Who We Are

We are a team of enthusiastic, creative professionals who partner with you and your team to build, grow, and sustain the life you want to live.

Belonging

Connection

Purpose

Excellence

Allison Kleinman, LCSW

FOUNDER & CEO

Allison Kleinman has been working since 2009 as an advocate for people with I/DD and mental health challenges and their families. She is focused on and dedicated to improving employment, housing and future planning options for this community. Allison is the founding director of The Jack and Shirley Silver Center for Special Needs at the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan, where her connection and commitment to this population began. Allison’s approach has been to develop individualized paths for all people to connect to community and realize a sense of belonging. She is inspired by the incredible parent partners, self advocates and champions in this field and understands the need for collaboration and persistence to improve outcomes for the future.

Prior to working with adults with developmental disabilities, she managed a resource center and worked in the area of organizational development at JFNA. Allison received a B.S. in psychology from the University of Florida and a master's degree in clinical social work from Fordham University. She received her license in clinical social work as a result of her individual and group work with adults with autism and other developmental disabilities experiencing challenges with transitions and mental health issues.

Allison is on the board of The Butler Endowment Committee, Autism Communities, Partners4Housing, and Felicity House, organizations that share her passion for improving the lives of individuals with I/DD.

Alex LoPinto, LCSW

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH

Alex has been working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities professionally for over 10 years. Alex studied Psychology and Disability Studies at Hofstra University before attending the Columbia School of Social Work. Her first year placement was at SelfHelp working 1:1 with Holocaust Survivors in the home. Her second year placement led her to the Jack and Shirley Silver Center for Special Needs at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan where she worked for 6 years conducting intake assessments, facilitating support groups, directing social programs and connecting families with necessary resources and referrals.

Alex has also worked in the healthcare technology space working at both Unite Us and Cedar as Implementation Managers, training social workers and care coordinators on using tools to streamline referral and billing processes. In addition, Alex spent time at Spectrum Services working on their team of clinicians as a therapist with adults on the Autism Spectrum. She was also an adjunct professor at the Stony Brook School of Social Welfare where she taught a class on disability work in clinical settings. Alex is passionate about ensuring supportive services and programs are accessible to those who need them and prides herself on being a convener and connector of people and resources.

Liza Freed, LMSW

DIRECTOR OF CASE MANAGEMENT

Liza Freed is a Social Worker passionate about promoting meaningful and dignified social and professional experiences for people with I/DD. She has experience working with neurodiverse individuals at Invictus Bakery, which provides hands-on vocational training for people with ASD, as well as at Relationspot,a matchmaking service for people on the spectrum. She also worked at the Institute for the Development of Human Arts, a nonprofit committed to advancing a transformative, trauma-informed mental health system.

Liza also worked at Repair the World, a nonprofit focused on promoting civic engagement within Jewish life, where she facilitated hundreds of community-based volunteer, social, and educational programs, and supervised their service corps members based in NYC. Liza was recognized for her achievements in this role in 2019 when she was chosen as one of New York's 36 under 36 Jewish changemakers "facing challenging times with empathy, optimism and innovation."

Liza is a strong advocate for disability justice and is committed to empowering her clients to be self-advocates. She takes a strengths-based approach when working with her clients, and prioritizes seeking care that allows people of all abilities to live dignified, meaningful, and joyful lives.

Laura Galbraith, LMSW

SENIOR CASE MANAGER

Laura’s career as a social worker spans two decades of diverse work with children and families. Growing up, she watched her aunt navigate services for her disabled daughter - fast forward  years later and Laura found herself in the same role with her child.  Bringing both professional and parent perspectives to her work, she brings a passion for problem solving and advocacy through a strengths based lens.   

Laura’s approach is grounded in tenacious pursuit of efficiency in service delivery.   And, she celebrates small victories in the face of larger challenges faced by families who care for an ID/DD loved one.  As a connector within the disability community, her approach is informed by lessons learned from the advocacy community.  Areas of interest include self-care for caretakers/service providers; social entrepreneurship; post traumatic growth; and the intersectionality of race, gender, and multiple diagnoses among the ID/DD community.  

Laura graduated with an MSW from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. In addition to her deep social work experience, Laura previously founded an athletic wear sales business and enjoys merging that experience with her advocacy approach. 

She resides in Westchester with her two young children, lively therapy dog, and foster cat.

