Stephanie Altman 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.

Stephanie’s email is saltman@hdadvocates.org

Ellyce Anapolsky 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.

Ellyce’s email is 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. 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.

Stephani’s email is sbecker@hdadvocates.org

John Coburn, a senior policy attorney, 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.

John’s email is 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 and 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.

Joe’s email is jentwisle@hdadvocates.org

Marsie Frawley, Senior Policy Analyst, joined HDA in 1998. She is the President of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Self Employment Resources Network. She also facilitates monthly teleconferences for this statewide organization which is focused on increasing self-employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Marsie authored the Ready for Business Guide: Self-Employment for People with Disabilities currently available at: www.disabilityworks.org. She also trains extensively on public benefits and work incentives for people with disabilities, while providing technical assistance to the Work Incentives Planning & Assistance Project. Prior to coming to HDA in 1998, Marsie worked as lead employment specialist for the Pioneer Center of McHenry County and as a job coach for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from North Central College and has completed graduate studies in vocational counseling at Northeastern Illinois University.

Marsie’s email is mfrawley@hdadvocates.org

Laura Gallagher Watkin joined HDA as a Senior Policy Analyst in June 2006. She provides 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. She serves 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.

Laura’s email is lgwatkin@hdadvocates.org

Julie Justicz, an attorney who specializes in children's disability issues, public benefits and health care for people with disabilities, is currently Director of Development for Health & Disability Advocates. From 2000 - 2004, Julie was Director of Project Access, a medical-legal collaboration between HDA and two area hospitals that provided case management and legal services to children with disabilities. Julie is an accomplished speaker and author on children’s disability issues, and conducts numerous seminars for parents, caregivers, social service providers and community organizations. Prior to coming to HDA in 1999, she was the Children’s SSI Project Director at the American Bar Association’s Center for Pro Bono, directing a national campaign to recruit and train attorneys to represent thousands of children who had lost SSI benefits. Julie also served as Executive Director of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago and was an attorney with the Legal Assistance Foundation. She holds a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School, and a B.A. in English from Emory University.

Julie’s email is jjusticz@hdadvocates.org

Sarah O’Connor, the Staff Attorney for the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children, joined HDA in August 2007. Prior to that, 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.

Sarah’s email is soconnor@hdadvocates.org

Barbara Otto has been the Executive Director of Health & Disability Advocates since 1994. 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 serves as Adjunct Faculty for Cornell University’s Program on Employment and Disability, and as a consultant with the Virginia Commonwealth University, providing technical assistance to states working to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. 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. Barbara’s work prior to HDA was in health policy and welfare issues and she is a graduate of Marquette University.

Barbara’s email is botto@hdadvocates.org

Nancy Rich has served as HDA’s accountant since April 2006. 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 has lived in Chicago since 1996. Nancy earned her BA in Computing degree from DePaul University in 2000.

Nancy’s email is nrich@hdadvocates.org

Sara Salley has been a Staff Consultant for the technical assistance partnership National Consortium for Health Systems Development (a project of HDA) since 2002. As a former research associate with the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Sara engaged in research, analysis, and policy development for the Maine Medicaid Infrastructure Grant project and numerous other disability and long-term care related projects. Sara works with NCHSD states on a variety of issues including personal assistance services, Medicaid Buy-In design and implementation, research and evaluation, outreach, and grant eligibility and reporting requirements. She also assists states with Medicare Part D and Deficit Reduction Act issues, edits the organization’s monthly electronic newsletter, and provides content management for NCHSD’s website at www.nchsd.org.

Sara’s email is ssalley@hdadvocates.org

Seomara Sanabria joined HDA in 2001 as the Administrative Assistant. Currently she is HDA’s Accountant/Operations Manager. 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 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 and received her equivalency in 1995.

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

Laura Wilhelm has been an attorney at HDA since 2000 when she started 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 now using what was learned through Project Access to contribute to several other grants currently underway at HDA. 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

Thomas Yates 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 is an attorney at Health and Disability Advocates overseeing the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children (CMLPC). Ms. Zimmerman has demonstrated expertise on children’s health advocacy. From June 2004 – September 2006, Amy served as the Children’s Policy Advisor to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Amy developed policy, training and legislative initiatives for the AG’s Office on issues impacting Illinois children and families, and served on a number of advisory boards and committees. As part of her responsibilities, she coordinated the Illinois Youth Court Association and chaired its advisory board. She is also a member of the Governor’s Lead Safe Housing Advisory Council and the Illinois Lead Safe Housing Task Force. Amy has practiced law since 1991, and has spent her legal career focusing on issues that impact children. From 1997-2004 Amy worked as the assistant director of the Children’s Health and Education Project at the Chicago Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She also spent six years as a neighborhood and project attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, from 1991-1997. She is a 1991 graduate of Northwestern Law School, and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Amy’s email is azimmerman@hdadvocates.org