Brad Williams earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SUNY Albany in 1984 and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Russell Sage College in 1990.

Brad Williams has been the Executive Director of the New York State Independent Living Council, Inc. (NYSILC). for the past thirteen years. Previously, he ran a CIL for almost ten years. Brad helped (with others) to shape the direction of the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network (SSAN) and directed it during its formative years. As the SSAN transitioned to the state association (NYAIL), NYSILC continued to push hard on the voting access issue, engaging in a wide variety of efforts to move the NYSBOE toward increase compliance with HAVA and polling place and voting machine access for New Yorkers with disabilities. Brad has provided support to the council to issued several reports and surveys on topics like CIL consumer satisfaction, statewide needs assessment, CIL technology and technical assistance needs, voting, and housing. He has developed SILC best practices for SILC member recruitment and orientation along with SPIL formulation and public input strategies, presenting on them at conferences. This included work in the current cycle to develop a SPIL evaluation practice with consultant Alan Krieger. Brad is a SILC consultant with both the SILC-Net and APRIL.

During this time period, Brad served on the NCIL board, was SILC Congress Treasurer, and was appointed to the original and follow up HAVA State Implementation Task Forces. He has also been recognized for his work with several awards: 2002 Ted Weiss Consumer Advocacy Award (Brain Injury Association of New York State), 2003 Regional Advocacy Award (National Council on Independent Living), 2004 National Thomas Paine Award (American Association on People with Disabilities), 2005 Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. Award (NYS Assembly Disability Awareness Day), and 2007 Justin Dart Award for Political Advocacy ((504 Democratic Club).

Brad Williams resides in Queensbury, New York with his wife Cathy, son Ryan, and daughter Hannah.

Patty Black

Patty Black, patty@nysilc.org

Patty has been with NYSILC since 2006 as the office Administrative Assistant. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Human Services and Diversity at SUNY Empire State in 2012. She enjoys her work at NYSILC which includes administering and monitoring the Facebook page, helping oversee quarterly Council meetings, editing the newsletter and helping to advocate for disability rights.

Patty lives in Latham, New York with her wonderful daughter Jessica and their wonderful menagerie of pets!