Ryan Finger

CASE MANAGER

For the past 20 years Ryan has worked with and supported individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in New York State. The values of inclusion and accessibility are Ryan's motivation. Ryan spent the last 12 years as Director of Supported Employment programs at JobPath, a NYC not-for-profit that aids jobseekers with I/DD and their families to obtain and maintain competitive employment. At JobPath, Ryan supervised a team of employment counselors and job coaches, where he created and negotiated jobs based on their talents using a customized approach matching their strengths to business needs.

Prior to his tenure at JobPath, Ryan was a Residential manager at Ulster Greene ARC. Responsible for a 24/7 staffed home for 11 men with I/DD and a neighboring supported apartment program in Saugerties, NY. A regular speaker and presenter at I/DD conferences, Ryan has led panels and trainings at: NYC Consortium for Customized Employment, New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, New York State Association for Community and Residential Agencies, and at the Customized Employment Learning Institute.

His hobbies include making music and snowboarding in Vermont. You can otherwise find him cooking with his wife and teaching his dog, Everly, new tricks.

Marissa Skinner

ASSOCIATE CASE MANAGER

Marissa's experience working with individuals with ID/DD spans over the past five years as a Behavioral Therapist. Her work is rooted in a client-centered, trauma informed approach which considers the unique life experiences of her clients to provide the highest quality care. Marissa received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida.

Marissa's experience working within client advocacy grounds her belief that continued education is the key to providing quality care. She consistently is exploring emerging research to further develop her skill set to provide the most effective support for her clients.

Marissa's passions center around creating inclusive spaces for neurodivergent voices to be empowered. Her diverse professional background has given her extensive experience building trusting and meaningful relationships with the individuals and families she serves. Marissa believes in creating a life with her clients that leads to passion and fulfillment.

Seth Ginsburg

CASE MANAGER

Seth has worked in the field of mental health advocacy for 7 years.  Through his work with supported employment programs at Job Path, he helped people with I/DD enter the workforce through customized job placements, based on their unique skills and personal interests.  

Seth also worked with Center for Family Support, where he supported individuals in self direction programs to participate more meaningfully in their communities by learning independent living skills, volunteering, and making peer connections. 

Seth studied Sociology at the University of Vermont, and continued his education through OPWDD's Eleversity Innovations curriculum, which offers comprehensive training in vocational support services for people with I/DD.  Seth also completed the Partners in Policymaking course through Yang Tan Institute at Cornell, which offered guidelines for long term service planning for people and their families.

Seth believes everyone has a meaningful contribution to make, and should have the opportunity to live a robust and exciting life.  He is proud to call himself an advocate. 

Kelsey Michaels, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS

CASE MANAGER

Kelsey Michaels is an experienced occupational therapist who believes in the power of autonomy. Kelsey has spent the last eight years working full-time in a large hospital setting, in the New York metropolitan area. In her spare time, she enjoys providing part-time home care services in northern Westchester County. Kelsey has worked with clients with a vast number of diagnoses and promotes therapeutic use of self in order to create substantial and long-lasting relationships to bridge the gap throughout all milestones of life. With her client-centered approach, Kelsey strives to facilitate independence and fruitful opportunities for individuals of all ages to lead meaningful and self-sufficient lives.

Kelsey's experience working in healthcare has fueled her passion to restore, rebuild and enhance her clients' everyday lives by fostering client- driven goals and overcoming community-based barriers.

Kelsey graduated from Gannon University with her doctorate degree in occupational therapy and is currently a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist within her field.

When not working with our clients, Kelsey can be found outdoors with her family and two dogs.

Anna Zenker, OTR/L

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATE

Anna is an Occupational Therapist with over a decade of experience working with individuals with disabilities. She holds a Bachelor’s in Health Studies and a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Utica University. Throughout her career, Anna has worked with diverse populations across the lifespan within acute rehab settings. Her work has included comprehensive evaluation and assessment of client’s needs, administration of rehabilitation services, and the provision of individualized caregiver training. Anna is also a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.

Driven by a commitment to recognizing the unique qualities of each individual, Anna is passionate about ensuring services are tailored to the client, their needs, and their personal goals. She believes that building rapport, fostering trust, and establishing meaningful connections is essential in empowering every individual to live their life to the fullest. She is committed to integrating this philosophy into every aspect of her professional practice, aiming to contribute to a future where individuals with intellectual disability are well-equipped to flourish in all that they do.

