ADAP Staff

James A. Tucker, Director.  James Tucker grew up and attended public schools in Decatur. He earned a Finance degree from The University of Alabama in 1982 and his law degree from Emory University in 1986. He has worked for Florida Rural Legal Services, the ACLU of Alabama and the Southern Poverty Law Center, in addition to working at ADAP since 1997. He has litigated class actions in federal and state courts addressing disability, gender, and race discrimination as well as mental health, foster care, education, employment, housing, voting, corrections, and Medicaid issues. He is a member of the Bar in Alabama, Florida and Georgia (both inactive). He has received numerous awards for his disability advocacy work in Alabama. He has been married for more than 30 years and is the father of two adult daughters, one a Presbyterian minister in Georgia, the other a Ph.D. student in Virginia.

Nancy E. Anderson, Associate Director. In addition to serving as ADAP’s associate director, Nancy chairs the agency’s Children’s Advocacy Team, coordinating its individual case and systems-change work, conducting outreach on disability rights issues, and representing young clients on a variety of issues including mental health access, special education, juvenile justice, and Medicaid. Nancy graduated from Wellesley College (MA) in 1983 with degrees in Psychology and American Studies. She received her law degree from Rutgers University in 1999.

Angie Allen, Senior Case Advocate. Angie began working at ADAP in 1999 with the Community Access Team. 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 primarily handles intakes for the Community Access Team and also provides case advocacy services on a variety of issues. Angie is married and has three cats, enjoys sports, and spending time outdoors.

Ashley Austin, Law Fellow,  Ashley works for the Community Access Team and first started working at ADAP as a Law Clerk in May 2017.  She holds three degrees from The University of Alabama - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2014), Master of Science in Criminal Justice (2017), and Juris Doctor (2017).  Ashley works primarily on issues surrounding ADAP's on-going lawsuit on behalf of inmates in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Glenn N. Baxter, Volunteer Staff Attorney.  Glenn has been with ADAP since February 2008 and is assigned to the Community Access Team. He earned his bachelor's and law degree from The University of Alabama in 1971. Prior to volunteering with ADAP, he practiced law in West Alabama for 36 years. He litigated in the fields of criminal, probate, juvenile, domestic and civil issues. For 18 years he was Municipal Judge for the City of Tuscaloosa. His work at ADAP focuses on abuse and neglect investigations, guardianships, conservatorships and ADA accessibility. He has a daughter with an intellectual disability. He is an avid University of Alabama sports fan.

Rosemary Beck, Information Systems Administrator. Rosemary has been employed by The University of Alabama since 1993 and joined ADAP in January of 1997.  Rosemary works with both the Children's Advocacy Team and the Community Access Team. She is responsible for writing and submitting grants and program performance reports to ADAP’s federal authorities. 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.

Derek Bond, Senior Case Advocate Fellow. Derek joined ADAP in October 2018.  He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and he received his B.A in Psychology from Lee University in Cleveland Tennessee.  Derek has over 30 years’ experience in social services working with individuals with mental illness and intellectual disabilities in Tennessee and Alabama. Prior to joining ADAP, Derek was the Vice President of Day/Employment services for the Arc of Central Alabama.  In his spare time Derek enjoys sports and all forms of outdoor cooking. 

Larry Canada, Senior Trial Counsel. Larry, "LC" to his friends, joined ADAP in July of 2019 after retiring from a large regional litigation firm. LC works principally with the Community Access Team.  LC 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 FHA and the ADA (on which he has written and lectured). LC earned his B.S. (chemistry, 1978) and J.D. (1986) from The University of Alabama. He is licensed in the states of 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 2012-2019.  LC is also an Assistant Bar Examiner for the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Anita Davidson, Legal Assistant. Anita worked for the law firm of Ritchie and Rediker in Birmingham for two years. From 1984 to 2009 she worked for O'Neal Steel in several capacities, including Inside Sales and Inventory Management. During this time, Anita married and raised her family.  Anita joined ADAP in June, 2009 as a Legal Assistant for the Community Access Team. She graduated with honors from Shelton State in 2012 with an associate degree in paralegal studies.

Wendy Dean, Senior Case Advocate. Wendy has been employed at ADAP since 2017 with the Children's Advocacy Team. She received her paralegal instruction at Auburn University, her Associate of Science degree at Southern Union State Community College and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Auburn University. Wendy is responsible for intakes for the Children's Advocacy Team and provides advocacy services on a variety of issues.

Andrea Fannin, Senior Case Advocate Fellow. Andrea, a Tuscaloosa native, joined ADAP in 2018.  Prior to joining ADAP, Andrea earned a Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University, graduating summa cum laude, and earned a Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School, graduating cum laude.   Following law school, Andrea practiced law for nine years at Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C. in New Orleans, Louisiana where her practice focused on class action defense work.  Andrea also worked for a company providing fair housing and accessibility resources to the multi-family housing industry before joining ADAP. 

Tate Hall, Case Advocate. Tate began working at ADAP in October of 2018. She earned a BS in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, am MPA and a Graduate Certificate in Election Administration all from Auburn University. Her graduate and professional research focuses on voting rights and access to poll sites for people with disabilities and her focus is to educate people all over the state of Alabama about the importance of fulfilling the democratic duty to participate in all elections.

