APRIL Board of Directors
January 2025
Please take a moment to get to know our wonderful board of directors. We appreciate your service!
Executive Officers
President
Kim Gibson (she/her), disABILITY LINK, Tucker, GA
Dr. Kim Gibson, a committed leader and advocate, brings over three decades of experience in advancing disability rights, fostering diversity, and championing inclusion. Her impactful contributions to the Independent Living (IL) movement have left a lasting impression on the communities she has served.
Originally hailing from Idaho, KIm embarked on her journey in disability advocacy in 1988. Her path led her through Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and Texas before she assumed the role of Executive Director at disABILITY LINK in Georgia in August 2013. Driven by a passion for the IL philosophy, she has dedicated her career to expanding programs that prioritize diversity and inclusion.
Kim holds a Doctorate and Master's degree in social work, a testament to her commitment to continuous learning and excellence. Her academic journey was marked by the prestigious Neta Kolasa Scholarship, recognizing her unwavering dedication to social justice.
As a devoted mother to her son, Dustin, and his wife, Pushee, Kim values family and the relationships that enrich her life. She recently welcomed a new service animal, Chipper, continuing her tradition of companionship after the passing of her cherished Charlie.
Throughout her career, Kim has been an ardent supporter of education, serving as a field instructor for individuals pursuing social work, educational, and occupational degrees. Her involvement in various community events, focused on suicide prevention, women's rights, disability rights, and civil rights, underscores her commitment to advocacy and societal improvement.
Kim has received numerous accolades, including the 2014 National Council of Independent Living (NCIL) "Women's Caucus Hall of Fame Award" and the 2023 Disability Inclusion Leadership Award from the National Diversity Council. Actively engaged in her community, Kim currently is serving as the President of APRIL (Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living), she continues to uplift organizations through policy advocacy, growth initiatives, and prioritizing the Independent Living Community and philosophy. Through APRIL’s peer-to-peer mentorship program, Kim is a peer mentor for other CILS (Centers for Independent Living). Kim is the past vice-chair of the Southeastern Center Directors Association and has served as a board member of NCIL (National Council of Independent Living), a board member of SILC of GA, and a variety of NCIL subcommittees. She also serves on several local boards and has, in the past, served on various advisory boards in Wyoming appointed by the Governor and boards in Pennsylvania.
Kim continues to work actively in the community, embodying the principles of the Independent Living Philosophy and tirelessly working towards a more inclusive and equitable society.
Vice President
Scott Birkenbuel (he/him), Ability Montana, Bozeman, MT
Scott Birkenbuel is the CEO of the Montana Independent Living Project which serves all persons with disabilities across southwest Montana. Prior to this position Scott served on the Board of Directors for the Montana Independent Living Project, Chaired the Statewide Independent Living Council, Chaired the Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Counsel, and sat on the Governors Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. He also held a seat on the Montana University System Board of Regents and had a 5-year tenure as an Adjunct Professor at Montana State University’s School of Business. After graduating from Montana State University, he started and ran his own small business and created jobs in Bozeman Montana for 24 years.
Scott married his high school sweetheart, and they have two daughters and two grandchildren. At home in Bozeman, he and his family enjoy Montana’s great outdoors - camping, hunting and angling.
Secretary
Lidia Fonseca (she/her), VAIL, TX
Lidia Fonseca is the Executive Director at VAIL, a center for independent living in the South Texas region. Lidia has a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitative Services from the University of Texas Pan-American, a Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling from Texas Tech University, and a doctorates in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She provides overall supervision, management, development, and implementation of programs at VAIL.
She has 10 years of experience in the disability field which include emergency management and planning for persons with disabilities, training on leadership, advocacy, and disability policy, and promoting employment services for all persons with disabilities. She is the current President of TEXCIL, a statewide association of centers for independent living that ensure statewide effectiveness of independent living services.
