Staff & Board
Peer-led: over 51% of our staff and board are people with disabilities, working for people with disabilities
Staff
The staff at Independent Living Resources of Solano & Contra Costa Counties
Susan Rotchy
Executive Director
Susan Rotchy
Susan Rotchy has played an instrumental role in advocating for people with disabilities and pushing for medical research. After becoming paralyzed from an automobile accident 19 years ago, Susan began her activism at the community college she attended and compelled the college to become ADA compliant. Realizing, she had an aptitude to bring the disability community and the able body community together from this experience, she proceeded straight to the capitol while completing her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Golden Gate University.
In 2000 she helped pass the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act through her membership in Californians for Cures, which also took an active part in the passage of Proposition 71, the Stem Cell Research and Cures Act 2004. Additionally, she is one of the co-founders of Research for Cure, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which raises money for neurological diseases, which has raised 500,000 dollars for the Reeve Irvine Research Center at UC Irvine. For her continuous work on raising monies for research she has been thanked by the late Christopher Reeves and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This rich experience has given Susan an intimate knowledge of the needs and issues facing ILRSCC consumers, as well as an understanding of how to operate an organization such as ILRSCC. Today, Susan sits on the In-Home Support Service advisory committee for Solano County and is a committee member for Solano Transportation for Senior’s and Disabilities. She is an active member of the Contra Costa Spinal Cord Group as well as vice president of Research for Cure. Other acknowledgements and awards that Susan has received she was crowned Miss Wheelchair California 2007 which is for women in wheelchairs based on advocacy, achievement, communication and presentation to represent Californians living with disabilities. She was also featured in an article of the “O” Magazine in January 2012 for her commitment to advocacy and fitness.
Eddie Lopez
Assistive Technology Specialist, Concord Office
Eddie Lopez
After many years as a professional in the private sector providing operational support, regulatory compliance, and product assurance, I decided it was time to offer my service, knowledge, experience, and skills to a local non-profit organization.
For nearly a decade of working for the Independent Living Resources, my role as an AT Specialist has been to service the disabled and the underserved population in the community. I provide information, resources, and assistive technology to help clients live an independent life.
At ILR, we have an Assistive Technology Re-use program that provides-free of charge-gently used donated medical equipment for disabled consumers of all ages and to low-income seniors.
I also, volunteered to assist the underserved Spanish-speaking clients to attain services and resources within the community.
I am a member of the statewide Assistive Technology Network. As member of the network, I connect disabled Californians to a wide variety of services like; Information & Referral, Re-use programs, Device Lending Libraries, Financial Loan program for AT among other services.
Member of the Disability Disaster Access & Resources (DDAR), which collaborates with local energy companies to help and support individuals in preparation for Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). I participate and collaborate in various in person meetings, webinars, and video-meetings from state, regional, local agencies and community organizations.
Throughout the years my most impressive and relevant achievement has been, to put a smile in the faces of clients when I help them find the correct Assistive Technology that improve their lives.
Ron Halog
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Ron Halog
Ron Halog has been in the non-profit world for over 35 years, assisting and supporting people with disabilities and the community. For the last 15 years, he has served as the Executive Director of 2 non-profit organizations in the bay area. Mr. Halog has been a trainer / instructor for over 30 years; training First Aid, CPR, Water Safety Instruction, Lifeguarding and Emergency Preparedness. He has also been a speaker / presenter at local, state and national trainings; such as the National Council on Independent Living Training in Washington DC. Mr. Halog currently serves as the President of Alameda County’s Developmental Disabilities Council and the Vice-Chair of ALCO VOAD (Alameda County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters).
Roger Acuna
Systems Change Coordinator
Roger Acuna
Roger is an individual with a visual impairment roger lost his sight at the age of 5 he learned at an early age that he was really no different from everyone else. He played sports, road bikes and attended mainstream schools. His other senses compensated for his vision loss. Roger graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from California State University Chico. At that time, Roger learned to use accessible computer technology, and received his first Guide Dog. Roger has served on the Bart Accessibility Task Force, and the Para transit Coordinating Council. He has worked at Independent Living Resources for over 10 years in various positions. Roger develops advocacy strategies and coordinates them with the community. His main goal is to teach consumers and community members the tools to advocate for themselves. Roger is a competitive Goalball player, writes comedy and above all, enjoys seeing people overcome challenges.
Julie Berry
Executive Administrative Assistant
Julie Berry
Julie Berry has worked for ILRSCC since 2016 with assisting the Executive Director with daily activities, she also assists the Independent Living Specialist and AT. She does research looking for new resources for consumers. Julie has provided care for a person with Alzheimer’s and a person with dementia and understands what challenges the caregivers go thru with providing care for people with these disabilities.
