Led by Seasoned Self-Direction Brokerage Specialists.

Donna Febo has dedicated more than 32 years to serving the neurodivergent and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) community. She began her career in the early 1990s as a Direct Support Professional with AHRC (now The Arc) while attending college, helping to open new residential group homes in Syosset and Woodbury, New York. After earning her degree in Psychology, Donna advanced to a Director position with FREE (Family Residences and Essential Enterprises), where she remained until the birth of her daughter in 2000. Shortly thereafter, her daughter was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, and two years later, her son was born and also demonstrated signs of a disability. Like so many families, Donna experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating supports and services during the early 2000s, an experience that would ultimately shape her life's work. In 2015, Donna returned to the field as an Independent Support Broker and has never looked back. Today, she supports approximately 70 families across eastern Long Island, helping individuals and their families create meaningful, self-directed lives. She is a frequent presenter at SEPTA meetings and community events, educating families about the benefits of Self-Direction. Donna also served on OPWDD Region 5's Broker Community of Practice, assists with training new Support Brokers, and participates in Advance Care Alliance's Family Forum, helping families explore Self-Direction options. In 2013, Donna and a fellow Support Broker founded the Independent Broker Forum, an online statewide community that continues to connect Independent Support Brokers across New York, fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and supporting families in finding qualified brokers. What began as a simple forum for exchanging ideas ultimately inspired the creation of the New York State Independent Support Brokers Alliance (NYISBA). Donna is honored to serve on the NYISBA Board alongside a dedicated group of professionals who share her passion for elevating and professionalizing the Support Brokerage career, strengthening the Self-Direction system, and creating a recognized and respected voice for Support Brokers across New York State.

After three decades in the telecommunications industry, Roger embarked on a transformative journey that led him to discover a new purpose. In 2013, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the Stony Brook (SUNY) School of Social Welfare. Just before graduation, serendipity guided him toward serving the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) population as a Direct Support Professional. In that pivotal moment, Roger unearthed the profound impact of personalized care and advocacy. Promptly, he undertook the requisite OPWDD training and transitioned into the role of an Independent Self-Direction Start-up and Support Broker. Here, he channeled his passion for empowerment, Person-Centered Planning, and individualized support into tangible change. Over the past thirteen years, Roger’s journey has been enriched by collaborating with more than 140 individuals and families, 6 Fiscal Intermediaries, and 3 OPWDD Regions. Each encounter has deepened his understanding and fortified hi commitment to fostering inclusivity and autonomy within the I/DD community. Today, Roger actively supports 45 Self-Direction participants, ages 7 to 63. Each Self-Direction budget is meticulously tailored to meet the unique needs of every participant, ensuring their journey towards self-directed living. Roger also has expertise in delivering self-direction budgets with housing and employment supports. Driven by an unwavering dedication and a steadfast belief in the inherent dignity of every individual, Roger tirelessly works to shape lives and champion the rights of those he serves. Anchored by a profound sense of purpose, he is committed to leveraging his experience and expertise to cultivate a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and live their best self-directed lives.

Melanie Donus is the proud mother of three young men—Dimitri (23), Michael (23), and Maxx (18)—who are all diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, each with their own unique strengths, abilities, and support needs. She and her husband, Andrew, live on Long Island, New York. For the past 16 years, Melanie has dedicated her career to the Self-Direction community, combining her professional expertise with her lived experience as a parent to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities build lives of choice, independence, dignity, and belonging. Before transitioning to the Human Services sector, Melanie built a successful 20-plus-year career in the financial services industry, earning multiple promotions into Vice President leadership roles supporting Structured Products, Alternative Investments, and Private Equity. She held FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses and was recognized for her strategic leadership, operational excellence, and project management expertise. Following the autism diagnosis of her youngest son, Melanie made the life-changing decision to redirect her career toward supporting individuals and families navigating New York State's OPWDD Self-Direction program. Today, her unique combination of executive leadership, 16 years of Self-Direction experience, and lived family perspective allows her to advocate passionately for person-centered support while working to strengthen and professionalize the Support Brokerage profession. In addition to her work as an OPWDD Authorized Support Broker, Melanie is a dedicated advocate and community leader. She served as a Parent Speaker for the Long Island University BCBA program for four years and has held numerous volunteer leadership roles, including Co-President of the Garden City Special Education PTA, Founder of the Long Island Special Needs Facebook Group with more than 2,000 members, and Parent Mentor with Parent-to-Parent. She currently serves on the OPWDD Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC) Residential Subcommittee, where she provides an experienced and credentialed voice on certified and non-certified housing policy and best practices.