Treasurer
Sidna Madden-Trimmell (she/her), SILC of Oklahoma, OKC, OK
Sidna Madden-Trimmell is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Statewide Independent Living Council. She serves on many boards and commissions statewide that work on behalf of people with disabilities. Sidna is the Chair of the Oklahoma City Mayor’s Committee on Disability Concerns and is working to raise awareness to improve the quality of life and is advocating for the removal of physical and attitudinal barriers in her state. Through these efforts communities nationwide are using OKC as a model and asking for guidance to structure their communities. Sidna also serves at the Treasurer for APRIL and serves on the NASILC Executive Committee.
DEI Seat
Beth Quarles (she/her), Future Choices, IN
Beth Y. Quarles is a seasoned advocate with over 25 years of experience as an Executive Director at a Center for Independent Living. Her extensive career is deeply informed by her own experiences as a person of diverse background living with a disability, which has profoundly shaped her approach to advocacy. Beth has made significant contributions through her service on various national, state, and local boards, where she has been a passionate advocate for the rights of individuals of color, people with disabilities, and the broader spectrum of human rights. Her leadership roles have included impactful work in policy development, community engagement, and strategic planning. Notably, Beth also served two terms on the board of APRIL, where she played a crucial role in advancing its mission to promote disability inclusion and empowerment. Through her rich personal experience and professional expertise, Beth remains committed to fostering a more equitable and inclusive society, continuously working to break down barriers and build supportive communities for all.
At-Large Executive Officer
Don Dew (he/him), Disabilities Resource center of Siouxland, Nebraska SILC, IA
Don has served 2 terms as a Member-at-Large he is very experienced regarding this role. Don has created a legacy of empowering underrepresented communities in his work, and he adds to that legacy in every aspect of his professional and personal life.
Don has been the Executive Director at Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland in Sioux City, Iowa since 2012. Don is also concurrently the Executive Director of the Nebraska Statewide Independent Living Council. While it is unprecedented for someone to be in the role of Executive Director of a CIL and SILC simultaneously, the "out of the box" thinking that has culminated in this relationship is in line with, and strengthens Independent Living Philosophy, and the determination to equity and equality for all people with disabilities.
Members At Large
Lakesha Whitman, Southeast Arkansas Independent Living Services (SAILS), AR
Lakesha Whitman serves as the Executive Director of Southeast Arkansas Independent Living Services (SAILS), a center for independent living in White Hall, Arkansas. Before assuming her role at SAILS, she was the Associate Director at the Center for Exceptional Families (Arkansas PTI). With over twenty years of experience advocating for individuals, families, and communities, she is particularly committed to supporting rural and underserved families, reflecting her own background. As someone with multiple hidden disabilities, Lakesha is dedicated to using her voice and actions to advocate for inclusion and accessibility for everyone. Additionally, Lakesha is a wife and mother of seven with varying disabilities.
Lakesha has been appointed by the Governor to serve on the Arkansas State Independent Living Council (SILC). Also, she is a board member of the Project SEARCH steering committee and a court-appointed CASA Advocate. She has spent ten years as a Girl Scout Leader and is an active member of her community
Brigit Bardstad, Access Alaska, AK
Brigit is the current Program Director at Access Alaska, a Center for Independent Living based in Anchorage, Alaska. Brigit is a peer and an advocate first. She is passionate about engaging in efforts to ensure all have an opportunity for their voices to be heard and to thrive in inclusive, vibrant, and interconnected communities. She has over ten years of experience in the human services field and has held roles in direct support, coordination of services, as well as leadership all with the focus of advocating for and with individuals who experience disabilities. Brigit earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Cloud State University and is currently on track to obtain her master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University in December of 2024.
