Welcome to the Disability Resource Center! I’m Missy Martin and as Interim Executive Director, it is a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside so many talented and dedicated people. My duties are many and varied and no two days are the same! Whether it’s supervising our direct support staff, researching grants, implementing and administrating programs and new initiatives, completing reports, representing the Center at various policy meetings and more, I am so pleased to be associated with an organization that works to empower people with disabilities to live self-sufficient lives. Please be sure to visit us at our offices on Infantry Drive – our staff will be happy to meet with you and give you a tour and explain our services.

Missy Martin

My name is Debbie Tarrant.  As one of the Center’s Independent Living Advocates, I assist consumers with disabilities in meeting their independent living goals in a variety of ways. I help with programs such as the Assistive Technology Program for children (ages 0-23) who need help with communication, fine or gross motor control as indicated by a medical professional. Your child may qualify – give me a call at the DRC! We hold weekly classes on legislative internship, advocacy, and independent living skills. These are open to anyone in the community with a disability or any of their family members. We host information fairs from time to time, to help spread the word about our services and those that other agencies provide. We also attend fairs and expos throughout the year, meeting people and talking about our services. Another great service we offer is the ITAC (Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation) Program that provides amplified telephones free of charge to qualified Illinois residents who have a difficult time hearing on the phone. Finally, all of our services are free. Be sure to call for a tour of our new building. I look forward to meeting with you!

Deborah Tarrant

Hello, my name is Sam Knight and I am an Independent Living Advocate. I can assist you on your road to independence through our five core services: Advocacy, Information and Referral, Peer Support, Independent Living Training, and Transition. We also provide Disability Awareness training to the community. Please contact me for more information.

Sam Knight

Hello, my name is Katy Hoyer! I am an Independent Living Advocate at Disability Resource Center. My educational background consists of a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am a Licensed Social Worker in the state of Illinois. I am thrilled to be working at an organization that helps individuals with disabilities lead independent, self-directed, empowered lives.

Here at the DRC, I assist individuals with disabilities in meeting their own, self-determined independent living goals. I support the Center and our local community through individual and systemic advocacy efforts. Similarly, I provide information and referral services to individuals in need. I also work to educate our community about disability awareness and etiquette. I facilitate the Young Women’s Group here at the Center, and I work with our Assistive Technology for Children program.

Feel free to contact me to learn more about our programs and services and/or to discuss your independent living needs.  I look forward to working with you!

Katy Hoyer

Hi, I’m Olivia Cruickshank and I’m a Community Reintegration Transitional Coordinator at the Disability Resource Center. The Community Reintegration Program is available for individuals with disabilities who currently reside in a nursing home, who are between the ages of 18-59, and who are interested in reintegrating into the community.

I have numerous years of experience working with people with disabilities. In my spare time I love spending time with my sons, other family members, and friends. I also enjoy writing poems, reading, and shopping. Two of my biggest goals in life are: to help others, and being a mother.

Olivia Cruickshank

My name is Marjuen.

I’m employed at the Disability Resource Center as a Community Reintegration Transitional Coordinator.  The main focus of my job is to advocate for individuals who are eligible for home service programs and who reside in nursing homes to return to the community with adequate services and supports to ensure success.

My education background is an Associate in Medical assistance and a Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Social Work and minor in Education.

I am very excited to be a part of an organization that strives for equality and empowerment of persons with disabilities to provide support services, promote advocacy, and raise community awareness about disability issues.

Marjuen Wannah

Hello! My name is Tabitha Boshears. I am the Development Associate at Disability Resource Center. I’ve grown up in a large family, which included many Deaf members. I learned sign language at an early age and continue to use sign language at DRC. I attended both Joliet Junior College and Cornell College. I spent my first years out of school working in a nursing home and in home health care. These experiences drove me to want to make changes in the way people with disabilities are treated.

At the Center, I plan our development activities, design our print and digital newsletters, complete state and federal reports, provide support for our direct service staff, and assist with fundraising events and material. I also coordinate our annual Disability Mentoring Day activities which provides students with disabilities and local businesses a day to work together.

Away from work, I spend time with my wife and our two beautiful sons. We enjoy hiking, going to the movies, trying new recipes, and spending time with our large extended family.

Tabitha Boshears

Hi, my name is Marie Malfatti. I have been with Disability Resource Center for 16 years. I am what you call a “seasonal worker,” working from May to the end of December. My duties consist of greeting guests, answering phones, and the dearest to my heart: distributing amplified phones to people with a hearing disability through the ITAC (Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation) program. And, last but not least, I perform any other tasks that are asked of me.

Marie Malfatti

Hi – I’m Cathie Stewart and I perform a wide variety of administrative duties for Missy Martin and the rest of the staff including research, correspondence, data management, writing and editing publications, coordinating projects, assisting with the amplified telephone distribution through the ITAC (Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation) and more.

Cathie Stewart