Board of Directors
Green Mountain Self-Advocates has a board of directors that meets monthly. The Board of Directors is made up of representatives from each of the local self-advocacy groups as well as two community members from outside the self-advocacy groups.
Lisa Rudiakov
President
Lisa Rudiakov has been an active leader of the self-advocacy movement in Vermont for quite a number of years. As president, she is committed to helping other people, especially those who struggle to help themselves. “I want people to know that I will be there with them in the moment to share at meetings. Being at peace with myself.”
Lisa is a strong public speaker educating people who do not have a disability about disabilities so they are aware. She teaches others about self-advocacy so they hear it from us. She speaks up about giving people with intellectual disabilities a chance to make their own decisions. “People are so unaware of how they speak to us. Sometimes it is negative. People forget that we have feelings and that we have the same rights as people without disabilities.
If I was in charge and could change the world, people with disabilities would have a sense of purpose, a sense of self, a sense of being. My dream is to see self-advocacy flourish. To see us all grow in our advocacy. I want the public to get to know us better, to know what we are like. To know us by our names.
Levi Gardner
Vice President
I want to help self-advocates make new Ideas. It can be hard when talking to legislators and policymakers. Sometimes we don't know if they understand where we are coming from. We are not sure if they are going to help or not.
My challenge at self-advocacy meetings is people understanding what I have to say. When the meeting is virtual I can write in the chat. It takes a while because I have to look up the words to see how to spell them.
My dream is we will be working better together. We need to advocate for more residential housing options for people with disabilities to live there independently. I want to be in my community with other people of all kinds living there. My dream is for my community to be more accessible. It is important for people with disabilities to be able to go there. I also want people with disabilities to be getting more jobs.
Nicole Villemaire
Secretary
Nicole Villemaire was born and raised in Vermont. Nicole always wanted to go to the University of Vermont, but there wasn’t a program that was available to her. Until Think College gave her an opportunity to make her dream come true. In Nicole’s eyes, this was her chance at going to a big University.
In addition to working three jobs, Nicole is very active in the Vermont advocacy community. She serves on the Autism Task Force and the Advisory Council for the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion at UVM. Nicole has been very active in Special Olympics since high school. She competes in a sport every year.
Chad Cleverley
Treasurer
Chad is confident and at ease, whether addressing state officials or playing video games and board games like MTG or Yu-Gi-Oh. He has been living on his own in the St. Johnsbury area since the age of 18.
Chad got involved in self-advocacy in 2013. GMSA is grateful to have him as our treasurer. He does an excellent job understanding and explaining financial information to fellow board members.
GMSA 2024 Schedule of Statewide
Member Meetings:
Our meetings are from 10:00 to 12:00 am, they are held on Zoom.us (meeting ID: 905 238 684). All meetings are open.
January 29
February 26
March 25*
April 29
May 27
June 24*
July 29
August 26
September 30*
October 28
November 25
December 16*