Jill Nyberg, IndiGO, WI
Jill Nyberg is the Executive Director of indiGO (formerly North Country Independent Living). She began her career in Independent Living thirty plus years ago. Jill started at Access North in Hibbing, Minnesota after graduating with a degree in Social Work. The program Jill worked under was a demonstration program for youth transition through the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Jill jumped into Individual Education Plan advocacy and found her Independent Living footing. She worked to develop a youth empowerment conference which was recognized nationwide as the grant sunsetted. Jill then took a social work position in child protection which did not last long. She missed Independent Living and returned to Access North for an Independent Living Specialist position in their Duluth Minnesota office. Here Jill expanded her Independent Living experience working with individuals of all ages and in adaptive recreation. During this time Wisconsin began a demonstration program for youth in transition and was asked to join indiGO. She was able to connect with the smallest outlying school districts, develop relationships with local towns, and then organize community student/parent events to provide disability rights and awareness training. Jill began graduate school at this time as she desired a future leadership position at indiGO. Jill graduated with a Master of Arts in Management and took a position at Disability Rights Wisconsin. She took the year-long position in their Milwaukee office as Intake Specialist. Jill returned home to northwest Wisconsin while deinstitutionalization was happening in the state and took a position as Program Director supporting individuals living in their own homes. The transitioning of people with disabilities out of institutions was met with much opposition and Jill led the way in northwest Wisconsin.
Once Jill’s long-time mentors retired, she re-joined indiGO after twenty years as she desired. Jill has continued to expand their mental health services, increase funding for their transportation program, continue their Native American Independent Living demonstration program, and further access to Assistive Technology through collaboration with state and local resources. She also serves on a number of local community and state boards. This includes Treasurer of the Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers.
Harry Bostic (he/him), Disability Network Southwest Michigan, MI
Harry “Hank” Bostic, MS, CRC, CRS-AD, is the Director of Programs and Services for Disability Network Southwest Michigan. During his tenure of over eight years at Disability Network he has worked as a Social Security Disability Benefits Counselor, Independent Living Specialist, Independent Living Program Manager and Veteran services provider.
He has a Master of Science degree from West Virginia University in Rehabilitation Counseling and Bachelor of Science degrees in Social Work and Business Administration. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Certified Community Resource Specialist.
Hank worked as a Rehabilitation Program Specialist, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Disability Program Navigator for the state of West Virginia. This all comes after being totally disabled for eight years himself and learning the hardships and struggles many people with disabilities have to endure and overcome while living in rural southern West Virginia.
Stancil Tootle (he/him), Bainbridge Advocacy Individual Network (BAIN), Bainbridge, GA
My name is Stancil Tootle, and I am the board Vice President of Bainbridge Advocacy Independent network Center for Independent Living in Bainbridge, Georgia.
I believe in the power of informed choice, and I think that given the correct information we all know what is best for us as individuals. Ithink advocacy and information sharing go hand-in-hand to help improve one’s life and that’s what I see APRIL does a fantastic job of providing information and advocacy training. One of my passions is whole health well-being for me and my peers and I think that that is missing for people who live in a rural areas but it doesn’t have to be that way and I would like to help start some conversations and offering more whole health well-being options to people with disabilities like myself who choose to live in rural America. Look forward to meeting many of you and having information sharing Conversations. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to be one of your trusted servants on this board.
Angie Zimmerman, LINK, Inc., Hays, KS
Angie has been with LINK, Inc. for a little more than 22 years. She has served many roles such as a Direct Support Worker, Independent Living Specialist, Information & Referral Specialist, Program Director and currently serves as CEO/Executive Director since 2015.
She has won Business Woman of the Year (2014). This was in recognition of Business Accomplishments, Leadership Qualities & Contributions to the Community through Hays Chamber of Commerce. She also won with LINK, the Helping Hands award (2020) is recognition of employee for Outstanding Work that improves the Quality of Life for Residents in the Hays area.
Angie was a member of Young Professionals as an Advisory Council for many years. She was a Leadership Hays graduate and facilitator. Angie served on the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas (SILCK) for two full terms with officer positions most years and membership committee for all of her years. She has been attending and waiting on State Rehabilitation Council of Kansas to have Governor appointment. (There has been a delay due to staff shortage.)
Angie has worked in conjure with a high school mentoring teenagers wanting to work with individuals with disabilities doing case management of sorts.
Angie went to school to become a nurse working in a nursing home, deciding it was not for her. She went back to school to receive her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and completed her Master's classes in Community Counseling. Angie is a person with multiple complex disabilities.
Over the years, Angie has been to the APRIL conference many times and her mentor who has since passed has served on the APRIL board since the beginning. Brian Atwell (mentor) has served multiple terms with different times throughout his twenty-five plus years at LINK.
