ADAP Staff

James A. Tucker, Director. James Tucker grew up and attended public schools in Decatur. He earned an undergraduate degree in finance from The University of Alabama in 1982 and his law degree from Emory University in 1986. He was worked at ADAP since 1997. He also has practiced with Florida Rural Legal Services, the ACLU of Alabama, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. James 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 (inactive), and Georgia (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 and the other is a doctoral 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 and received her law degree from Rutgers University in 1999.

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.

Ashley Austin, Staff Attorney. Ashley started her tenure at ADAP as a law clerk in 2017. After receiving her law degree, she began working at ADAP as a law fellow and became a staff attorney in 2019. 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 on the Community Access Team, primarily focusing on issues surrounding ADAP's on-going lawsuit on behalf of prisoners in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Rosemary Beck, 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.

De rek Bond, Senior Case Advocate Fellow. Derek joined ADAP in 2018, where he conducts representative payee reviews. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and he received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Lee University. Derek has over 30 years of 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.

Rhonda Brownstein, Legal Director. Rhonda Brownstein joined ADAP in 2020 as Legal Director, where she develops and co-counsels systemic impact litigation on behalf of people with disabilities. Rhonda has litigated dozens of civil rights cases across the country, including lawsuits challenging white supremacists and right-wing extremists, abusive prison conditions, and discrimination against people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, poor people, and children. Rhonda previously served as the long-time legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, as executive director of the Education Law Center in Pennsylvania, as a clinical law professor at Denver University Law School, and as a legal aid attorney in Alabama and Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Penn State University and Temple University Law School.

Larry Canada, Senior Trial Counsel. 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.

Anita Davidson, Legal Assistant. Anita joined ADAP as the Community Access Team’s legal assistant in 2009. Prior to this, Anita worked in the steel industry in several sales and support capacities and for the law firm of Ritchie and Rediker in Birmingham. She graduated with honors from Shelton State Community College in 2012 with an associate degree in paralegal studies..

Wendy Dean, Senior Case Advocate. Wendy has been employed at ADAP since 2017. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Auburn University. Wendy is the intake specialist for ADAP’s Children's Advocacy Team and provides advocacy services on a variety of children’s disability legal issues.

Andrea Fannin, Senior Case Advocate Fellow. Andrea, a Tuscaloosa native, joined ADAP in 2018 and is assigned to the agency’s Investigation and Monitoring team. Andrea earned a Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University, graduating summa cum laude, and her law degree 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 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.

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 as a state-certified targeted case manager for adults and children with intellectual disabilities and related conditions. She also has worked at agencies that provide services to victims of domestic violence and outreach to persons affected by HIV/AIDS. LaShonda works on ADAP’s Investigation and Monitoring 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.

Christy Johnson, Investigator Supervisor. 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, 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.

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.

Karla McCants, Case Advocate Fellow. Karla interned with ADAP in 2018 and became a full-time employee in 2020. Graduated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor's in Social Work in 2018. Karla is a native of Mobile, AL and is located in Mobile for her position. Currently, Karla is working with the Investigation and Monitoring Team and the Community Access Team. Karla is passionate about implementing basic rights for all citizens.

Jilisa Milton, Equal Justice Works Law Fellow. Through a grant sponsored by the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, Jilisa coordinates ADAP’s Black Belt Disability Justice Project. In this role, she 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. Jilisa graduated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2012 and, in 2019, became the first student to graduate from UA’s dual JD/MSW program.

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, Staff Attorney. Shandra began working at ADAP as a law clerk while she was attending The University of Alabama School of Law. After graduating cum laude in 2018, she was hired as an ADAP law fellow. In 2019, she became a staff attorney, working primarily with the Community Access Team. Her main responsibilities include monitoring compliance with the Hunter v Beshear consent decree, advocacy on behalf of individuals in facilities and individuals who receive Medicaid or Medicaid waiver services. Shandra graduated from Washington State University 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.

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.

Janet Owens, Accounting Specialist. Janet is responsible for ADAP’s grant applications, providing assistance with program performance reports, and monitoring ADAP budgets and all other financially related aspects of the agency. One of ADAP’s longest-tenured staff, she began working at the agency in 1992.

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 work 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.

Dana Rester, Case Advocate Fellow. Dana joined ADAP in 2020, where she conducts representative payee reviews. She is a Tuscaloosa native and received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from The University of Alabama. Dana has over 15 years of experience in social services working with the elderly and disabled population of West Alabama. Prior to joining ADAP, Dana was the long-term care ombudsman for the West Alabama Area Agency on Aging. In her spare time, Dana enjoys reading and traveling.

Jenny Ryan, 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 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 ADAP’s Children’s Advocacy Team with a specialty in special education law and is 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 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.

Steve Smith, Case Advocate. Steve Smith joined ADAP in 2020 as a case advocate to conduct representative payee reviews. He retired from Hunt Refining in 2015 after 40 years as a petroleum chemist, most recently as asphalt technical manager in Hunt’s recently established research facility. He is married to Denise Smith and together they have three sons. Their youngest son, Bradley, has Down Syndrome. For the last 33 years, he has been actively involved in the disability community in support of Brad’s needs and the needs of others in this diverse community. In his spare time, Steve is a financial coach and volunteer tax preparer, enjoys working out, and is an avid reader.

Bill Van Der Pol, Senior Trial Counsel. Bill leads ADAP’s Community Access Team. He 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.

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.