Skip to content

Paul Mac Millan M.Ed., Assistant Director of Respite and Recreation

Paul has been in the Special Education/Intellectual Disabled, Developmentally Disabled field for almost three decades. Paul’s previous roles have been Special Educator for individuals with Autism, Management positions in the Intellectual Disability/Developmentally Disabled field, as well as Director and Assistant Director of Residential Services. He has worked with various populations in this field, which has allowed him to experience vast hands-on learning.

Paul possesses an enormous amount of knowledge and experience, enabling him to create and maintain a team. In turn, this will afford all people the opportunity to flourish and strive in any area they choose, as well as a healthy, safe and productive life.

Paul has a Master’s Degree in Education, as well as a Bachelor’ Degree in Special Education.

 

Chantal Joseph, Respite Supervisor of the Respite Program for Citizens Options Unlimited

Chantal has been with Citizens Options Unlimited since 2017 and has vast experience in the organization. Chantal has been working with people with developmental disabilities since 1986. Here at Citizens Options Unlimited, Chantal started working at the ICF’s. Within a few months she was promoted to manager at another ICF location. Other Residences that Chantal has worked in is, Seaford IRA, Manhasset ICF as the Medical DSP and now is the Respite Supervisor for the Respite Program for FSS at Citizens.

 

 

Peter TorresPeter Torres, Activity Leader for Recreation

Although relatively new to the I/DD field, Pete has proven himself to be a true team player. His confidence, motivation, and methodical attention to detail means he’s always a step ahead. Pete is dynamic, connected, and keeps our supported individuals moving outside of the home with constructive interests and abilities. He provides supervised recreational and respite activities, such as bowling outings, dance events, arts and crafts, softball, paint nights and dining, to name a few. He has earned more than a few accolades from caregivers for managing and always bringing a solid work ethic to their loved ones, while addressing signs of potential emotional and developmental challenges, with aplomb, in individuals with agency and caregivers. At all times, Pete always ensures that OPWDD rules and regulations are strictly followed.

 

Maura BodenMaura Boden, Program Coordinator for Citizens’ Respite and Recreation Programs

Maura started working for AHRC many years ago as a DSP at the Pearl Street Group Home in Oceanside. She has worked in many different positions throughout the agency, When Maura left AHRC to start a family, she was Assistant Director of Family Support Services . Four daughters later she is back to the place she loves working with amazing people.

 

 

Summer SherrardSummer Sherrard, Activity Leader for the Virtual Program

Summer is a graduating senior at SUNY Geneseo in upstate New York, where she is studying sociology.  After graduation, she plans on going back home to Long Island and becoming a social worker. She has been working with individuals with developmental disabilities for a few years now. She used to go to the Saturday Day Program in Freeport and help out when it was needed., and also worked at Camp Loyaltown as a camp counselor during the summer of 2022.

Working at Camp Loyaltown helped Summer realize that she would love to broaden her studies by getting a degree in Special Education, as well as continuing her education with sociology.

She enjoys working with these individuals and seeing the smiles on their faces whenever they are together.

 

Amanda Spletstoser, Operations Manager Family Support Services

While she is new to the management side of things, Amanda has a lot of hands-on experience in this field! She has always been a part of and felt comfortable in this community. She started as young as elementary school volunteering to spend her lunches in the special education classrooms. In middle school, Amanda also spent her lunch period in the classroom and joined their after-school program SOAR. She started to babysit a neighbor who has Autism, and still does so today, but as her community habilitation worker instead. In high school, I did an internship in a special education classroom at her middle school. She helped during the day with their lessons and with their after-school program. Once Amanda graduated high school, she started to work as a community habilitation worker with several different agencies and attended LIU Post and SUNY Old Westbury to get her bachelor’s degree.

She was part of the transfers honor society at SUNY Old Westbury and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, Cum Laude. Amanda believes that the best part of working in this field is seeing the smiles on the faces of the people we support. Knowing that they are getting the services they want, and need is worth every second! In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading, drawing, and hanging out with her two cats (Betty Boop and Ember) and dog (Ginger).

 

Our Partners

Copyright 2024 Citizens Options Unlimited