Since 1979, Sid has spearheaded Community Access Unlimited. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in Psychology. Working within the social services field for 35 years with extensive experience within the area of Mental Retardation, Sid still has the desire to teach, learn, and contribute to society.
Mercedes is responsible for agency-wide program and departmental operations. Mercedes is a Certified Special Education Teacher who has worked in the social service field for over 20 years. Her employment with Community Access Unlimited began in 1982 as a part-time Paraprofessional assisting six men and women who spent most of their lives in state institutions. She was then promoted to a supervisory role a year later in the Plainfield Supervised Apartment Program.
DD Support Services
Bernadette graduated from East Carolina University with a dual degree in Elementary Education and Family/Community Services. Her career began with writing Independent Living Skills curricula for disabled adults and at-risk youth. She later became actively involved with the advocacy movement within Community Access Unlimited. Bernadette continued on to teach Independent Living and Anger Management skills at the Union County Jail in Elizabeth, NJ. She then became involved with the Developmentally Disabled services aspect of Community Access Unlimited, which led to her most recent position of Assistant Executive Director over DD Support Services. Bernadette is dedicated to enhancing the members’ quality of life and providing members with life skills that will allow them to live independently in the community.
Andrea Betts
Assistant Executive Director of DD Residential Programs
Andrea graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a B.A. in Psychology. She has been working in the field of Social Services for eight years, and like many, started at the bottom and has worked her way up. Andrea began working with the developmentally disabled population as a part-time morning driver during her first year of college. She found she loved the field and that part-time job paved the way for her career. She changed her college major from Business to Psychology and hasn’t looked back. Since then, she has held several different Social Services positions and has taken graduate courses to further her knowledge in the field. She started her career with Community Access Unlimited in 2006 as a Director, and in 2007 she was promoted to Assistant Executive Director. Andrea is dedicated to her job and looks forward to continuing to learn and grow as she works with her members to help them do the same.
Anil Singh
Assistant Executive Director
Anil has been in the social work field for 24 years and directly working with individuals with disabilities for the last 12 years. He has a Master of Arts in Social work and a diploma in Social Development Program. He started working with the DD population as an Asst. Coordinator and after one year got promoted to Unit Manager’s position of a Supervised and Supportive living program due to his dedication and hard work. He received the NJACP leadership award in 2002 for maintaining high ethical standards in his job performance and leadership skills. Anil joined CAU in Dec’06 as the Director of Residential Services and got promoted to Assistant Executive Director in June’08. Anil is a strong advocate for individuals w/ disabilities and constantly provides support to them to live in the community with the respect they truly deserve.
Asya Siddiq
Assistant Executive Director
Asya began her career in social services as a manager in a group home setting. She has been in the social service field for the past eight years. She received her Bachelor of Art in Psychology degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2002. She received her Master of Art in Social Work in May of 07. Her employment began at CAU as a Coordinator in DD Services. She then went on to act as Assistant Director, Director and now Assistant Executive Director for our DD support services program. Asya’s focus is on empowering people with developmental disabilities to reach their maximum potential.
Sheila McDowell
Assistant Executive Director
DD Support Services
DD Support Services Sheila has direct managerial and programmatic responsibilities for DD Services. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Upsala College and has served in the field of social services for over 14 years. Her career at Community Access Unlimited began in 1996 as the coordinator of the Roselle 1 Supervised Apartment Program. Since then, she has consistently taken on more responsibility and used her expertise to move into the position she holds now of Assistant Executive Director. Her focus is assisting individuals in improving the quality of their lives and providing quality services to all persons with disabilities
Tanya Johnson
Senior Assistant Executive Director
Youth Services
With over 14 years of experience in the field of Social Work in various positions, Tanya began as a Childcare Worker at the Berea Children's Home in Berea, Ohio. After relocating to the Tri-State area in 1998 Tanya began her career at Community Access Unlimited as a Coordinator. In 2000 she was promoted to Assistant Director. Shortly thereafter, she took the opportunity to become the Director of the program. In May 2005 Tanya was promoted to Senior Director and then to Assistant Executive Director over Youth Services on January 30, 2006.