Staff and Contact

Chief Disability Officer

Kim (she/her) has served as New York State’s first-ever Chief Disability Officer (CDO) since being appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul in February of 2022. Kim has been charged with advising the Governor and executive staff on policy and budgetary issues as they pertain to disability issues, serving as the state's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator and chairing New York's Most Integrated Services Coordinating Council (MISCC), which is responsible for the state's Olmstead compliance. Kim also acts as the New York State lead related to the execution of Executive Order 31—signed by Governor Hochul in July 2023—focused on New York being a model employer for people with disabilities.

As CDO, Kim and her team spend a significant amount of their time meeting with advocates, and people with disabilities and their families, focusing on priority topics such as homecare, employment, housing, accessibility and transportation and collaborating with state agencies to reduce the silos that exist within the many existing service delivery systems in New York State. Through this work, Kim has championed the addition of Accessibility to the extensive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work being done within state agencies and offices — ensuring that the rights and experiences of people with disabilities are included in these efforts.

Kim lives with a C5-C6 cervical incomplete spinal cord injury resulting from an accident during her junior year in high school and has never let her disability have a negative impact on her attitude or achievements.

Prior to joining the Executive Chamber, Kim served in various disability-focused roles with the New York Assembly spanning 28 years.

Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Utica College of Syracuse University (now Utica University) and resides in Latham, NY with her husband, Michael, and their children, Michaela and Alex.

Senior Executive Assistant

Kym (she/her) joined our team in April of 2022. She brings to our team over 20 years of secretarial and office management skills. Kym’s last career was with the Town of Colonie’s Building and Fire Services Department as the Zoning Board of Appeals Secretary. Kym’s role within the CDO office is a vital one. The CDO team relies on her for the scheduling and organization of countless meetings with agencies, legislative officials, organizations, stakeholders, and constituents, assuring a fully accessible platform for all to interact and contribute. Kym has assisted in the rejuvenation of the MISCC meetings, taken the lead on the first three annual DREAM symposiums and two recent ADA trainings, and so much more. Our accomplishments, our goals, our mission is something that Kym cherishes, and it shows in her smile. She is the first face you see when entering our office and she could not be prouder to be working with the CDO team.

Associate Director

Ben (he/him) is a Deaf Nepali-American with brown hair, brown eyes, and hearing aids. As an Associate Director, Ben works on policy initiatives, statewide accessibility in all forms, connecting to our communities and advocates, researching best practices and innovative changes across the country and world, and boosting cross-collaboration between state agencies.

Before joining the Chief Disability Office, Ben was a staff attorney for Disability Rights New York, where he worked alongside New Yorkers with disabilities on a wide range of issues. Ben has litigated in federal court for problems with physical access to a city, assisted people in achieving access to their workplaces, homes, and communities, helped a client change hospital intake procedures to better serve people with disabilities, and led trainings on advocacy best practices.

Prior to that role, he worked at South Col Engineering, where he helped develop a start-up minority owned civil engineering business into a successful enterprise. Ben earned his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from the State University at Albany.

Associate Director

Holly (she/her), a lifelong upstate New Yorker, comes to the Chief Disability Office (CDO) after spending 27 years in the nonprofit human services sector. Prior to the CDO, Holly was employed by Schenectady-based Northeast Parent & Child Society (an affiliate of Northern Rivers Family of Services) in various direct support, clinical and leadership positions within the agency’s home and community-based services division, and then, with the Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) headquartered in Utica, where she served in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Communication and Impact.

Holly is proud to live her passion of engaging in human rights and disability rights efforts and initiatives, both personally and professionally, and believes through engaging in individual and systemic advocacy, providing education, increasing awareness, challenging stigmas and demonstrating kindness, that an integrated, accessible, equitable and inclusive society for all is possible.

While in college, Holly was diagnosed with her first of multiple mental health disabilities, however, due to experiencing internal shame and external judgment, she did not openly share her diagnoses—or identify as a member of the disability community—until almost 20 years later. She is honored to be a part of the New York State Chief Disability Office and Executive Chamber teams, and to have the opportunity each day to serve as a voice for people with disabilities.

Holly, who is a licensed master social worker, earned her bachelor’s in sociology from Union College and then went on to SUNY Albany, where she received her master’s in social work.