​Fidaije Nesimi brings more than 20 years of executive Human Resources experience, including helping lead a New York City software consulting firm through a European expansion and ultimately taking the company public. For the past 11 years, Fidaije has worked as an independent Self-Direction Broker supporting individuals and families throughout New York. Her background in Human Resources has been an invaluable asset in helping families navigate staff recruitment, retention, training, and performance management.  Fidaije has become a trusted resource for families and professionals navigating the ever-changing landscape of Medicaid and HCBS Waiver services. Through presentations, trainings, and community forums, she has educated hundreds of families, brokers, and providers on HCBS Waiver eligibility, disability redeterminations, and strategies to prevent unnecessary interruptions in services. She is passionate about helping families understand their rights, navigate complex systems, and preserve the critical supports that individuals with developmental disabilities rely on to thrive in their communities. Fidaije currently serves as Second Vice-Chair of the Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council (SIDDC) Executive Board and is a member of the Citywide Council for District 75 (CCD75). She is also the former Co-Chair of the Staten Island Self-Directed Supports Committee, where she organized educational forums for families and professionals on topics such as sustainability planning, supported decision-making, supported employment, and independent housing. Fidaije has mentored many new brokers entering the field and considers helping others grow in this profession to be one of the most meaningful and rewarding aspects of her career. Bilingual in English and Albanian, Fidaije has frequently served as a trusted resource and translator for Albanian-speaking families navigating complex systems of support. As a founding member of the New York Independent Self-Direction Brokers Alliance (NYISBA), she remains committed to strengthening the independent broker community through collaboration, advocacy, education, and mentorship.

Donna Maxon is the parent of a nonspeaking adult son with autism who communicates using Spelling to Communicate (S2C). Her personal journey has inspired more than three decades of advocacy on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. In 1994, Donna co-founded the New York Child Learning Institute (NYCLI), a school dedicated to providing individualized educational programs for children with autism. Since 2012, Donna has served as the parent supervisor for her son's Self-Direction program and has become a respected leader within New York's Self-Direction community. Affectionately known as the quote Mother of Self-Direction on Staten Island; and the Self-Direction OG, she has helped hundreds of individuals and families successfully navigate the Self-Direction program while advancing awareness and best practices throughout the state. Drawing on her background in corporate training and organizational development, Donna has spent the past 12 years as an Independent Self-Direction Broker, working with more than 200 individuals and families to design, develop, and implement person-centered Self-Direction plans. She also developed and taught a comprehensive Broker Training curriculum and takes great pride in mentoring the next generation of Independent Support Brokers. Donna is also a Certified Housing Navigator, partnering with individuals and families to develop Housing Action Plans that support greater independence and successful community living. In addition, Donna serves as the Independent Housing Managing Agent for ArchCare's innovative affordable housing initiative, which transforms former convents into inclusive apartment communities. These developments provide affordable housing for the general public while reserving apartments for adults with autism. ArchCare currently operates two buildings—St. Teresa Apartments on Staten Island and St. Frances Cabrini Apartments in Westchester County. Donna considers this work one of the most meaningful chapters of her career, describing it simply as a highlight of my life. Although now retired from the entertainment industry, many people also know Donna from her remarkable 30-plus-year international career as a professional tribute artist, celebrating the music, humor, and spirit of the Divine Bette Midler. That same passion, creativity, and ability to connect with people continue to define her work today.