and the Cook County Commission on Human Rights. She supports international disability exchange, most recently with Hungary, Bulgaria, Japan and Georgia. Amber is a member of Disability Lead and Leadership Greater Chicago and a recipient of numerous local and national awards. She is a proud member of the Deaf community who grew up in mainstreamed schools, learned ASL as a young adult, and now relies on lip-reading, ASL interpreters, and video relay technologies for communication access.

  • Image: A white woman with short grayish hair, smiles next to an office building while wearing a blue suit. 
  • Workshop: Building and Activating A CIL Race Equity Plan   
A white woman with short grayish hair, smiles next to an office building while wearing a blue suit.

Jennifer Stonemeier 

JENNIFER STONEMEIER is Executive Director at REACH, Inc. – the Center for Independent Living serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Jenny has spent her career working within and alongside the disability community, first as a music therapist. She found her professional home in Advocacy after completing a Masters Degree in Child and Family Law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Jenny has worked in many federally funded resource centers and technical assistance projects across education, special education, employment, and community living and continues to advocate for inclusive and accessible policies at all levels.

  • Image: Jenny is a white woman with long, graying, brown hair. She has green eyes and freckles and wears glasses. 
  • Workshop: Unifying Systems so People with Disabilities Have Housing Stability   
Jenny is a white woman with long, graying, brown hair. She has green eyes and freckles and wears glasses.

Jackie Sundquist 

Jackie Sundquist is the CEO/Executive Director of RAMP; a non-residential Center for Independent Living with a mission to encourage individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential. In the past 25+ years, Jackie has worked with RAMP in the areas of services & advocacy for persons with disabilities, program development, service delivery, quality assurance, case management, disability awareness & sensitivity training, financial management, human resources, leadership, and supervision. Jackie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia College in Psychology and obtained her Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology from Highland Community College in Freeport, IL. 

  • Image: A headshot of a white woman in her mid 40’s with dark blonde hair, smiling for the camera. 
  • Workshop: Workforce Innovation: Building the CILs of Tomorrow 
A headshot of a white woman in her mid 40’s with dark blonde hair, smiling for the camera.

Kimberly Tissot 

KIMBERLY TISSOT proudly serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Able SC where she guides the staff in applying the philosophy of independent living to real situations. Kimberly believes in the value of individualized and community-based empowerment as she wants people to recognize their full potential. Under Kimberly’s leadership, Able SC has experienced years of growth, success and has become a nationally recognized CIL. Kimberly’s road to disability rights began at an early age, after having her leg amputated from a rare childhood cancer, Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Kimberly began deciding her style of mobility, becoming the first soccer player with a disability in her town, and speaking up anytime she was treated differently. Kimberly has over 20 years of experience advocating for disability inclusion on a local, state, and federal level, and also internationally!

  • Image: Caucasian, blond woman with glasses, black jacket/pants and red top. She is smiling, has one leg and is using crutches. 
  • Workshop: Is Your Center REALLY Disability Led?   
Caucasian, blond woman with glasses, black jacket/pants and red top. She is smiling, has one leg and is using crutches.

Ana Torres-Davis

ANA TORRES-DAVIS is a Senior Attorney advisor at the National Council on Disability where she advises the Council on legal and policy issues and leads the development of reports to the President and Congress on cutting-edge issues impacting people with disabilities. Her areas of expertise include employment; healthcare discrimination and bioethics; fair housing; public accommodations; education; transportation; and vocational rehabilitation. A career civil and disability-rights attorney, she has held positions as an Attorney for the AARP Foundation, Analyst for HUD’S Office for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Deputy Director of HUD’s Fair Housing Information Clearinghouse, and Assistant County Attorney for Prince William County, Virginia. Ana earned her J.D. from the Catholic University of America and is a member of the Virginia Bar.

  • Image: Caucasian female with chin length brown hair and a white blouse.
  • Workshop: Persistent Barriers for People with Mobility Disabilities in Air Travel; Public Rights of Way; Recreation Facilities 
Caucasian female with chin length brown hair and a white blouse.

Hindley Williams

HINDLEY WILLIAMS is the co-chair of the Maryland SILC’s Legislative Committee and a program director at the IMAGE Center of Maryland. She has been working in the IL field for six years and is committed to its core values in all aspects of her work. Her particular expertise is in housing navigation services, youth transition, and legislative advocacy. She has been actively advocating for disability issues for the last ten years and has given legislative advocacy trainings to individuals with disabilities of all ages. These opportunities have allowed her to see firsthand the effectiveness of advocacy by people with disabilities for the concerns that impact their daily lives.

  • Image: A white woman in a black blazer, smiles at the camera
  • Workshop: Raising Our Voices: Empowering IL Communities to Engage in Legislative Advocacy
A white woman in a black blazer, smiles at the camera