Nancy E. Anderson​

Nancy E. Anderson​

Interim Director

Currently ADAP’s acting executive director, Nancy came to ADAP in 2000. Nancy’s advocacy at ADAP has focused primarily on children’s issues, representing young clients on a variety of issues including mental health access, special education, juvenile justice, and Medicaid; doing systems-change work; and conducting outreach.  Nancy graduated from Wellesley College and received her law degree from Rutgers University in 1999. 

Angie Allen

Angie Allen

Senior Case Advocate

Angie began working at ADAP in 1999. She received her undergraduate degree in social work from the University of Wyoming and her master’s degree in social work from The University of Oklahoma. Angie is the intake specialist for ADAP’s Community Access Team and provides case advocacy services on a variety of issues. Angie is married and has three cats. She enjoys sports and spending time outdoors.

 
 
 
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TJ Bradley

Case Advocate Fellow

TJ (Thad) began working at ADAP in 2024. T.J. graduated from the University of Montevallo in 2007 with a B.S. in Mass Communication and a minor in Digital Media (he has a passion for creating videos and doing photography).  T.J. has Elhers-Danlos Syndrome and PTSD stemming from childhood abuse.  He is on the spectrum and has ADHD.  T.J. worked as a peer specialist, a QPR suicide prevention trainer, a zoom producer, and as an interim director at a drop-in center for people with mental health conditions.  One of his favorite quotes is from Maya Angelou: ‘I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me."  T.J. also reports that his ESA dog, Oreo, is amazing.

Larry Canada

Larry Canada

Senior Trial Counsel / Interim Legal Director

Larry, "LC" to his friends, joined ADAP in 2019 after retiring from a large regional litigation firm. LC primarily works on ADAP’s Community Access Team. He has significant experience in handling large complex litigation involving a wide range of subject matters, including toxic torts, commercial and contractual disputes, insurance coverage, construction defects, professional malpractice, the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (on which he has written and lectured). LC earned his B.S. (chemistry, 1978), J.D. (1986), and LL.M. (2019, summa cum laude) from The University of Alabama. He is licensed in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas as well as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court. LC is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was named a Super Lawyer (2012, 2014-2018) and included in the publication The Best Lawyers in America from 2012-2020. LC is also an Assistant Bar Examiner for the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Ashley Chambers

Ashley Chambers

Legal Assistant

Ashley joined ADAP as a legal assistant in 2023. She is a Tuscaloosa native. Previously she has worked for a personal injury law firm as the medical records analyst. Her passion for helping others began when she started volunteering for RISE in high school and continued through her years as a sales assistant for clothing boutiques. Performing in customer service allowed her to establish her meticulous attention to detail. She is ready and willing to work with clients to achieve any goals. She spends her free time listening to live music, hiking all over Alabama, and spoiling her dog.

Ashley Creaner

Ashley Creaner

Senior Case Advocate 

Ashley graduated University of Alabama at Birmingham, Cum Laude in 2005 in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a minor in Criminal Justice. She began her career as a 310 case manager, moved into early intervention, and came back to working with adults with developmental disabilities. She has worked more than 16 years and it is her passion. Ashley also enjoys spending time with family, working in the yard and watching her niece and nephew in the sports and activities that they participate in. 

 
 
Shantorraya Dudley

Shantorraya Dudley

Administrative Assistant

Shan came to ADAP in 2023. Shan previously worked at a pharmacy as a technician. She has worked in the health field for over five years and has always seen herself helping others in whatever career aspect she went with. She has a daughter that keeps her pretty busy. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading, and DIYing.

