Our Trainers

Joseph Anastasio

Joseph (LCSW-C) in Delaware and Maryland:
Joseph is a psychotherapist providing clinical services to children, adults, couples and families in Delaware. He is a facilitator with the “Alternatives to Violence Project” (AVP) in the Delaware prison system. Joseph recently completed the role “Transition Coordinator – School to Work” for Baltimore City Schools, working with older youth with disabilities and IEPs. Joseph has worked for The Arc Baltimore as Assistant Executive Director of Family & Children Services and as the Director of Residential Services. He has taught courses in special education at local Baltimore colleges and volunteered in Baltimore City as a trained mediator. He has facilitated workshops on grief and bereavement, informed consent and working with families. Joseph received his MS in Special Education from Hunter College and holds an MSW from University of Maryland School Of Social Work. Being raised in Brooklyn, he is always on the look-out for pizza.

Crystal Brockington

Hi, I am Crystal. I have been a Disability Rights Advocate and an Independent Living Skills Trainer since 2007. I am affiliated with many local community organizations whose mission is to improve the lives of all individuals with disability. I have family and friends that have benefited greatly from person centered planning and self-directed services. Person Centered Planning opens doors that allow one to fully express their self-identified goals and priorities. This allows for greater access and participation in life experiences that one chooses for his or herself. It creates pathways for areas of self-fulfillment that would never be an option in traditional services that do not utilize Person-Centered Planning and Self-Direction. I also have gained a wealth of resource knowledge over the years and look forward to sharing and learning together!

Samantha Davis

Samantha Davis is 25 and was diagnosed with Autism when she was 4. She grew up in Cambridge Maryland attending local public and private schools. In addition, she received intensive speech therapy and tutoring throughout her school years, graduating from high school in 2013. During this time, Samantha found a passion for baking, in particular cupcakes. She pursued a Culinary Arts degree from WorWic Community College. In May 2019 she graduated with honors and was selected to deliver the student commencement speech at graduation. Another passion of Samantha’s is Shakespeare and acting. She has been a member of Shore Shakespeare Company for four years performing in a variety of roles. Currently, Samantha is building her baking business, acting in local plays, volunteering at her local library two days a week, serves as a lector for her church and is very interested in expanding her advocacy work in the disability community.

Cody Drinkwater

My name is Cody Drinkwater and I am the Regional Self Advocacy Specialist for the Eastern Shore. I am on the Autism Spectrum and have executive functioning disabilities along with mild Cerebral Palsy. This makes the work I do for self-advocacy even more important. My job duties entail assisting individuals in the self-advocacy process, networking with providers, providing outreach and guidance to Self Advocacy groups, and creating necessary trainings in the region. The main thing I like about being a Self-Advocacy Specialist is helping and empowering people. I want stakeholders to know they can always reach out to me. I’m happy to help them.

Cody regularly contributes to the Expectations Matter Blog.

Leonard Stevens

Leonard Stevens is the part-time advisor of Project ACTION! and he works part-time for the DC Department on Disability Services. He is a strong self-advocate and emerging advocacy leader. He is a graduate of the University of the District of Columbia’s and the Advocacy Partners program. He co-facilitates on different advocacy subjects including supported decision-making, how to fight for your rights and more in the Washington-metropolitan region and nationally. He enjoys drawing and travelling.

Monica Evans

Hello my name is Monica Evans, I am from Howard County MD. I like to play special Olympics sports like tennis, swimming, basketball, soccer, and skiing. I also likes to be exercising with my parents, with my job coaches likes going to the outside parks, the Columbia Associations gyms, the neighborhoods, the Columbia mall, my house in the backyard, also in the front yard of my house. I like to be getting my steps like by walking, running, the treadmills, going on hikes, going to the Columbia Associations pools, just to names a few of exercises.

I chose to be a trainer to share my skills.

