Meet a DSF Archive

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Previously Featured DSFs

Edmund Asiedu, N Y C D O T D S F, seated in a wheelchair, wearing a suit with a big smile.
Edmund Asiedu,
ADA Coordinator and Accessibility Policy Analyst

NYC Department of Transportation

Who I Am

I am a blend of my experiences, passions, and the values I hold dear. I strive for personal growth, constantly seeking knowledge and new challenges. I value integrity, kindness, and resilience, and these principles guide both my personal and professional life. I am deeply passionate about accessibility and disability inclusion advocacy, which allows me to express my support and find fulfillment. Professionally, I am the ADA Coordinator and Accessibility Policy Advisor at the NYC DOT, committed to making meaningful contributions towards making NYC accessible and disability inclusive. I find joy in connecting with others, learning from diverse perspectives, and contributing to something bigger than myself. At the end of the day, I see myself as a work in progress—someone always evolving, learning, and becoming the best version of who I am meant to be.

What I Do

As the ADA Coordinator, I do the following, and much more:

  • Ensure compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations
  • Serve as a liaison between people with disabilities and the NYC DOT
  • Conduct accessibility audits
  • Resolve complaints
  • Collaborate with other City agencies such as the Department of Parks and Recreation

Fun Fact

I am a pro handcyclist and completed my 11th NYC Marathon in 2024.

Edmund, seated in a handcycle and sporting a yellow jacket and racing bib, gives a thumbs up on race day.

Sara is seated in front of some pink and white flowers and is smiling with grey-brown hair and freckles on her cheeks wearing a white and navy-dotted shirt and a black puffy jacket.
Sara Cobb,
Disability Service Facilitator and Special Counsel/FEMA Recovery

NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA)

Who I Am

In the original class of Disability Service Facilitators of 2016, I first worked with the City when I interned with HPD in the summer of 1975 (fifty years ago!) and think of my career since then as being alternately inside, outside and alongside the public sector and City government. I’ve been passionate about most of my roles – including especially, representing children in foster care while at Lawyers for Children in the 1980s, leading the City’s childcare and Head Start programs in 2004, and most recently serving as Disability Service Facilitator for the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) over the past 9 years.

What I Do

I think of Disability Service Facilitator (DSF) as a civil rights role, and I am grateful to have been charged with supporting the rights of people with disabilities and helping to promote access and inclusion for all. Within the agency structure of City government, the citywide network of DSFs also represents a vibrant group of colleagues who share knowledge and support each other in addressing and advancing access and inclusion.

Additionally, there’s been a critical linkage between the two ‘hats’ I wear at DCLA – DSF and FEMA recovery specialist – since there is key linkage between emergency management and disaster recovery for all and disaster preparedness for people with disabilities. Like all efforts to support access and inclusion, considering methods in advance promotes success when disaster strikes – which may seem self-evident, but also entails significant planning and focus. As well, regarding the extraordinary cultural offerings of this city, supporting and promoting access to the arts for all is a wonderfully compelling charge.

Fun Fact

I was appointed to Manhattan’s Community Board #4 (Chelsea/Clinton) in the late 1970s (then as the Board’s youngest member!). As I now prepare to leave DCLA at the end of January (as one of the more senior DSFs!), I want to introduce Claire Hart, Assistant General Counsel for DCLA, who has been appointed as DCLA’s second DSF. As I leave the agency, I look forward to continuing to promote access and inclusion in future roles and projects and will plan to use all I’ve seen and learned as DSF in my next adventures!

Mandi with long, curly brown hair and glasses smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black open-arm top and a silver necklace with a rectangular pendant. Her background is a gradient of light pink to soft purple. She is seated in a wheelchair, which is slightly visible behind her.
Amanda "Mandi" Alvarado,
Director of Accessibility and Disability Services Facilitator

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

Who I Am

As a disability justice advocate and leader, I draw from my lived experience as a disabled woman within the LGBTQ+ community to offer a rich understanding of intersectionality. I am certified in Nonprofit Leadership and Management by the Institute of Nonprofit Practice and have 18 years experience serving in leadership roles for inclusion-based organizations. In an effort to expand my advocacy influence, I transitioned to my current role as the Director of Accessibility and Disability Services Facilitator at the NYC Health Department. I look forward to ensuring the needs of all disabled New Yorkers are considered in our public health programs and services.

What I Do

While my position allows me to wear many hats, my main responsibilities include:

  • Lead the development, implementation, and progress of the agency's Five-Year Accessibility Plan
  • Provide disability justice trainings to agency divisions and bureaus to help shift workplace culture
  • Develop agency policies and procedures to ensure full programmatic and communication accessibility for persons with disabilities

Fun Fact

I love going to karaoke with my friends and my go-to karaoke song is "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys.