ATI Staff
Alexandra Mikowski, MSW serves as Executive Director for Access To Independence. Alex oversees all operations and program staff to ensure high quality services. Alex works with community partners to help deliver resources and advocacy to people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. Alex strives to develop meaningful relationships with local nonprofits, businesses, donors and foundations, and community members to explore innovative and collectively promote independence and inclusion. The future is accessible because we are better together!
Before being appointed as Executive Director in 2021, Alex supported ATI's work in a variety of community-based roles, most notably as a member of our Board of Directors for four years. Alex holds a Master's degree in Social Work and has an extensive professional background in mental health, prevention work and crisis counseling in addition to her lived experience as a person with disabilities.
Sherry Lewis serves as Finance Manager for Access To Independence. In this role, Sherry oversees all aspects of the Agency’s budgeting and bookkeeping needs and provides assistance in the areas of human resources and grant writing. Sherry brings many years of experience and expertise in business management that continue to help Access To Independence grow and work towards its mission. Sherry joined ATI's team in 2019.
Ally McCabe (she/her) serves as Project Director for the CANDLE Coalition, short for The Cortland County Coalition on Cannabis & Alcohol - Neighbors with Disability & Lived Experience. CANDLE is a peer-led coalition dedicated to reducing substance misuse within Cortland's disability community. CANDLE places great value in its peer-driven approach and is committed to providing education and leadership opportunities for all coalition members. CANDLE is fully funded through September 2027 via a Partnership for Success grant administered by RFMH & NYS OASAS.
Ally is a person with disabilities and has served in a variety of roles at ATI since 2019, including Public Education & Systems Advocacy Coordinator, Interim Co-Director, and Director of Community Impact.
Tina Carden serves as Director of Community Impact for Access To Independence. Tina oversees all aspects of the Agency's outreach, fundraising, & marketing efforts and assists with data tracking & reporting. She also provides public education and outreach services to people with disabilities and their families, community organizations, businesses, and government entities.
Before joining our team as a staff member in 2023, Tina served in multiple leadership roles as a member of ATI's Board of Directors. She holds a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.
Terri Rigge serves as Transition & Housing Specialist for Access To Independence. Terri works with service providers, as well as social workers in nursing homes, to coordinate the access and delivery of supports and services to individuals interested in home and community-based services rather than institution-based services. Terri identifies and helps eradicate barriers to community intergration while also coordinating the Agency's Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) program. Terri has been with ATI since 2019.
Rick Hinkle serves as Administrative Assistant for Access To Independence. Rick provides advanced administrative and program support for the Agency’s various programs. Rick provides primary oversight of reception protocols and coordinates the Agency’s consumer computer lab, community room, and video & book resource loan closet. Rick also provides primary support for the Agency's newsletter production process and fundraising efforts.
Rick has a long history of providing exceptional administrative support to ATI. Our staff and consumers were thrilled when he decided to resume his former position in 2021!
Erin Vallely serves as Advocacy Specialist for Access To Independence. Erin helps consumers develop self-advocacy skills and supports students and guardians as they navigate the education system. Erin also assists community partners with finding accessible and inclusive solutions to everyday problems faced by Cortland County residents. Additionally, Erin oversees ATI's participation in the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network (SSAN) and organizes educational workshops on advocacy and policy related topics that are open to the community.
Erin has been with ATI since 2021 and holds a Master's degree in Social & Public Policy with an advanced certificate in Healthcare Management.
Michael Eastman serves as Independent Living Coordinator for Access to Independence. Michael provides peer counseling to ATI's consumers one-on-one and in class settings. Michael is soon to be a Certified Benefits Counselor and provides advanced operations support for the management of consumer data.
Prior to his role as Independent Living Coordinator, Mike served as ATI's Employment Specialist while coordinating a federal grant around COVID-19 vaccine education and access. He joined our team in 2021.
Amy Morris serves as NY Connects Coordinator for Access To Independence. Amy works with people with disabilities, their families and caregivers to provide unbiased information and connections to providers of long-term supports and services. She conducts education and awareness presentations to community partners, groups, and individuals about NY Connects and local long term supports and services. Amy also coordinates the Agency's collaboration with the Cortland County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) on its NY Connects initiative. She has been with ATI since January 2022.
Kathi Cooper serves as Medicaid Service Coordinator for Access To Independence. In the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Medicaid waiver program, Service Coordinators assist individuals with developing a service plan designed to support them to reach their personal goals for living and receiving care and for achieving maximum independence in their home and community. The New York State Department of Health oversees the TBI waiver program. Kathi came on board in early 2022.
Jessica Hazel serves as Peer Advocate for Access To Independence. Jess uses lived experience to support and provide resources to nursing home residents who are interested in transitioning to community-based living. Jess also assists with referrals to ATI's Transition Program and provides peer and outreach support to ATI's CANDLE Coalition. Jess joined our team in 2022.
