Wendy L. Hersh
president
Wendy L. Hersh, President of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association is a Nat’l Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Licensed Mental Health Counselor, who has resided on Roosevelt Island since 1977. She has a BA in Sociology/Psychology from the University of Hartford and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from New York University. She is a former President and board member of both the Metro chapter of the National Rehabilitation Association and New York State National Rehabilitation Counseling Association. She has been working as a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for NY State since 2001 and spearheads a Vocational Downstate Reentry Pilot. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Roosevelt Island Carter Burden Senior Center and she enjoys giving back to her community. She believes in collaboration with other agencies to obtain the best services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities as no one agency can provide all services to individuals.
Nancy Brown
Vice President
Nancy Brown, The former Vice President of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association for more than 30 years, was born in 1941 in Greenwich Village, New York. Nancy Brown contracted polio when she was seven years old and received education at home and graduated from Washington Irving High School. Nancy married Tom Brown when she was 23 and they moved into their own apartment on Roosevelt Island in 1976 after living in Goldwater Hospital for 11 years.
Mary Coleman
Recording Secretary & Treasurer
Mary Coleman serves as Recording Secretary as well as treasurer for RIDA. Mary is a 12-year retired Service Coordinator from AT&T. Mary also serves on the Bird S. Coler Hospital Auxiliary Board as a voting member, and is a member of the Carter Burden RI Senior Center Auxiliary Council serving as Recording Secretary. Mary is an all around volunteer person helping wherever she can.
Mary’s Motto: Everyday reach out and touch someone, shift the focus from yourself to others. People love a warm smile, light conversation or just a pat on the back. Good deeds go a long way and good deeds are good for your soul.