E-mail Our Staff
| Executive Director | |
| Office Manager | |
| Outreach Coordinator | |
| Program Director | |
| Vision Access and Education Advocate | |
| Independent Living Advocate - Bloomington | |
| Independent Living Advocate - Pontiac | |
| Community Reintegration Advocate | |
| Community Living Advocate | |
| Secretary | |
| Receptionist - Bloomington office | |
| Jeff Morrison | Custodian |
About Our Staff
LIFE Center for Independent Living is governed and
operated by a majority of persons with disabilities. Ninety-two percent
of our staff are persons with significant disabilities.
Gail Kear
Executive Director
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 201 (V/TTY )
E-Mail:
Gail Kear has served as Executive Director since 1996. She has a significant disability. Her responsibilities include planning and direction of the Center, personnel management, budgeting and fiscal management, and representing the Center to the public and to its funders. Her education includes a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master's degree plus doctoral coursework in Rehabilitation from Southern Illinois University. Gail has worked for self-sufficiency and independence of persons with disabilities since 1975. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living and is a member of the National Council on Independent Living and the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois.
Bill Cooper
Independent Living Advocate - Pontiac Office
Phone: 309/844-1132 (V/TTY)
E-Mail:
Bill Cooper has served on LIFE Center’s staff since 2006. He has a significant disability. Bill’s responsibilities include teaching independent living skills, individual advocacy issues, peer mentoring, and providing information and referral. He is also a member of the PA services team. Bill is a member of the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois, Access Allies of Livingston County, and the Livingston County RAMP Project.
Dana Craig
Outreach Coordinator
Video Phone: 815/844-1132
Voice Phone via Relay: 815/272-2069
E-Mail:
Dana Craig has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2002. She has a significant disability. Dana's responsibilities include advocating for accssible communications referral of sign language interpreters and CART writers, teaching sign language, consulting on assistive devices for persons with hearing loss, and facilitating support groups for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; managing the Livingston County branch office and coordinating outreach to Livingston County residents with disabilities. She provides advocacy, information and referral, peer mentoring, and teaches independent living skills. Dana attended Illinois State University and graduated from Lincoln Community College. She has worked as a teacher's aide with children with disabilities for six years. She is a member of the Bloomington/Normal Deaf Club.
Jill Doran
Program Director
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 202
E-Mail:
Jill Doran has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2000. She has a significant disability. Her responsibilities include supervising all programs; advocating for an accessible built environment, providing technical assistance on the ADA and accessibility standards, and teaching persons with disabilities how they can participate in government and advocate for the civil rights of persons with disabilities. Jill has an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts, and worked over 18 years in the communication field.
Vicky Hogan
Community Living Advocate
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 205
E-Mail:
Vicky has served on LIFE Center's since 2005. Vicky's responsibilities include assisting eligible individuals with disabilities to move out of nursing homes into their own homes and managing accessible housing information. Vicky has 17 years experience in the property management/real estate field, with approximately six years of that being involved with Section 8 housing for low income and/or persons with disabilities. She has worked many years in secretarial positions and is an inactive Licensed Practical Nurse. She has volunteered as Secretary and President in Unit 5 PTOs and as an editor for subdivision and school newsletters.
Chuck Smith
Independent Living Advocate
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 237
E-Mail:
Chuck Smith has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2005. He has been involved with the Center since 1987 as a volunteer, board member, and co-instructor of the Legislative Internship Program. He has a significant disability. Chuck's responsibilities include teaching independent living skills, individual advocacy issues, peer mentoring, referring PA candidates to person with disabilities who wish to employ a PA, and providing information and referral. Chuck has a Bachelor's degree in History. He has been involved with the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois as an officer of the McLean County chapter.
