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STAFF
Stephanie Altman JD, Program and Policy Director, joined HDA in 1999 as a staff attorney specializing in Medicaid, Medicare, and health insurance issues. She represents children and adults in individual and class actions and also advocates for quality, accessible health care through administrative and legislative avenues. Stephanie co-authored Medical Assistance Programs in Illinois and the Illinois Medical Assistance Action Plan and conducts presentations and workshops on Medicaid and other disability topics for family and community groups, medical providers and hospital staff, and the legal profession. Prior to coming to HDA, she was an Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice at the Chicago-Kent College of Law, specializing in health and disability law, and a staff attorney with the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago. Stephanie has her law degree from Loyola University School of Law and a B.A. in English from Grinnell College. Email: saltman@hdadvocates.org
Sue Augustus JD has re-joined HDA as the Chief Operating Officer. From 2002 to 2010, Sue was with the Corporation for Supportive Housing, most recently serving as a Regional Managing Director for CSH. From 1996 to 2002, Sue was the Deputy Director for HDA. Sue previously worked for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, the Legal Aid Society of Dayton and the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Chicacgo-Kent College of Law. Email: saugustus@hdadvocates.org
Ellyce Anapolsky JD joined HDA in 2004. She serves as a Staff Attorney representing clients in individual actions and works on advocacy issues in the areas of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Her legal experience includes clerking for the Cook County Circuit Court, and working with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia and Legal Assistance for Seniors in Oakland as a member of the VISTA Volunteer Legal Corps. Ellyce is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds a law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago and a Master of Science in Accounting from California State University. Email: eanapolsky@hdadvocates.org
Stephani Becker joined HDA in October 2005 as a Senior Policy Analyst on HDA’s Access to Health Care team. She conducts policy research, data analysis and advocacy on a range of issues, including persons with disabilities, health insurance coverage, and access to public benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps and SSI. She coordinates HDA’s project on covering the uninsured in Illinois and was a co-author of HDA’s proposal, Options for a Consumer Health Care Access Strategy in Illinois. She leads a partnership of funders and nonprofits in the IllinoisHealthMatters.org campaign. Prior to coming to HDA, Stephani was a consultant to the Michael Reese Health Trust and worked for several children’s organizations including the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health in Palo Alto, CA, where she assessed grant proposals and researched programs that promote the health and well-being of children and youth. Stephani has an MPP from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a BA in English from Duke University. Email: sbecker@hdadvocates.org
John Coburn, JD, Director of Training, currently directs the Make Medicare Work Coalition (MMW), a coalition of service providers and advocates in Illinois that provide education, outreach and policy advocacy around Medicare Part D. In addition, John is the team leader of HDA’s workforce development team, which advocates for policies that support people with disabilities who want to work. John leads workshops throughout Illinois and the U.S. on Social Security benefits, the Social Security work incentives, Medicare, Medicaid, the Ticket to Work Program and other public benefits issues. He has written fact sheets, guides, and articles on these topics and his written work has been utilized by advocates, service providers, and individuals throughout the country. Prior to joining Health & Disability Advocates in 2003, John developed and ran the Protection and Advocacy Program for Beneficiaries of Social Security at Equip for Equality, Inc. and worked as an HIV/AIDS Project attorney for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago. He also worked as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati. John has a law degree from Duke University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois. Email: jcoburn@hdadvocates.org
Joe Entwisle graduated with a Masters degree from the University of WI Madison in 1995 and began working in outpatient substance abuse and mental health counseling at the Veterans Administration in Madison. He then took a position as a benefits counselor with Employment Resources, Inc. to educate individuals with disabilities on the impact of employment on public and private benefit systems. Joe parlayed that experience into a position as senior policy analyst with the University of WI Madison/WI DHFS for six years. During that time Joe performed one of two roles as senior policy analyst and the interim director of the State Independent Living Council for fifteen months of his six years there, assisting DHFS with a transition of SILC to an autonomous organization. During his time working for UW Madison Joe worked in many areas of policy development and analysis with programs like the Medicaid Purchase Plan, the SSI Waiver, SSDI $2 for $1, Pathways to Independence, and Bridges to Work. This experience brought him to Chicago's Health & Disability Advocates and The National Consortium for Health Systems Development, which is where he is currently employed. Joe has been working here for over a year and a half providing training and technical assistance to states on many areas of health care and workforce policy. Email: jentwisle@hdadvocates.org
Laura Gallagher Watkin joined HDA as a Senior Policy Analyst in June 2006. She leads the Illinois Connections: Assisting Military and Veteran Families project. Previously, she provided training and technical assistance to state and community agencies nation-wide through the Work Incentives Support Center on federal and state public benefits issues including asset development, and served as a co-chair of Work Incentives Delivery Systems subcommittee of the SSA Regional Work Incentives Advisory Group and was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Access to Benefits in Illinois. She received her B.A. in Sociology from McGill University and her Law Degree from Catholic University where she also received a certificate in Public Policy. She received her certification as a Benefits Specialist from Cornell University in 2001 as part of the SSA sponsored Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Program. She has previously worked on public benefits cases at Southeastern Ohio Legal Services for two years and served as Director of Benefits Planning at the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services for six years. Email: lgwatkin@hdadvocates.org
Shanya Gray is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), working as the clinical specialist/ client advocate with the SSI Outreach Project. She partners with attorney Lisa Parsons to reduce homelessness in Chicago, by helping displaced individuals obtain social security disability benefits, medical care and housing. Shanya formerly worked as a clinical therapist on the Westside of Chicago, helping to improve the levels of functioning of mentally ill adults and children. She also educated and consulted with Department of Human Services staff on issues related to mental illness. Shanya graduated with first class honors (equivalent to magna cum laude) in psychology from the University of the West Indies, in Barbados and then completed graduate studies in Clinical Psychology at Wheaton College in Illinois. Email: sgray (at) hdadvocates (dot) org.
