Inclusion Matters

APRIL 2025

An Advocate for Empowerment and Change

At 61, Tina Fitzgerald stands as a beacon of resilience, dedication, and love for the people around her. She describes herself as someone who has always spoken her mind, advocating for what she believes in from an early age. Her journey of self-advocacy began in elementary school, where she attended her own IEP meetings as early as fifth grade, a rarity for someone so young. Tina’s mother encouraged her to become independent and advocate for herself, a foundation that has shaped Tina into the powerful voice she is today.

Tina’s love for people is evident in everything she does. She believes in the power of connecting with others based on shared experiences, and her life reflects this philosophy. “If we could all relate to people because of the hard things we’ve experienced, wouldn’t the world be a better place?” she asked rhetorically. Tina’s passion for uplifting others is not just a personal belief; it’s a driving force behind her life's work.

Throughout her career, Tina has been a trailblazer in advocating for individuals with disabilities. Remarkably, she did not receive services from OPWDD (Office for People With Developmental Disabilities) until her 40s, a fact that only emphasizes her drive and determination. She aspired to open her own consulting business, where she could use her experience in grant consulting, public speaking, and advocacy to educate and mentor others with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Tina dreams of training people to become self-advocates, empowering them with the tools to build fulfilling, independent lives.

Tina’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Tina calls herself neurodiverse, and says her brain processes information in unique ways. She recalls struggles with math and numbers, but through perseverance, she found ways to make sense of things in her own way. Despite these challenges, Tina never allowed them to define or limit her. In her 20s, when walking became too difficult, she embraced the use of a wheelchair without shame, breaking down the stigma associated with it. Tina has always approached life with a “nothing is impossible” mentality, thanks to the influence of her mother, who treated her as an equal, never letting her disability define her potential.

In addition to the personal obstacles she’s overcome, Tina has also faced significant loss. She was married to the love of her life for 30 years, and after his passing nine years ago, Tina has chosen to remain content, knowing that no one could ever measure up to the man she married. Despite her grief, Tina remains empowered by the memories of their remarkable marriage and the knowledge that he continues to cheer her on.

Today, Tina remains a force for good in her community. She is employed by the Self Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS), serves on the boards of several organizations, is an active member of the Lion’s Club, and volunteers at St. Lucy’s food pantry. She advocates for domestic abuse victims, works with the Statewide Senior Action Program to prevent Medicare fraud, and even helps low-income families get their pets spayed and neutered through her involvement with Fixing to Help CNY. Each of these roles is a testament to her deep commitment to helping others, particularly those in underserved communities.

Tina's contributions extend beyond her volunteer work. She has a degree in special education from SUNY Geneseo and a master’s in social work from Syracuse University. Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly to break down barriers for people with disabilities and to ensure they have access to opportunities – such as employment – that may have been denied to them in the past. She is proud of the work she’s done with SANYS and the Advanced Leadership Program, where she trains others to become leaders in the disability advocacy space.

What makes Tina’s story so inspiring is her unrelenting dedication to improving the lives of others while simultaneously embracing her own journey. Even as she faces the everyday challenges of adaptive equipment and living without close family members nearby, Tina remains optimistic. She is grateful for the support of her dedicated staff, who have become her chosen family. Tina’s approach to life is centered on kindness, compassion, and the belief that no one should ever feel judged for who they are. In her 60s, Tina says she is living her best life, filled with purpose and meaning. She looks at the world with fresh eyes and channels her energy into the projects that matter most to her. “I try to be the heartbeat of the local disabled community,” Tina said, reflecting on the impact she’s had and the changes she continues to advocate for. She hopes to continue to empower others and make the world a better place for everyone, particularly individuals with disabilities, for as long as she is able.

When she’s not advocating for someone or serving her community in some way, Tina enjoys arts and crafts, cooking, staying connected to her church, listening to music, spending time with her dogs, and seeing her friends at Advocates. “Advocates is a no-judgment zone,” Tina said, adding that this is true about her counterparts being served and its 1,300-plus employees. “Everyone I’ve ever met through Advocates is wonderfully kind and compassionate; that’s what brought me to Advocates and that’s why I’ll never leave Advocates.”

Tina Fitzgerald is a shining example of what it means to live with purpose, passion, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Her journey of self-advocacy, her dedication to others, and her indomitable spirit inspire everyone around her. She proves that no matter the challenges we face, we can overcome them and create a life filled with meaning, connection, and impact.

Do you have a friend or family member who

would make a great Mentor?

If so, please encourage them to apply on our website.

We look forward to meeting them!

We hope you'll join us on Thursday, April 24th from

4-8pm for our next Dine For Dollars event at Panera Bread, located at 404 Towne Drive in Fayetteville.

Panera will generously donate 25% of all pre-tax sales back to Advocates. To ensure Advocates receives credit, simply present this advertisement (either printed or on your mobile phone) while dining in.

On behalf of our individuals, families, and employees, thank you for your anticipated support! We hope to see you there!

Join us for Advocates night at the Syracuse Crunch!

Our final Advocates-sponsored Syracuse Crunch game of the 2024-2025 season is Apr. 19th! People/families receiving services from Advocates along with employees are invited to join us at 7pm that evening as the Syracuse Crunch take on the Utica Comets.

Discount tickets ($20) can be purchased by contacting

Annika Tyson: (315) 473-4444 ext. 126 or online at: www.syracusecrunch.com/advocates using promotional code: ADVOCATES

Help make our 7th Annual event our best one yet!

Join us on Saturday, May 17th

to run, walk, stroll, or roll for Advocates! Advocates' Annual Stroll & Roll 5K will be held at Onondaga Lake Park (Willow Bay, 3858 Long Branch Road, Liverpool, NY 13090.)

The race begins at 10:00 am. There will be food trucks, live entertainment, family games, face painting, and snacks. The top three winners will receive a cash prize. Register before April 4th for the early bird pricing of $30!

All proceeds will benefit people with disabilities.

We hope to see you there!

In conjunction with the 5K event, Advocates will be running an online auction, featuring getaways to tropical destinations, gift cards to local restaurants, various items provided by many local supporters of Advocates, and much more! For those unable to join us the day of the race, participating in the online auction is a fun and resourceful way to contribute to this great cause. 

On Monday, March 10th, Advocates hosted its annual Bingo event for people receiving services! More than 100 people and their Mentors/family members joined us for an afternoon of friendship, snacks, prizes, and of course, lots of Bingo action.

We thank everyone who attended, our staff who helped facilitate the event, and St. Ann's Church in Manlius for hosting us!

On Friday, March 14th, Advocates held its annual Winter Party & Information Fair at Le Moyne College. Many people we support, their family members and Mentors, community members, and vendors joined us for an evening of friendship, food, entertainment, and connecting with various resources in our area! Advocates would like to thank Le Moyne College for hosting the event, all of our attendees, and the many vendors who dedicated their time!

We also send our sincere thanks to the Advocates employees who coordinated the event, as well as those who graciously volunteered their time. We couldn’t have done it without your collective efforts!

Did you know?

Advocates' Executive Director, Amy Dugliss, and Self-Advocate, Nicholas Courgi, collaborate each month to bring you an Advocates-themed podcast! The Inclusion Matters Podcast can be found by searching "Inclusion Matters Advocates" on Amazon Music and Spotify.

We hope you'll tune in monthly to hear inspiring stories from Advocates!

In case you missed it

Check out a previous edition's spotlight on mentor, Melvin Ocasio. Advocates thanks you for all you do, Melvin!