Kim Tarkowski
Vision Access and Education Advocate
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 204
E-Mail:
Kim Tarkowski has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2000. She is a person with a significant disability. Kim's responsibilities include providing assistive devices, teaching independent living skills, peer mentoring and providing information and referral through the Vision Access program and orienting persons who are interested in being employed as Personal Assistants (PAs). She also assists parents of youth with disabilities in the understanding of their youth's Individualized Education Plan. This is achieved in a number of different ways: information and referral services; parent training and mentoring; reviewing student records; and providing guidance and support through the IEP process. Kim has a Bachelor's degree plus Master's coursework in human services. She has worked in Independent Living, Parent Advocacy, and other human services since 1977. Interestingly, Kim was the first Program Director and the second Executive Director of LIFE Center. She has come full circle back to our Center. She has been a longtime volunteer with PATH in Bloomington.
Luke Wolfe
Community Reintegration Advocate
Video Phone: 309/383-3405
Voice Phone via Relay: Call 866/327-8877, give the operator Luke's name and video phone number and the operator will help you complete the call.
E-Mail:
Luke Wolfe has served as Community Reintegration Advocate since 2007. He has a significant disability. Luke's responsibilities include assisting eligible individuals with disabilities to move out of nursing homes into their own homes. He received his bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in Business Administration and Deaf Education.
Brianne Anderson
Secretary
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 222
E-Mail:
Brianne Anderson has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2007. Her responsibilities include purchasing, office machine technical support, providing support to administrative and program staff, providing staff accommodations, records management of the Personal Assistant (PA) program, assisting consumers with borrowing durable medical equipment from our loan equipment program, demonstration and records management of the ITAC amplified phone program. Brianne has a bachelor's degree in Insurance and has nine years in the secretarial field. Brianne is a member of LIFE Center for Independent Living.
Jeff Morrison
Custodian
Jeff Morrison has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2007. He has a significant disability. His responsibilities are the janitorial and light maintenance duties in the Bloomington Office.
Donna Evans - President
Nancy Littell - Vice President
John Evans - Treasurer
George Meisenbach - Secretary
John Contarino
David Corrington
Erin Engle
Susan Gardner
Jim Martin
Rory Nolan
Kevin Roberts
Kevin Schaefer
Walt Thigpen
Contact a board member.
To express your interest in serving on the Board of Directors or on a Board Committee, or to nominate someone else for the Board, please click the Board Nomination button on the left side of this page.
|
Gail Kear
Executive Director
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 201 (V/TTY )
E-Mail:
Gail Kear has served as Executive Director since 1996. She has a significant disability. Her responsibilities include planning and direction of the Center, personnel management, budgeting and fiscal management, and representing the Center to the public and to its funders. Her education includes a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master's degree plus doctoral coursework in Rehabilitation from Southern Illinois University. Gail has worked for self-sufficiency and independence of persons with disabilities since 1975. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living and is a member of the National Council on Independent Living and the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois.
Bill Cooper
Independent Living Advocate - Pontiac Office
Phone: 309/844-1132 (V/TTY)
E-Mail:
Bill Cooper has served on LIFE Center’s staff since 2006. He has a significant disability. Bill’s responsibilities include teaching independent living skills, individual advocacy issues, peer mentoring, and providing information and referral. He is also a member of the PA services team. Bill is a member of the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois, Access Allies of Livingston County, and the Livingston County RAMP Project.
Dana Craig
Outreach Coordinator
Video Phone: 815/844-1132
Voice Phone via Relay: 815/272-2069
E-Mail:
Dana Craig has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2002. She has a significant disability. Dana's responsibilities include advocating for accssible communications referral of sign language interpreters and CART writers, teaching sign language, consulting on assistive devices for persons with hearing loss, and facilitating support groups for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing; managing the Livingston County branch office and coordinating outreach to Livingston County residents with disabilities. She provides advocacy, information and referral, peer mentoring, and teaches independent living skills. Dana attended Illinois State University and graduated from Lincoln Community College. She has worked as a teacher's aide with children with disabilities for six years. She is a member of the Bloomington/Normal Deaf Club.