Nancy Henderson is HDA’s accountant. Her primary duties are budgeting, reporting, reconciling, and auditing the financial accounts. She prepares detailed reports for funders and for board meetings. Nancy is a native Texan who lived in Chicago from 1996-2007, when she returned to Texas to attend law school. Nancy earned her BA in Computing degree from DePaul University in 2000 and her JD from Texas Wesleyan University. Email: nhenderson@hdadvocates.org
Sarah O’Connor, JD is Senior Attorney for the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children, joined HDA in 2007. Ms. O’Connor represents medically complex and chronically ill children referred by La Rabida Children’s Hospital and Comer Children’s Hospital in a wide variety of special education matters. She also advocates on behalf of immigrants and their children for access to public benefits. Prior to joining HDA she worked at a private law firm specializing in immigration law. Ms. O'Connor’s practice focused on representing individuals in asylum applications and family immigration benefits before the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. She represented many individuals facing deportation in immigration court. Before attending law school at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, Ms. O'Connor worked as a Board of Immigration Appeals Accredited Representative for Heartland Alliance Midwest Immigrant and Human Rights Center. During law school, she received the Francis Leos Award for Excellence in Clinical Studies, Center for Legal & Social Justice, Immigration Clinic. Ms. O'Connor is fluent in Spanish. Email: soconnor@hdadvocates.org
Barbara Otto is Chief Executive Officer of Health & Disability Advocates. Under her leadership, HDA has grown into a nationally known advocacy organization and resource on health care, employment supports for people with disabilities, and inclusive public policymaking. Barbara is a sought-after speaker, giving workshops throughout the United States, and she served as Adjunct Faculty for Cornell University’s Program on Employment and Disability, and was a consultant with the Virginia Commonwealth University, providing technical assistance to states working to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities from 2000 to 2006. In 2000, the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois awarded Barbara the Justin Dart Award for Advocacy, and in 2003 she received a national commendation from the Social Security Administration. In 2011 President Obama appointed her to the national Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion and Integrative and Public Health. Barbara’s work prior to HDA was in health policy and welfare issues. She is a graduate of Marquette University. Email: botto@hdadvocates.org
Lisa Parsons, JD is a renowned attorney and advocate for the homeless in Chicago, with over twenty years of experience. After graduating from law school, Ms. Parsons worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, where she directed the Homeless Advocacy Project. Subsequently, she worked at the University of Chicago’s Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, assisting homeless individuals. Since 2008, she has directed the SSI Homeless Outreach Project. Email: lparsons (at) hdadvocates (dot) org.
