I am the Open Doors Program Coordinator and Regional Lead Transition Specialists for the Lower Hudson Valley. Open Doors is a State-wide program (from a federal grant) assisting disabled residents of Nursing Homes to transition to the community and live as independently as possible with community based services. My years of counseling & advocacy, knowledge on community resources, along with my life experience in overcoming obstacles help me to guide clients. My skills at communication, mediation, & motivational interviewing are keys to overcoming consumer's barriers and program obstacles. Countless presentations and outreach strategies help to continually grow our program.Seeing a consumer successfully living in the community after years of being stuck in a facility confirms that consistent, artful persistence, and continus hard work pays off.