Jill Doran
Program Director
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 202
E-Mail:
Jill Doran has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2000. She has a significant disability. Her responsibilities include supervising all programs; advocating for an accessible built environment, providing technical assistance on the ADA and accessibility standards, and teaching persons with disabilities how they can participate in government and advocate for the civil rights of persons with disabilities. Jill has an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts, and worked over 18 years in the communication field.
Vicky Hogan
Community Living Advocate
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 205
E-Mail:
Vicky has served on LIFE Center's since 2005. Vicky's responsibilities include assisting eligible individuals with disabilities to move out of nursing homes into their own homes and managing accessible housing information. Vicky has 17 years experience in the property management/real estate field, with approximately six years of that being involved with Section 8 housing for low income and/or persons with disabilities. She has worked many years in secretarial positions and is an inactive Licensed Practical Nurse. She has volunteered as Secretary and President in Unit 5 PTOs and as an editor for subdivision and school newsletters.
Chuck Smith
Independent Living Advocate
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 237
E-Mail:
Chuck Smith has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2005. He has been involved with the Center since 1987 as a volunteer, board member, and co-instructor of the Legislative Internship Program. He has a significant disability. Chuck's responsibilities include teaching independent living skills, individual advocacy issues, peer mentoring, referring PA candidates to person with disabilities who wish to employ a PA, and providing information and referral. Chuck has a Bachelor's degree in History. He has been involved with the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois as an officer of the McLean County chapter.
Kim Tarkowski
Vision Access and Education Advocate
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 204
E-Mail:
Kim Tarkowski has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2000. She is a person with a significant disability. Kim's responsibilities include providing assistive devices, teaching independent living skills, peer mentoring and providing information and referral through the Vision Access program and orienting persons who are interested in being employed as Personal Assistants (PAs). She also assists parents of youth with disabilities in the understanding of their youth's Individualized Education Plan. This is achieved in a number of different ways: information and referral services; parent training and mentoring; reviewing student records; and providing guidance and support through the IEP process. Kim has a Bachelor's degree plus Master's coursework in human services. She has worked in Independent Living, Parent Advocacy, and other human services since 1977. Interestingly, Kim was the first Program Director and the second Executive Director of LIFE Center. She has come full circle back to our Center. She has been a longtime volunteer with PATH in Bloomington.
Luke Wolfe
Community Reintegration Advocate
Video Phone: 309/383-3405
Voice Phone via Relay: Call 866/327-8877, give the operator Luke's name and video phone number and the operator will help you complete the call.
E-Mail:
Luke Wolfe has served as Community Reintegration Advocate since 2007. He has a significant disability. Luke's responsibilities include assisting eligible individuals with disabilities to move out of nursing homes into their own homes. He received his bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in Business Administration and Deaf Education.
Brianne Anderson
Secretary
Phone: 309/663-5433, ext. 222
E-Mail:
Brianne Anderson has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2007. Her responsibilities include purchasing, office machine technical support, providing support to administrative and program staff, providing staff accommodations, records management of the Personal Assistant (PA) program, assisting consumers with borrowing durable medical equipment from our loan equipment program, demonstration and records management of the ITAC amplified phone program. Brianne has a bachelor's degree in Insurance and has nine years in the secretarial field. Brianne is a member of LIFE Center for Independent Living.
Jeff Morrison
Custodian
Jeff Morrison has served on LIFE Center's staff since 2007. He has a significant disability. His responsibilities are the janitorial and light maintenance duties in the Bloomington Office.
About Our Board of Directors
LIFE Center for Independent Living is governed and operated by a majority of persons with disabilities. Eighty-six percent of members of our Board of Directors are persons with significant disabilities.Nancy Littell - Vice President
John Evans - Treasurer
George Meisenbach - Secretary
John Contarino
David Corrington
Erin Engle
Susan Gardner
Jim Martin
Rory Nolan
Kevin Roberts
Kevin Schaefer
Walt Thigpen
Contact a board member.
To express your interest in serving on the Board of Directors or on a Board Committee, or to nominate someone else for the Board, please click the Board Nomination button on the left side of this page.
|