Sharif Brown, Alliance Disability Advocates, NC
Sharif Brown has been a staff member of the Alliance of Disability Advocates since 2016. Sharif started as a travel trainer educating individuals who experience disabilities on how to navigate public transportation. Sharif also had a strong passion for helping those who have been incarcerated successfully transition back into the community. This passion and the success that he was having led to a grant with the state to expand on this work. Today Sharif is the Director of Reentry Services leading a team to reduce recidivism rates across North Carolina. His team works closely with individuals that are both pre-release and post-release. These individuals must experience an IDD or TBI to qualify for the program. Many of these individuals are being released to rural areas within the state.
Evan Shockley, CO SILC, Denver, CO
Evan Shockley is a 29 year old multicultural male who is a native of Colorado and has lived with epilepsy since he was 15 years old. He has worked for two Colorado Centers for Independent Living as a Loan Closet Technician, Youth Program Coordinator and Independent Living Coordinator.
Evan was just recently elected as the Co-Chair of the Colorado Statewide Independent Living Council and will assume the role of the chair position in August of 2023. In concurrence with his council membership, Evan holds high involvement in planning his state’s Youth Leadership Forum as a staff member as he was also a delegate of the inaugural forum for Colorado in 2018.
Evan exemplifies charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity from being a 4 year member, and an officer at his local Elk’s Lodge 804, in Fort Collins, CO.
Kyle Kleist (he/him), CIL Western Wisconsin
Kyle Kleist is the Executive Director at the Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin (CILWW). As a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair, Kyle has over 20 years of experience working in Independent living. At the Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin, he has worked as the Peer Support Coordinator and Independent Living Specialist, conducted AT assessments, and helped to start the CILWW’s New Freedom Transportation Program. Kyle left CILWW in 2007 to teach for 10 years at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the undergraduate Rehabilitation Services program. However, during that time remained connected to CILWW, serving on the Board for 6 years, the last three years as Board President. In 2017, Kyle returned to CILWW as Assistant Director, then as Executive Director in 2020. He has always been dedicated to the independent living philosophy of providing consumer-directed services and is a strong advocate for persons with disabilities.
SILC Rep
Brooke Wilson, Oregon SILC, Salem, OR
Brooke Wilson is the Executive Director of the Oregon State Independent Living Council (SILC) and has worked in the disability community for 18 years. She has served in many roles, representing the Independent Living Philosophy, fostering collaboration and advocating for disability inclusion and awareness. Brooke found Independent Living in 2009, while in Utah working as the state liaison for the Grassroots Advocacy Partnership (GAP). She served as the Executive Director of the Utah SILC before relocating to Oregon in 2019. Brooke is passionate about many issues including, youth involvement/engagement, mental health, and legislative advocacy.
She was first elected to the APRIL board as an at large member in 2017 and served as the SILC representative from 2019-2022.
Brooke and her husband Corey have 4 children and 3 grandchildren, though Brooke loves children and is a “mom” to many.
Youth Seats
Noah Russell, Sponsored by Space Coast Independent Living Center of Florida
Noah Russell (he/him) is a member of the Space Coast Independent Living Center. He holds 4 going on 5 black belts, is a supporter of United Way, a member of the Autistic Community, and is the Chair of the YSC (Youth Steering Committee). He is a dedicated to helping people all around by advocating for people in his community and in his state of Florida. He is an RBT certified in the state of Florida and represents his community of Satellite Beach and Indian Harbor. He wants to make sure that all youth are able to make their voices heard and is honored to be apart of the movement.
Jordan Hayes (she/her), Disability Rights & Resources, Charlotte, NC
Jordan Hayes (she, her) is a 27 year old woman from the Carolinas who found the independent living movement later in youth. She graduated from Winthrop University with a bachelor’s in social work and began working as a Peer Mentor for Disability Rights & Resources and has dedicated herself to learning all she can about the movement. Serving on the board as a youth member would give her the opportunity to work towards other young folks finding their place in IL sooner rather than later.
If you need more information, please contact the APRIL office at 501-753-3400.