Shandra Monterastelli Hartly

Shandra Monterastelli Hartly

Senior Staff Attorney

Shandra has been with ADAP since 2016. She began working at ADAP as a law clerk while attending The University of Alabama School of Law. After graduating cum laude from UA in 2018, she joined ADAP full-time. Shandra is ADAP’s lead counsel in the Hunter v. Boswell litigation and is responsible for monitoring compliance with the consent decree. Her other primary responsibilities include advocacy on behalf of individuals in facilities, and both systemic and individual advocacy on behalf of individuals who receive Medicaid or Medicaid waiver services. A native of Lacey, Washington, Shandra graduated from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. Before moving to Alabama to attend law school, Shandra taught special education at the elementary level through AmeriCorps in Rochester, Washington.

Christy Johnson

Christy Johnson

Investigator Supervisor / Interim Associate Director

Christy, who joined ADAP in 1994, coordinates and supervises ADAP’s Investigation and Monitoring team. She also manages ADAP’s traumatic brain injury grant work. Prior to joining ADAP, Christy had a broad range of experience with persons with disabilities, including coordinating a rehabilitation program for homeless adults with mental illness, working as a service provider to children with emotional disturbance, and directing a social services ministry. Christy received her undergraduate degree in education from The University of Alabama. She is passionate about volunteering in developing countries, where she is committed to sharing hope and ending poverty and sickness.

Barbara Lawrence

Barbara Lawrence

Senior Staff Attorney

Barbara joined ADAP in 1997 and, for many years, represented children with disabilities in foster care, dependency, juvenile justice, special education, and mental health matters. Currently, Barbara conducts and coordinates the agency’s representative payee reviews. Barbara graduated from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1992. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from UA. Prior to coming to ADAP, Barbara practiced in the areas of family law, dependency, child custody, domestic violence, housing, Social Security, as well as other general civil matters.

Andrea Mixson

Andrea Mixson

Senior Staff Attorney

Andrea has been employed with ADAP as a staff attorney since 2005. Andrea is engaged in a variety of individual and systemic advocacy efforts related to children with disabilities including special education, juvenile justice, mental health, and child welfare. She is a graduate of the Cumberland School of Law and holds a Masters of Education degree from Auburn University.

Maggie Moore

Maggie Moore

Legal Assistant

Maggie joined ADAP in 2023. She is originally from Beech Grove, Indiana and moved to Alabama in  2008 when she married her husband Nathan. Maggie and Nathan have two children, a girl and a boy that keep them very busy. They are all active members in church and the community. Maggie started work at UA and has worked for The Children's Program and the WOW Program serving as the Office Associate II.

Kimberley Myers

Kimberley Myers

Senior Case Advocate

Kimberley joined ADAP in 2024. As part of the ADAP team, Kim conducts SSA Representative Payee Reviews.  Prior to joining ADAP, Kim had many advocacy roles, including serving elders in long term care settings and adults with Developmental Disabilities within the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. Through her work at the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, she served in positions such as QIDP, Director of Quality Services and Director of Interdisciplinary Programs.  Kim graduated with her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.  She enjoys music, sports (spectator and participation), movies, volunteer opportunities and traveling.

Christina Norris

Christina Norris

Senior Case Advocate

Christina re-joined ADAP as Senior Case Advocate in 2017, after having left the agency to move out of state with her family. She received her undergraduate degree in social work from The University of Alabama and has served as an advocate to children, families, and the elderly in several capacities throughout the state of Alabama. Her primary focus with ADAP is advocacy related to special education.

 
 
 
Porsharee Ray

Porsharee Ray

Senior Case Advocate

As part of the ADAP team, Porsharee conducts SSA Representative Payee Reviews. Porsharee earned her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Alabama A&M University and her master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix. Prior to joining ADAP Porsharee worked for Social Security Administration over 6 years, and she has worked in a range of positions serving various community populations. Porsharee enjoys singing and spending time with her family and her niece and nephews​.

 
 
David Rissling

David Rissling

Peer Support Specialist

David joined ADAP in 2024, where he is the Peer Support Specialist. David is totally blind and on the autism spectrum. David was born in Tuscaloosa and is a 2014 Bama grad with a BA in Music. He enjoys serving God by serving others and loves some Alabama football. Roll Tide!