Executive Director, New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office

Chris was appointed on January 2, 2024 by Governor Kathleen Hochul to the role of Executive Director of the New York State Interagency Coordinating Council on Services to Persons who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing (IAC). The office has since been renamed to the New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office (The Office). The IAC is under the Office. Prior to working at the Office, Chris was the Associate Executive Director at Helen Keller National Center. Prior to that role, Chris was the Helen Keller National Center regional representative for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands. Prior to his twelve-year career at HKNC, he worked at Wisconsin School for the Deaf for thirteen years as a high school teacher.

Chris has been active in both Deaf and DeafBlind communities at local, state, national and international levels for about three decades. Currently, he is an executive board member of the World Federation of the DeafBlind and a board member of DeafBlind Citizens in Action. In the past, he served as officers or board members of organizations such as Southern Lakes Association of the Deaf, Wisconsin School for the Deaf Alumni Association, Wisconsin School for the Deaf Foundation, Wisconsin Association of the Deaf, Wisconsin DeafBlind Technical Assistance Program, American Association of the DeafBlind and World Federation of the DeafBlind. He has been involved at committee levels with several organizations such as National Association of the Deaf and DeafBlind International among others.

One of his proudest achievements was his leading role as the Vice President of the Wisconsin Association of the Deaf in passing the Wisconsin Sign Language Interpreter Licensure bill in 2010. This bill established the Sign Language Interpreter Council (of which he served on for two years prior to his move to New York). It also established a mechanism for licensing all sign language interpreters working for compensation in the state of Wisconsin.

Chris is a believer in servant leadership. He leads to serve the New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing communities.

Chris identifies as a DeafBlind person now. Growing up, he identified as a Deaf person. After a diagnosis of Usher Syndrome at age 18, he underwent a 15-20 year journey transitioning his identify from a Deaf person to a DeafBlind person.

ASL Interpreter, NIC

Rachel (she/her) serves as the Staff Interpreter to the Executive Director of the NYS Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office, Christopher Woodfill, and as the administrative assistant. Rachel is an advocate for communication access.

Rachel is Nationally Certified and has been a freelance interpreter since 2001, most recently working with Deaf professionals and in other environments such as Higher Education, Medical and Government. Rachel has been trained as a Legal Interpreter working in the NYS Courts and working with the DeafBlind community. Rachel has been an Interpreter in New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in public communications from the University at Albany. A Capital District native, she lives in Sand Lake with her husband, Scott and her two children, Jack and Josie.

Inclusive Internship Coordinator

With over 35 years of experience working with and for individuals with disabilities, MaryBeth Schneider (she/her) currently serves on the NYS Chief Disability Officer's team and on the Career Development and Inclusion team at the NYS Department of Labor as the Inclusive Internship Coordinator. Her main focus is identifying internship opportunities within NYS agencies and qualified candidates with disabilities to intern.

While she has held several job titles, she gets the most satisfaction from helping someone find a job. She firmly believes that meaningful employment — as defined by the person — is a key contributor to overall health and happiness.

MaryBeth has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Texas State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Sage Graduate School. She lives in the Albany, New York area with her husband Brian, their children Jack and Anni and their beloved dog, Duncan. When not at work or with family, you can usually find MaryBeth in the kitchen, her happy place!

MaryBeth often shares her favorite Irish quote “It’s in the shelter of each other that the people live” because to her it speaks to the importance of building community where all can flourish.

Strategic Advisor

Jennifer Perkins brings over 30 years of experience in disability and Medicaid policy to her role as Strategic Advisor to the Office of the Chief Disability Officer, where she supports New York State’s advancement of the Olmstead mandate through cross-agency systems alignment, Medicaid strategy, and stakeholder engagement.

A nationally recognized policy expert, Jennifer has advised multiple state Medicaid agencies, provider networks, and CMS/CMMI on the design and implementation of home and community-based services (HCBS), utilization review systems, and quality oversight frameworks. Her work spans complex regulatory environments and includes advancing managed care readiness, developing value-based payment models, and applying population health strategies to improve outcomes for people with disabilities.

Jennifer has held executive leadership roles in multiple state Medicaid agencies, where she led system performance, innovation strategy, and quality improvement across complex service delivery environments. She has also served as Executive Director of a community-based disability services agency and as a Senior Medicaid Advisor for CMS/CMMI, giving her a deep understanding of both the provider and regulatory landscapes. She is widely regarded for her ability to translate complex policy into operational strategies that drive meaningful, person-centered outcomes.