Emily Miller

CASE MANAGER

Emily Miller holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Services and has over 12 years in the field working with children, teens, and adults with disabilities. While residing in Chicago, Emily founded "Emily In-Home Support Service," a specialized service aimed at empowering adults with disabilities in developing independence and social skills. In her most recent role at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, Emily created CORE, a program for young adults to connect, engage, and grow together.

Emily's drive, individuality and expertise uniquely position her to support individuals within the non-speaking community, those with Autism, and young adults with limited mobility. She is thrilled to bring her years of experience to Future Centered Care as a Senior Case Manager, where she hopes to help others cultivate meaningful and positive lifestyles. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two rescue dogs and three rescue cats, cooking, and exercising.

Meet our Coaches

Johnny Leitera

Johnny Leitera has been working with people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities for almost 30 years, including children, adults, and facilitating group sessions. He has been deeply involved with the JCC Adaptations Program where he currently runs a Men's Group focusing on emotions, dating, and social interaction. He assists his personal clients with everything from social planning to doctor appointments/medications, and acts as a liaison between the client and parents to facilitate communication and growth. He is an avid home cook, and also a musician who tours regularly with his band Tuff Sunshine.

Luke Fox

Luke began volunteering with the Special Olympics when he was fourteen years old and has been working with individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities for over ten years. He has provided home, community, and job support to children, teens, and adults. He enjoys spending time in nature, playing music, reading, and being active.

Website Consultants

Becca Lory Hector

Becca Lory Hector is an openly Autistic Professional on a mission to close the disability gap in leadership by working with companies to attract and retain disabled talent. Becca was diagnosed autistic as an adult and has since become a dedicated autism and neurodiversity advocate, researcher, consultant, speaker, and author. Her work includes neurodiversity and disability consulting, public speaking, writing and editing, and Autistic Quality of Life research. See Becca’s website here.

Thank you to Becca for her partnership and collaboration in editing and reviewing our website!

Abby Shuster

Abby Shuster is a New York City based visual designer currently completing her Masters degree in communications design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Her experience as a designer spans across visual system design, branding, digital and print design, art direction, illustration and animation. She is passionate about creative communication, utilizing her keen eye for style as a way to articulate and elevate her clients’ identities. Prior to returning to the academic world, Abby worked as an art director at Digitas Health. See Abby’s website here.

Abby worked with FCC to establish a brand identity and logo, as well as design and build this website. All illustrations and photographs are Abby’s original work.

A Letter from Allison Kleinman, LCSW

Since 2009, I have been dedicated to helping individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities (IDD) build, rebuild, and sustain a meaningful life. Central to this mission has been understanding what quality resources currently exist and more so, what still needs to be developed and changed to adequately support and integrate a growing and aging population and their families.

Once individuals turn 21, they lose the education, programming, services, and funding they received under the IDEA. They and/or their parents/caretakers are left to navigate a complicated system of ongoing services to rebuild their child’s support network and life. Services are often fragmented and difficult to obtain, even for lifelong users who have a good understanding of the system…

  • More so, over the last decade, I have seen minimal improvement in solutions for future care. As adults and their parents/caretakers age, it is necessary to develop a plan and team of support for when they are no longer able and/or around to navigate and manage their child’s care.

    Adults have an array of challenges (i.e. developmental, mental health, substance abuse, behavioral) and programs and residential opportunities are not equipped to care for people with this combination of needs. The magnitude of this particular problem is only increasing as people with I/DD live longer, seek to live more independently, and self-direct their services.

    As a result, parents are consumed with the emotional and administrative stress of managing it all while anxiously asking themselves, “Who will be there when I’m gone?” This is the inspiration for building FCC, a sustainable company that can proactively address this overwhelming, sleep-stealing challenge.

    At FCC, we are focused on The Who. We come to this work through a lens of community building and belonging. At our core, we want to know the adult client and their family, their history and values, and work to develop a shared, collaborative and documented vision for the future. We are focused on cultivating a support network for each client and proactively coordinating care as it needs to evolve. We are here to help you build, rebuild, and sustain a good life. We serve as a concierge in matching you with the right social and recreational programs, volunteer and employment opportunities, friends, and romantic partners, and provide the support to nurture and sustain these connections. We partner with experts to support clients in maximizing and managing their state and federal benefits, as well as their self-direction budget. We are here to think about housing with you, connect you to what exists, and to plan together in creating new opportunities. When you work with FCC, you are joining a collective of other families in similar situations. You are part of a larger network of parents, adults, siblings, and professionals working toward building new opportunities to create a future of choice, community, and sustainability for adults with developmental disabilities.