Atley Fortney

Atley Fortney is currently pursuing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at La Salle University.  She graduated from Seton Hall with her Bachelors in Psychology and Social Work. She has interned for Shared Support Maryland since May 2020 and has loved working with Person-Centered Planning principles. She is inspired by her brother, Lane, who has a disability to advocate for individuals to have their voices heard and stay in control of their own lives.

My favorite part about Expectations Matter: My Life, My Choice, My Plan is at the end of presentations when people share that they learned something new that will help them or their family members in the future! It makes all the hard work worth it.

Mona Gomaa

Mona received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Maryland in special education. She has been in the education field for two decades. Her career started with her working with students who have mild to moderate disabilities, as well as general education students in several settings as a special education teacher. Later in her career, she became an IEP facilitator assisting schools in meeting federal and state timelines as well as supporting teachers to provide well written IEPs and services for their students. Her journey with special education led her to become a support broker for adults with special needs accessing waivers through DDA. Most recently in 2018, she became a special education advocate for families and students with Hayah Education Services, LLC. As an advocate, she works with families to secure appropriate IEP services for their children, as well as access resources in the community.

Thelma Green

Thelma Green is a strong self-advocate who has trained locally and across the country on a variety of topics including supported decision-making, speaking up for yourself, and more. 

She enjoys training and educating other people.  She wants to make sure everyone can get information they can use to live their best life.  Thelma also enjoys being a mentor to self-advocates who are just learning to speak out.  She is passionate about speaking up for people who do not use words to communicate.  Thelma believes that all people have something to say, but many people don’t want to take the time to get to know them and learn what their expressions mean.  Thelma is also an Advisory Committee member for the national Self-Advocacy Resource Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) and she serves on multiple Boards and Committees elevating the voices of people with disabilities.

Kara (Nicci) Jones

My name is Kara Jones – friends call me Nicci. I am a sergeant at arms of Project ACTION! in Washington, DC, and a member of the Women’s Peer Knowledge Group. I enjoy meeting and talking with people.

Kavita Krishnaswamy

Kavita Krishnaswamy is a PhD candidate researching assistive robotics and accessible interfaces at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her goal in life is to help increase the quality of life for people with disabilities locally and all around the world. She believes that everyone should have access to all opportunities to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

Thomas Mangram, Jr.

Thomas Mangrum, Jr., is a strong communicator and self-advocate who is passionate about helping others to be the best they can be. He loves learning new things and sharing it with other self-advocates, his friends and neighbors. Thomas believes that if you are not part of change; you can’t complain when things go wrong. He lives out the Project ACTION! motto which is, “Nothing about Us, Without Us!” Thomas is committed to doing whatever he can do to make a difference in people’s lives as well as in his own life. He is an actor with Players Unlimited, a local theatre group and he loves attending plays. He enjoys travelling, going to the movies and trying new things whenever he can.

Shannon Minnick

Shannon moved to Maryland after growing up in DC to start a family. When she was 21, Shannon was in a car accident that changed her life.  After hearing her neck was broken and was paralyzed, doctors explained all the things she would most likely never do again. Shannon refused to allow her disability to be the focus of her life.  By the GRACE of GOD, and a supportive network of family/friends, she turned her life around.  She became a role model for others who are living with disabilities and strives to live to the best of her abilities. She is the mother of Akia 30 and Erika 22. After building a stable life for her daughters and herself, Shannon reached out to the disabled community.  It is her mission to help others.

Achievements: spokesperson for Montgomery College and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, SCI Navigator at Medstar NRH, Ms. Wheelchair MD (2010), hosts United Spinal DC Chapter Support Group, founded the Disabilities Awareness Experience, Co-founded Women on Wheels Support Group, Director of Independent Living Services at Independence Now

Joan Rumenap

I’m someone who wholeheartedly believes that everyone should be in charge of their life to the greatest of their ability. Everyone, in one way or another, can communicate their likes and dislikes.