Jennifer is the founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocacy and inclusion for people with disabilities. In addition to her systems-level work, she is passionate about mentoring early-career professionals and supporting leadership development in the fields of disability policy and public service. She regularly coaches emerging leaders, helping them build the strategic, operational, and values-based skills needed to lead transformative change across complex systems.

Early in her career, Jennifer was working in the disability field when the Olmstead decision was issued in 1999, and it became a cornerstone of her professional path. That landmark ruling shaped her enduring commitment to advancing the rights of people with disabilities to live with dignity, autonomy, and full participation in their communities. She believes deeply that community integration is about far more than an address—true inclusion means having access to meaningful relationships, opportunities, and choice.

Jennifer holds a B.S. in Psychology and dual master’s degrees in Organizational Leadership and Instructional Design. She has participated in national Medicaid leadership academies and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Executive Green Belt, bringing operational rigor to strategic planning and systems change efforts.

Her work with the OCDO centers on supporting statewide implementation of the Olmstead decision through Medicaid policy integration, interagency strategy, and actionable systems design that promote community inclusion, equity, and self-determination.

Employment First Director

Andy is NY’s inaugural Employment First Director, leading efforts to implement Executive Order 40, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2024, which established NY as an E1st state. Employment First is built upon the principle that employment should be the first and preferred option for people being served by our disability public health system, and that Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) be not just a primary goal, but an expectation, even for those with the most significant disabilities. Employment First is a civil rights, economic, public health and workforce issue that requires deep public policy, cultural, social and economic progress to become a reality.

With nearly 25 years of experience in his field, Andy spent the formative years of his career providing and overseeing direct employment services for New Yorkers facing multiple barriers, including homelessness, poverty, disability and segregation. Following his time working in the community, Andy was named the Director of the New York Employment Services System (NYESS) at the NYS Office of Mental Health, where he led collaborations with state agency partners, people with disabilities and their families, and a network of over 200 service providers, built upon the core foundations of rehabilitation and recovery, and employment as a social determinant of health.

As Employment First Director Andy will work with essential state agencies, service providers, policy makers and the private sector to improve employment, economic and quality of life outcomes for New Yorkers with disabilities and their families.

Andy holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, is a lifelong Upstate New Yorker, a father of two, one of whom has a disability, and, when not working, is most likely to be found in the wilderness with a fly rod in his hand.

Employment First Chief Data Strategist

Elizabeth (she/her) serves as the Employment First Chief Data Strategist for the New York State Office of the Chief Disability Officer, where she leads data strategy, analytics, and cross-agency reporting efforts that support accessibility, equity, and informed decision-making for New Yorkers with disabilities. With over 14 years of experience in data management, business intelligence, and government operations, she specializes in transforming complex information into tools and insights that drive policy and improve service delivery.

Before joining the CDO, Elizabeth held data leadership roles at NYSTEC, GP Fund Solutions, and the New York State Division of the Budget, where her work supported executive-level decision-making on pandemic response, federal funding, program oversight, and statewide operations.

Elizabeth is neurodivergent and credits this part of her identity with shaping her strengths in strategy, pattern recognition, and creative problem-solving. She is deeply committed to advancing inclusive, data-informed systems that reflect the diversity and experiences of New Yorkers with disabilities.

She holds a B.S. in Economics and Mathematics from Syracuse University and doctoral coursework in Business Management and Real Estate at the University of Georgia.

Employment First Business Liaison

Whitney Malone serves as New York’s inaugural Employment First Business Liaison in the Office of the Chief Disability Officer. Employment First is built upon the principle that employment should be the first and preferred option for people being served by our disability public health system, and that Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) be not just a primary goal, but an expectation, even for those with the most significant disabilities.

Whitney works closely with employers in the private sector, government agencies, and community organizations to expand inclusive hiring practices, remove barriers to employment, and strengthen New York State’s commitment to disability workforce inclusion.

Previously, Whitney was a dedicated operations and stakeholder engagement professional in the private sector with more than a decade of experience building partnerships, driving community-focused initiatives, and advancing equitable access to services. Whitney brings a strong background in strategic planning, outreach, and program development from her prior leadership roles in small business operations, nonprofit healthcare and corporate communications.

Whitney holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Boston University. Having grown up in the Capital District, she now lives in Albany with her husband and two daughters.

There are no current interns. See previous interns here.