Purvi Patel, JD joined HDA in 2010 as an Equal Justice Works Legal Fellow to work on legal issues regarding the transition from childhood to adult services for children with chronic health needs. The project works with HDA’s medical legal partnership referral sites to identify cases relating to special education, health insurance, social security benefits, and adult support services. Prior to joining HDA, she completed full-time legal internships at Oxfam America, Greater Boston Legal Services Immigration Unit, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Special Litigation Unit, and with the Hon. Ann Claire Williams at the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. She holds a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, a Master of Public Health degree from Tufts University School of Medicine, and a B.A. from Oberlin College. Purvi's email is ppatel@hdadvocates.org
Seomara Sanabria joined HDA in 2001 as the Administrative Assistant. Currently she is HDA’s Finance Director. Her daily duties include but are not limited to: maintaining the organization’s bookkeeping system including accounts payable, receivable, payroll and cash receipts; preparing and managing accounts, ledgers and monthly bank statements; and assisting with development of the organization’s overall budget and project budgets. She is also responsible for the office technology needs along with any other office essentials, and she manages contractors and vendors for office technology needs, phone needs and website needs. She is fluent in English and Spanish and serves as a translator for HDA’s Spanish speaking clients. Seomara has completed coursework at Las Piedras University in Puerto Rico. Seomara’s email is ssanabria@hdadvocates.org
Emelin Santiago joined HDA in 2005 as the Administrative Assistant. Currently, she is HDA's Paralegal and Events Planner. Her duties include assisting staff members with all aspects of the office's daily operations, as well as preparing legal documents, interviewing clients, coordinating client record requests, and managing the client information and filing system. She also coordinates all of the organization's meetings and events. Emelin is fluent in Spanish and frequently translates for HDA's Spanish speaking clients. Prior to her work at HDA, she worked in the retail and restaurant industries as well as managed/supervised a department in the Rotating Union business. She has completed course work at The Youth Service Project in Chicago. Emelin’s email is esantiago@hdadvocates.org
Melissa Turner is the Project Director for the National Consortium for Health Systems Development housed at HDA, a technical assistance center for states developing systems that support employment for people with disabilities. She serves as a national policy expert on employment issues, Medicaid and Medicaid "buy-in" programs, and work incentives, and facilitates technical assistance for 41 state Medicaid Infrastructure Grant projects. Melissa also coordinates information sharing forums for the states, including regional and national conferences, and provides consultation on strategic planning, inclusive public policymaking, and comprehensive infrastructure development. Prior to 2001, she was a policy analyst with the Pathways to Independence Project at the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Melissa holds a Master of Public Services Management from DePaul University and a B.A. in Political Science and French from Marquette University. Melissa’s email is mwturner@hdadvocates.org
Elizabeth Walker, JD is a Staff Attorney with the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children and has worked at Health & Disability Advocates since 2008. Prior to joining HDA, she worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago in coordination with Health & Disability Advocates on the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children, representing and advising low-income families in several areas of law, including housing, domestic violence, special education, guardianship, and unemployment. At HDA, Elizabeth specializes in advocating for families in need of special education services. She is also actively involved in education policy, serving on state policy subcommittees relating to special education. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, where she was a Mansfield fellow at the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis and a volunteer at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon. Elizabeth's email is: ewalker@hdadvocates.org
Laura Wilhelm, JD joined HDA in 2000 as the Staff Attorney for Project Access, a medical-legal collaborative between HDA and two area hospitals that wrapped up at the end of 2004. The project helped families obtain the financial, medical, developmental and educational supports they needed for their infants and themselves. She has written and presented on Project Access and its findings at national research conferences, including the Society for Pediatric Research, the American Public Health Association, and the International Conference on Urban Health. Laura is managing our Think Beyond the Label campaign to make the business case for hiring people with disabilities. Prior to HDA, she worked in Washington, D.C. as staff to a member of Congress. She holds both a law degree and a Master of Social Work degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a B.A. in Government from Georgetown University. Laura’s email is lwilhelm@hdadvocates.org
Kate Winner, JD became a Staff Attorney for the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children at Health & Disability Advocates in 2011. Before joining the HDA team, Kate worked as an attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, representing students with disabilities in special education and school discipline cases as well as SSI hearings. Kate also staffed the Juvenile Expungement Help Desk at the Cook County Juvenile Justice Center and assisted pro se petitioners to expunge their criminal records. Kate received her J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Kate's email is kwinner@hdadvocates.org
Jill Wohl joined HDA as Director of Development and Communications in 2011. Previously, Jill worked in the marketing and communications department of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and directed marketing in the external relations department at Illinois Action for Children. Jill has over fifteen years experience working in communications in the nonprofit and private sector with expertise in public policy, social service and NGO environments. Email: jwohl (at) hdadvocates (dot) org.
Thomas Yates, JD has been with HDA since 1996, and is responsible for policy analysis, advocacy, and legal representation on health care and Social Security benefits for children and adults with disabilities, and elders with limited incomes. He provides individual representation, class action litigation, and administrative and legislative advocacy in the areas of Social Security, Medicaid, and state-funded assistance programs, and has published and spoken extensively on each of these areas. Before coming to HDA, he worked for a private law firm in Chicago representing individuals on Social Security disability claims, and he worked for over a decade as a legal services attorney for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago and Northeast Kentucky Legal Services. He has a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and a Bachelor of Special Studies in Economics and Philosophy from Cornell College. Thomas’s email is tyates@hdadvocates.org
Amy Zimmerman, JD directs the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children (CMLPC) at Health & Disability Advocates since 2006. Amy has spent her legal career focusing on issues that impact children. Her expertise includes children’s health advocacy, program and policy analysis and community-based partnerships. She serves on numerous advisory boards and committees including the Statewide Early Intervention Task Force, the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics EDOPC Policy and Legislative Advisory Committee, the Premature Infants Health Network, the Attorney General’s Special Education Advisory Committee and the Governor’s Lead Safe Housing Advisory Council. Her work on behalf of children and families includes individual and class action representation as well as spearheading legislative initiatives. Previously, Amy served as the Children’s Policy Advisor to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, assistant director of the Children’s Health and Education Project at the Chicago Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and as a neighborhood and project attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago. Amy is a 1991 graduate of Northwestern Law School. Amy’s email is azimmerman@hdadvocates.org
