Staff

New York Association on Independent Living, Inc.

155 Washington Avenue, Suite 208
Albany, NY 12210

Phone: 518-465-4650
Fax: 518-465-4625
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Website: www.ilny.org

Lindsay Miller
Executive Director
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518-465-4650 ext. 102

Suzanne de Beaumont
Assistant Executive Director
Project Director – Open Doors (MFP) Transition Center Project
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518-465-4650 ext. 104

Kaitlyn McInerney
Community Outreach Specialist
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518-465-4650 ext. 103

Alex Thompson
Director of Advocacy
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518-465-4650 ext. 120

Blaise Bryant
Communications Specialist
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518-465-4650 ext. 124

Aurie Mercer
Director of Office Operations & Human Resources
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518-465-4650 ext. 101

Regina Swinney
Administrative Coordinator
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518-465-4650 ext. 118

Nicole Mastroianni
Administrative Support & Event Coordinator
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Conference-related Inquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
518-465-4650 ext. 126

Robert Peters
Director of Finance
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518-465-4650 ext. 107

Renée Wiggin
Staff Accountant
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518-465-4650 ext. 111

Patti Voerg
Bookkeeper
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518-465-4650 ext. 119

Valerie Brennan
Director of Housing Programs –
Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) Program
Rapid Transition Housing (RTH) Program
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518-465-4650 ext. 110

Sara Morris

Assistant Director of Housing Programs-

Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) Program
Rapid Transition Housing (RTH) Program This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
518-465-4650 ext. 112

Krystina Rodriguez
Support Services Coordinator – Rapid Transition Housing (RTH) Program
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518-465-4650 ext. 116

Andria MIller
Housing Program Specialist-
Rapid Transition Housing (RTH) Program
Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) Program
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518-465-4650 ext. 123

Richard DeGrijze
Housing Program Specialist- Rapid Transition Housing (RTH) Program
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518-465-4650 ext. 145

Tracy Marcus
Housing Specialist Liaison- Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) Program
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518-465-4650 ext. 146

Amber Mele
Housing Program Specialist-
Rapid Transition Housing (RTH) Program
Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) Program
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518-465-4650 ext. 125

Tami Loya
Education & Outreach Director - Open Doors (MFP) Transition Center Project
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518-465-4650 ext. 105

Laurie Carter
Social Work Coordinator – Open Doors (MFP) Transition Center Project
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518-465-4650 ext. 108

Michele Pedersen
Statewide Transition Specialist Liaison– Open Doors (MFP)
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518-465-4650 ext. 114

Katy Bell
Program Director – Open Doors (MFP) Peer Support Program
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518-465-4650 ext. 106

Sarah Cihlar
Statewide Peer & Transition Liaison
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518-465-4650 ext. 130

Lesley Kelder
Statewide Transition Specialist Liaison –
Open Doors (MFP) Transition Center Project
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518-465-4650 ext. 122

Michelle Darling-Downs
Lead Waiver Liaison– Open Doors (MFP)
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518-465-4650 ext. 128

Ifeoma Okoba
Waiver Liaison – Open Doors (MFP)
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518-465-4650 ext. 129

Benjamin Thariath
Waiver Liaison – Open Doors (MFP)
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518-465-4650 ext. 127

Laura Bingell
Nurse - Open Doors (MFP) Transition Center Project
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518-465-4650 ext. 144

Josephine Todaro
Good Neighbor Program Director
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518-465-4650 ext. 121

Success Story

( Photo above of Miguel standing with walker, wearing T-shirt that reads "Wakanda Forever". )

Miguel Santana is a 63-year-old man who needed a hip replacement and after seven surgeries he was sent to the Bainbridge Rehab Nursing Home in 2020. Miguel’s case was assigned to Open Doors Transition Specialist (TS) Lisa Rivera with Bronx Independent Living Services (BILS) in October 2021. Miguel’s roommate at the nursing home successfully transitioned back to the community with the help of Open Doors and this TS. As a result, Miguel felt confident that he might be able to regain his freedom and independence and asked for an Open Doors referral to be made on his behalf.

When Lisa, the TS, discovered Miguel needed help managing his anxiety and depression due to the loss of his independence, she was able to connect him with Open Doors Peer Specialist Natalia Mendez. Natalia was instrumental in helping Miguel successfully deal with his experience at the nursing home, encouraging him to trust the process, and emphasizing the importance of embracing the progress he was making during his physical therapy sessions.

While Miguel was recovering in the nursing home, he lost his apartment and did not have a place to live when he was ready to return to the community. Lisa made an Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) referral to connect him with a Housing Specialist (HS) and a rental subsidy. The HS, Irving McDonald, assessed his housing needs that would allow Miguel to live independently and safely in an apartment of his choice. The TS and HS were able to gather all the documentation that was needed for him to be eligible for the OHS program. This was no small feat as they had to find documents that had been lost while he was going from hospital to nursing home and back again.

Miguel was then pre-approved for a studio apartment and given an opportunity to see the space. He was worried because of the many surgeries he would not be ready to be discharged once the apartment was ready. Lisa and Irving assured Miguel that he should focus on recovery while they focused on the apartment, community supports and services that would be needed for a safe discharge.

Despite all the progress he made along the road to recovery, Miguel was still nervous about living on his own. The team (TS, Peer, and HS) supported him, and they all moved forward together which resulted in him signing the lease to his apartment!

Remember Miguel’s roommate from the nursing home? While looking at the studio apartment Miguel saw his good friend and former roommate. His apartment is in the same building and section as Miguel’s… just one floor above. “I was extremely surprised to see my friend from the nursing home in the same building. I was extremely happy and felt much better about living independently again,” said Miguel.

While Miguel has a supportive family, they do not live close by and are unable to help as much as he needs. Lisa made a Good Neighbor Program (GNP) referral. The GNP Manager was able to match Miguel with Good Neighbor Rudell Francis. Lisa also helped Miguel apply for home care, Access-a-Ride paratransit, and managing his Medicaid benefits.

In February 2023, Miguel was discharged from the nursing home and moved into his own apartment. “I couldn’t have done this without Lisa and the rest of my support system. They showed me that I can get back up and live on my own.”

ILCs Create Community Change!

ILCs address disparities by advocating locally and with NY State to remove systemic barriers, making communities more inclusive and accessible for all.

ILCs advocate for affordable and accessible housing!
Advocacy from the ILC network has led the creation of invaluable programs that help people with disabilities live independently in their community, including the Access to Home home modification program and the Olmstead Housing Subsidy program.
ILCs advocate for accessible transportation!
All Amtrak stations north of Albany are now accessible, thanks to a campaign by ILC advocates. In New York City, ILCs played a key role in the landmark decision to make 50% of all yellow taxis accessible by 2020.
ILCs advocate to increase integrated employment options!
Most recently, ILCs successfully advocated for the State’s Employment First Initiative, which makes integrated employment with appropriate supports and services a priority.