For many people, finding and making a home of their own is a key turning point in their lives. From this point, other life goals begin or expand, such as starting or building a career, nurturing a family, or being a part of their neighborhood or community. In short, many people define their quality of life first by where and with whom they choose to live. However, this is often not the case for many people with disabilities who use Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), despite funding and policy mandates to ensure one’s housing is separate from services.
In 2018, the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council funded projects to change this and to compel systemic change through individual experiences that demonstrate the power of resources being directed by the person with the guidance and support they need to find and make a home of their own. This webinar will feature people with lived experience and the professionals who support them sharing their stories and highlighting challenges and the importance of collaboration. Panelists hope to spark ongoing discussion and shared learning about the shift from provider owned and managed housing.
Join NCAPPS for an interactive session on one state's journey to ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find their way home.
Marian Frattarola-Saulino respects everyone as the experts of their own lives and works to build coalitions where people themselves decide the expertise they need, to build the lives they want. Marian’s career includes experiences as a DSP, Residential Service Director, Supports Broker and Executive Director. She co-founded Values into Action, organizations that offer individualized services exclusively in people’s own homes and communities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She also helped to start the Collaborative for Citizen Directed Supports-New Jersey, and the Alliance for Citizen Directed Supports, membership organizations focused on enhancing sustainable self-directed systems.
Abby Martucci, Families CCAN Program Director, has 20 years of experience with strengths-based, person-centered planning. She has worked in the disability services and support sector for most of her career, with experience in direct support professional, supports coordination and management, and program development and direction. Abby holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Sociology. In her role as Families CCAN Program Director she plans, implements, and facilitates a variety of programs and services which include both individuals with disabilities and their family members.
Pamela Zotynia is the Service Director for Values into Action’s Participant Directed Services where she uses her knowledge and expertise to assist individuals and families who use Participant Directed Services to create the lives they deserve and desire. She is a certified Supports Broker in Pennsylvania, certified NADD Competency-Based IDD/MI Dual Diagnosis for Direct Support Professionals, and a Charting the Lifecourse Ambassador. She is a member of Pennsylvania’s Vendor Fiscal Employer Agent (Palco) Advisory Board.
Robert Zotynia joined the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) in 2014 and became the NASDDDS Executive Director on July 1, 2019. Before joining NASDDDS, Mary was with Mercer Government Human Services Consulting where she provided consultation and technical assistance to state governments on a wide array of Medicaid-related issues, with a focus on integrated care, home and community-based services, and managed long-term services and supports. Mary also has extensive experience within state government and non-profit organizations serving individuals with I/DD.
Sara Crimm is Director and co-founder of Families CCAN (Families Creating Communities for Adults with Special Needs). This Philadelphia-area nonprofit supports individuals with disabilities and their families to create sustainable housing and supports solutions that enable full participation in the community. Through workshops, meetings, trainings, facilitated gatherings and community building activities Families CCAN enables adults with disabilities and their families to live full, happy and independent lives. She is the parent of 3 adult children; her middle son is autistic.
Dana Thompson has worked in the disability field for over 32 years. She has worked in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County Assistance Office, the policy division for the PA Office of Developmental Programs, and has spent the last 11 years as a staff Project Officer for The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council. Dana is passionate about housing, independent living, self-advocacy, and Person Directed Services (PDS).
David-Gates has worked with numerous self-advocates and families since 2003 to develop creative housing models including home ownerships, microboards and projects with housing developers. He has also done 23 trainings across the state since 2010 on housing options for people with disabilities. He has also participated in housing committees for the Department of Human Services and Department of Aging. For the past 5 years, he was Project Lead for a housing project funded by the PA Development Disabilities Council. He currently consults for the PA Family Network and provides housing counseling under the waivers for Terrapin House.
Jeremy Yale joined the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) in January 2019 as the Director of the Bureau for Policy and Quality Management. In this role, Jeremy contributes as a senior member of the Office’s leadership team by managing the Divisions of Policy and Innovation, Quality Management, and Training and Communication. Prior to joining ODP, Mr. Yale served for five years as the County Administrator for the Lackawanna-Susquehanna Behavioral Health, Intellectual Disabilities and Early Intervention Program.
Lisa Tesler is a passionate advocate and visionary who supports inclusion, self-determination, and meaningful lives for people with developmental disabilities. Beginning in 2005, Ms. Tesler worked for Vision for Equality leading statewide training and advocacy efforts to improve public policy and end waiting lists. She is a graduate of Lafayette College, Partners in Policymaking, The National Leadership Consortium, and is a LifeCourse Ambassador. Ms. Tesler began her tenure as Executive Director in October 2019.
Dr. Amber Borreli, Housing Resource Coordinator for Values into Action, has been working alongside people seeking housing for over 20 years. At Values into Action, Dr. Borreli and her team support people with Autism or Intellectual Disabilities in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania to obtain housing that is separate from their services. Dr. Borreli graduated with a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Alvernia University. She has worked with Values into Action since 2019
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NCAPPS is an initiative from the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help States, Tribes, and Territories to implement person-centered practices. NCAPPS webinars are open to the public, and are geared toward human services administrators, providers, and people who use long-term services and supports. All NCAPPS webinars will be recorded and archived at https://ncapps.acl.gov.