Patti Saylor

Patti is the proud mother of three adult children, Emma, Adam, and the late Ethan Saylor. She owns Health Link LLC, a Nursing Consultation and Case Management company. Patti has been working for individuals self-directing their support services since the inception of Self-Directed Services in Maryland. She has extensive experience as a health educator and is a Master Trainer for Niagara University’s First Responder Disability Awareness Program. Patti continues as a Steering Committee Member of the Ethan Saylor Alliance for Self Advocates as Educators. 

Patti believes and practices Person-Centered Planning and more specifically she believes – with the right supports everyone can have the life they wish for themselves.

Babette Smith

Babette Smith is a Garrett County native who resides there with her husband, two daughters, four dogs, six cats, and two chickens. She is a Support Broker, the facilitator of GC’s Community of Practice Good Life Group, and a Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and gardening.

Melanie Smith

Melanie Smith lives with her family in Garrett County. She has been self-directing her life for the past seven years and is rocking the “Boss Life”. She loves sparkly shoes, camping, and has just added fishing to her list of favorite activities.

Jerry Taylor

Jerry Taylor is the Money Follows the Person Peer Coordinator for Southern Maryland CIL. Jerry is a 29-year military Veteran who has converted his military training skills to civilian application. Jerry suffered a service- related injury that placed him in a wheelchair since 1994. The injury has proven to be an asset in his role as MFP Peer Coordinator. Jerry goes into nursing facilities to talk to men and women about returning to community- based living. Sharing his story has been a source of strength for most that Jerry has assisted. Living independently is a process that requires a person to adapt, adjust and improvise in order to overcome the challenges of living with a disability in a world where everything is designed for “NORMAL” people. Jerry’s passion is for Veterans living with disabilities -  a voice for the voiceless/underserved Veterans. He advocates on their behalf through the VA and state governments to ensure that the Veteran receive all the supports and services necessary to live a quality life that is his/her choice.

Dr. Cynthia Truitt

Cynthia has worked with the DD population in Maryland for over thirty years. It is her passion, as well as career choice. For over a decade she has served as Support Broker for individuals across the state of Maryland, and founded ESB, LLC (Easter Shore Brokers). Since its inception other brokers have joined to help even more participants with their journey through Self-Directed Services, and Person Centered Planning. Cynthia is a lifelong resident of Worcester County, Maryland. She began her journey with advocating for her disabled son. She has always strived to promote choice and inclusion. She is very passionate about Person Centered Planning and is excited for the opportunity to share her knowledge with others.

James E. Truitt II

James currently works as a Support Broker with ESB, LLC., an Eastern Shore based Support Brokerage. James has been a Broker for two years, helping individuals obtain goals through Self-directed Services, and Person Centered Planning. He has been an advocate for many, including his own brother. After attending West Virginia Wesleyan College, he returned to his hometown in Worcester County, Maryland, to continue serving the DD population in our state. He is excited for the opportunity to share his knowledge of Person Centered Planning.

Lisa Richer

Lisa is the founder of Journey2bloom. She is a Neurodiversity Consultant for parents and educators and an Advisor for Executive Leadership, Transformation, and Mindfulness. She is the mom of two neuro-diverse learners too! This is the Neuro-diverse Learner Advisory Committee Chair at the Mandala School. She is the mom of two neuro-diverse learners too! She is also the Neuro-diverse Learner Advisory Committee Chair at the Mandala School.

Tracy Wright

Tracy lives in Montgomery County with her children Robert, Sean, Keira and Karen. She received her General Studies degree from Montgomery College. After graduating from Maryland Partners in Policymaking, Tracy was hired by The Arc Maryland and worked for over 15 years. During her tenure Tracy has designed and presented training on self-determination, self-advocacy, rights, risk taking, and quality for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and support professionals. She was a Project Coordinator for the SAN Peer Mentoring. She designed and presented mentoring to individuals in state residential centers at the Holly Center and Potomac Center where the project did outreach about choices in the community. She was the lead SAN mentor during the closure of the Rosewood Center in Baltimore. She now is a Voting Advocate for Disability Rights Maryland, Lead Trainer and Advocacy Specialist for People On the Go and a Life Enrichment Consultant for By Their Side Maryland.