Julie is a past president and current member of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Antioch which is a nonprofit club that raises funds to provide college grants to local high school seniors, she volunteers for a cat rescue nonprofit organization in Contra Costa County and enjoys volunteering to help out the community.
Josselyn Martinez
Program Assistant
Josselyn Martinez
My name is Josselyn Martinez, and I work for Independent Living Resources as a Program assistant. I started working at ILR in 2019 part-time because I am attending college. My job consists of answering the phones and making housing list for people who need help finding housing. I have learned a lot from ILR and from people with disabilities. I have learned that people who live with disabilities prove that happiness is possible regardless of your situation. One of my biggest goals is to transfer to UC Davis or UC Berkeley and get a degree in psychology to be a Social worker or a physician, and help families, people with disability and abandoned kids. I really enjoy working for Independent Living.
Seneca Gibson
Program Assistant
Seneca Gibson
Theresa Cox
Program Assistant
Board of Directors
Independent Living Resources of Solano & Contra Costa Counties is supported by a dedicated board of directors made up of committed community volunteers and working professionals.
Interested in becoming a board member? Contact us.
Wilson Cheng
Board President
Wilson Cheng
Wilson received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley in 2013.
He has Cerebral Palsy, and has been serving as a member of the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Advisory Committee in Contra Costa County since 2009, and became its Vice Chair in February 2014. As a member of the Advisory Committee, Wilson provided consumer input into the IHSS program; advised and made recommendations to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on issues regarding Public Authority policy, program development, activities, services, and budget. He’s also made recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on pending state legislation and budget that impact the IHSS program, consumers, providers, and/or Public Authorities. As Vice Chair, he remains consistently informed about all Committee issues, Committee procedures and process, selecting & supervising subcommittee chairs, and on issues affecting the overall program; assists the Chairperson in all aspects of the Chairperson’s position; and serves as the Chairperson when the Chairperson is absent or unable to serve.
In his free time, Wilson enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts on Audible, and to music on Spotify. Wilson remains loyal to his alma mater, and attends Cal Football games when he can.
Wilson has been a member of the Board at ILR since July 2014, and became Board President in July 2017.
Monieca Jones
Board Member
Monieca Jones
Monieca Jones is a confessed computer enthusiast. She received her Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, and worked on getting a Masters degree in Construction Management. Monieca retired from working as a Healthcare Capital Construction Information Technology Project Manager in 2014 due to multiple sclerosis (MS) flare up.
Professionally, Monieca was employed in the following industries: accounting and banking, brokerage, healthcare, developmentally disabled, mental health, airline, utility, and bookseller industries for over 37 years.
She volunteers for a variety of non-profit organizations fund raising endeavors as a help aid as much as she can. Monieca enjoys contributing financially, but prefers to volunteer in non-monetary endeavors to learn other ways of supporting them.
Monieca is an officer and active member of the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Berkeley, California.
Monieca is also an advent aficionado of music genres.
Monieca has been on the board since June 2017
Sharda Parajuli
Board Member
Sharda Parajuli
Sharda received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree and her double Masters degrees in Public Administration (MPA) from the Public Administration Campus in Kathmandu, Nepal as well as a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Lincoln University in Downtown Oakland, California.
Sharda is a Polio survivor and started advocating for herself in 1998 through the child club in her village. She started her advocacy journey from her village, and has made a remarkable contribution in the field of child rights and advocacy about child rights, equality and disability to the national and international level. Sharda was one of the youths with disability to raise a strong voice about the inclusion policy at the national level. One of her remarkable contributions was a fundraising campaign for Save the Children Norway in 2003 with a close cooperation with Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation where she able to raise $18,456,793.00 for the education of those were deprived of basic education poor countries like Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nepal etc.
Sharda has been one of the source of inspiration for the youth in her community, and has set an example that if an opportunity is given, anything is possible. Despite her disability, being born in a poor and illiterate family, and being a victim of civil war in early 2000, Sharda makes it clear that her disability is not an inability. She has shared her story of struggle in front of thousands of youths in different universities and colleges in Nepal and Norway, and is able to motivate youths in many ways. At the same time, she has made a great contribution to the community, and is an active Board member at a youth lead organization.
Sharda has been a member of the Board at ILR since August 2017.
Limmy Claxton
Board Member
Limmy Claxton
Limmy is a Navy Veteran with a Masters in Social Welfare degree, and works at U.S. Renal Care in Napa, California.
Limmy brings 23+ years of diverse knowledge and experience of working with the disabled and homeless population, to each board meeting. As a Social Worker, Limmy provides the clinical aspect needed to help guide the board in decisions.
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