Rosemary Beck Ruffo

Rosemary Beck Ruffo

Information Systems Administrator

Rosemary joined ADAP in 1997. Rosemary is responsible for writing and submitting grant applications and program performance reports to ADAP’s federal authorities. She provides IT support to all ADAP staff. Rosemary also administers the agency’s client database system and provides training and support to all staff and students at ADAP on the use of the system.

 
 
 
Jenny Ryan

Jenny Ryan

Senior Staff Attorney

Jenny, a native of Hale County, received her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate from The University of Alabama.  She previously served as a law clerk for former Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb while Judge Cobb was on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. She also spent a year as a law clerk for the magistrate judges of the US District Court, Middle District of Alabama. She was in private practice for a number of years with a focus on juvenile justice, family law, and appeals before joining ADAP in 2013. She leads ADAP’s Children’s Advocacy Team and specializes in special education law. She also serves as the director of the Children’s Rights Clinic at The University of Alabama School of Law. Jenny enjoys being active in the community and is involved with both Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre and Theatre Tuscaloosa where she has served in various executive positions on the boards.

​Bill Van Der Pol

​Bill Van Der Pol

Senior Trial Counsel

Bill holds a B.S. from Indiana University–Bloomington (1981) and a J.D. from Indiana University–Indianapolis (1984). Prior to joining ADAP in 2013, he practiced for 29 years in Indiana, primarily in the areas of mental health law and criminal defense. He provided defense services for over 5,000 individuals, up to and including lead capital defense responsibilities. At ADAP, his area of primary responsibility is in advocating for, and protecting the interests of, individuals with mental illness or intellectual disabilities in institutions and community settings. He is currently ADAP’s lead counsel in the agency’s on-going lawsuit on behalf of prisoners in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

 
 
Nicky Watkins

Nicky Watkins

Senior Voting Rights Advocate and Outreach Coordinator

Nicky joined ADAP in 2022 and their work revolves around voter education, voting rights, voting law in Alabama, voting with a disability, and outreach and communications. Nicky was born with spina bifida and has been a lifelong disability advocate. Nicky has a B.A. and an M.A. in History from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They taught history at Lawson State Community College for several years before becoming a professional advocate, first at Planned Parenthood Southeast and then working as a Peer Advocate in the Independent Living field. Nicky has a relatively dark and cynical sense of humor, but in spite of the world, the pandemic, and occasionally their better judgment, they remain hopeful and focused on justice and liberation for the disability community. When they are not working, Nicky enjoys quality time with their partner and their shared love of Dungeons & Dragons, video games, and snuggles with their three terriers and cat.

Molly White

Molly White

Accounting Specialist

Molly joined ADAP in 2020 as the Children Advocacy Team’s legal assistant and in 2022 became the Accounting Specialist. Molly attended Shelton State Community College where she obtained her Associate Degree in Office Administration in 2013. Before coming to ADAP, Molly worked in Continuing Education at The University of Alabama as a registrar and served as a medical records clerk at a local medical office. She enjoys classic rock, thrifting and hours on the water in her spare time.

Lonnie Williams

Lonnie Williams

Staff Attorney

Lonnie has been with ADAP since 2005 and works on the agency’s Community Access Team. Lonnie has an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a law degree from Birmingham School of Law. Lonnie provides services in several different issue areas, such as appropriate treatment and placement, abuse and neglect investigations, guardianship and conservatorship, Medicaid rights, ADA/504 rights, and fair housing rights.

Santita Word

Santita Word

Senior Case Advocate

As part of the ADAP team Santita conducts SSA Representative Payee Reviews. Santita earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Mississippi State University and her master’s degree in Criminal Justice from The University of Alabama. Prior to joining ADAP Santita worked in a range of positions servicing diverse populations. Santita is married with two daughters. She enjoys DIY, crafting and couponing.