LaShonda Hayes, Case Advocate.  LaShonda joined ADAP in 2015.  She received her master’s degree from the University of West Alabama. Prior to joining ADAP, LaShonda worked at Ability Alliance of West Alabama as a state certified targeted case manager for adults and children with intellectual disabilities and related conditions.  She also has worked at agencies which provide services to victims of domestic violence and outreach to persons affected by HIV/AIDS.  LaShonda provides advocacy services to adults with developmental disabilities on ADAP’s Community Access Team.  She is the proud mother of three sons, Jordan, Keldin, and C.J.  She is the biggest advocate for her son Jordan, who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2011.

Vicki Hubbard, Legal Assistant. Vicki works as a Legal Assistant with the Children’s Advocacy Team.  She has been employed by The University of Alabama since 1984 and has worked with ADAP since 2004.

Christy Johnson, Investigator Supervisor.    Christy joined ADAP in 1994.  She coordinates and supervises ADAP’s investigation and monitoring activities and ensures its compliance with ADAP practice standards.  She provides case advocacy services to adults and children with disabilities and manages ADAP’s traumatic brain injury grant work.  Christy brought to ADAP a broad range of experience 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 appointed by the Baptist Home Missions Board.  She received her B.S. 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, Senior Staff Attorney. Barbara joined ADAP in December 1997.  For many years she represented children and youth with disabilities in foster care, dependency, juvenile justice, special education, and mental health matters.  Currently, Barbara serves adults with disabilities.  She graduated from The University of Alabama, School of Law in 1992 after earning an MBA and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and Quantitative Methods.  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. 

Shelby Manley, Office Associate Senior. Shelby is a native of Tuscaloosa County and has been employed by ADAP since 2002.  Shelby is the first point of contact for clients calling ADAP requesting the agency’s advocacy help.  Shelby starts the intake process – collecting contact information and a summary of the client’s concern and setting the client up with an appointment with the agency’s intake staff.  She assists callers requesting agency publications and referral information to outside agencies.

Jilisa Milton, Equal Justice Work Law Fellow |Sponsored by the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, Black Belt Disability Justice Project, Alabama bar admission pending. Jilisa became a 2019 Equal Justice Works Fellow at ADAP after working as a law clerk in 2018.  Under the Black Belt Disability Justice Project, she primarily works to protect the rights of children with disabilities in Alabama's Black Belt through individual and systemic advocacy with juvenile courts, the state's Medicaid system, and local school systems. Her fellowship is sponsored by the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation. Jilisa graduated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2012, and later became the first student to graduate from the University's dual JD/MSW program in Spring 2019.

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.

Shandra Monterastelli, Law Fellow. Shandra joined ADAP as a law clerk in May 2016 and became a fellow in May 2018. She primarily works with the Community Access Team. Her main responsibilities include advocacy on behalf of individuals in facilities and some systemic work. She also does some work with the Children's Advocacy team on cases arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Shandra graduated from Washington State University in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, and she graduated cum laude from The University of Alabama, School of Law in May 2018. Before moving to Alabama to attend law school, Shandra taught special education at the elementary level through AmeriCorps in Rochester, Washington.

Christina Norris, Senior Case Advocate. Christina re-joined ADAP as Senior Case Advocate in 2017.  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.

  Janet Owens, Accounting Specialist. Janet became a full-time ADAP employee in July 1992. She is responsible for ADAP’s grant applications, providing assistance with program performance reports, monitoring ADAP budgets, and all other financially related aspects of the agency.

Whitney Patton, Case Advocate. Whitney is a Tuscaloosa native. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (2008) and her Master of Science in Criminal Justice (2010) from The University of Alabama. Her previous experience includes substance abuse treatment and case management with community mental health and the Alabama Department of Corrections. Before joining ADAP in 2018, Whitney worked with the District of Columbia's Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services where she helped implement and provide therapeutic programs for adjudicated youth. Whitney enjoys writing and performing poetry in her spare time.

Margarita Rodriguez, Office Associate II. Margarita has been employed by The University of Alabama since 2013. She is studying general business from the Commerce & Business Administration at the University, and will be graduating December 2019. Her passion is to help people and she joined ADAP in 2019 to assist with the bilingual community members.

Jenny Ryan, Staff Attorney. Jenny was born in rural Hale County, Alabama. She 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 she was on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. 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 is a member of the Children’s Advocacy Team with a specialty in special education law.  She is also an adjunct professor in the paralegal department of Shelton State Community College. Jenny enjoys being active in the community and is involved with both Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre as secretary and Theatre Tuscaloosa where she currently serves as immediate past President of the Board of Directors. She also continues to act in many productions.

 Bill Van Der Pol, Senior Trial Counsel. Bill is assigned to the Community Access Team and has been at ADAP since June, 2013.  He holds a B.S from Indiana University – Bloomington (1981) and a J.D. from Indiana University – Indianapolis (1984).  Prior to joining ADAP, 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 our on-going lawsuit on behalf of inmates in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Lonnie Williams, Staff Attorney. Lonnie works on the Community Access Team and has worked at ADAP since 2005.  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, guardianships and conservatorships, Medicaid rights, ADA/504 rights, and fair housing rights.