Lisa Sistare-Harkins
My name is Lisa Sistare-Harkins. I have been working at Walton Options for Independent Living for 6 years. I was on the Board of Directors for 15 years and the Chairman for 3 years. At some point, I also became a consumer. I like to think this gives me a unique perspective on what we do, having seen it from all sides.
I am the TTW (Ticket to Work) coordinator, ILA (Independent Living Advocate) for consumers with vocational goals, and an Options Counselor for the Nursing Home Transition program.
I have also been a part of the Living Well in the Community program for several years having facilitated 3 types of classes, hybrid, zoom, and in person. Currently, I have been assisting with University of Montana’s Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities Research studies. I have also assisted with University of Montana’s Rural Institute on Disabilities for a safety awareness program for women with disabilities which focused on domestic violence. I enjoy facilitating these programs because I get to see the progress made each week by the participants. Most of them seem to be more comfortable and confident as we progress through the weeks. This also is a great fit for me since I am a certified Life Coach!
Prior to working at Walton Options, I have always been involved with some form of advocacy, teaching, volunteering, and peer support and I hope to continue to do all of those things through my job and through facilitating these Living Well in the Community classes. The whole message that comes from the class perfectly fits with our goal to help people live, work, and play in their communities as independently as possible.