Carol Custer resides in Rosemont, Maryland. She is a founding member of SDAN and is an original board member. Carol worked as a special education teacher for eight years before becoming a resource coordinator. After budget cuts eliminated her position, she became a support broker for individuals who self -direct their DDA budgets. She has worked with over 50 individuals. She sees firsthand how person-centered plans work to all participants’ best interests, including having family members as staff. She is passionate that self-direction remain flexible to meet each individuals’ needs without state-imposed restrictions not required by Federal guidelines.

In 2021, Liz LaFrance fulfilled a promise to volunteer with SDAN after raising three children and ending a three-decade career in printing and direct mail during the Great Resignation. She is grateful for the encouragement and guidance that Carol Custer provided as both CCS and support broker to her son, encouraging him to try self-direction and supporting him in it. Liz also provides accurate information and caring assistance on self-direction to participants and their families as a support broker. Liz loves listening, reading, gardening, biking, miniatures, dogs, and her family. She lives with her son in Rockville, Maryland. 

Meg Carter has been assisting participants to design and implement their self-directed services since 2010 when her daughter Lucy Carter entered the SD program. A graduate of University of Md. College Park with a BA in English, Meg has worked as a writer and composition teacher. She is the mother of five daughters. In the past eight years she has provided support broker services and counseling to more than 20 participants and their families. She is committed to working with SDAN to help to preserve participant choice and control of services. She has been a SDAN Board member since its formation in 2016.

Sunny Cefaratti has been a resident of Annapolis Maryland since 1988. She is the co-founder of the non-profit organization, The Musical Autist. She is an Autistic Self-Advocate and mentor to others on the autism spectrum. Sunny is also an active member of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. Sunny is a performing pianist and vocalist who plays at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities and community events. Sunny was born in South Korea, completely blind, and was adopted by her family in the US at 2 years of age. She was diagnosed with autism in 2001. She is a graduate of Maryland School for the Blind. Sunny’s support broker connected her to SDAN and she has been attending meetings since August of 2018. Sunny is committed to help other participants be active members in their community and make others aware of Self- Directed Services.

Patti is the proud mother of three adult children, Emma, Adam and the late Ethan Saylor. Her oldest son, Ethan was a 26 year young man with down syndrome who tragically lost his life during an interaction with law enforcement officers in a movie theater in Frederick County in January 2013. Patti continues her advocacy in Maryland and throughout the country to improve relationships and interactions between first responders and individuals with disabilities.

Patti has served on many national, state and local boards, committees and councils during her 30 plus years of advocacy and looks forward to working as a SDAN Board member to further the vision of Self Direction in Maryland.

Athena Elliott is a retired chief compliance officer with 38 years of federal service with DHHS/Indian Health Service.  Her experience includes designing internal auditing programs and oversight activities to assess clinical and administrative risk management.  She has held federal positions at all service levels, including IHS headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, and supporting regional work in California, New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma.  Athena is experienced in analyzing and identifying national and local systemic changes needed to improve the quality of health care services delivered to underserved and vulnerable, special populations.