New York State
Inclusive Recreation Resource Center

Now Featuring.... Fran Pizzola & Rob Ferri

Fran Pizzola has been advocating for people with disabilities for over 20 years.  Although advocacy was not her first career choice, she became an advocate out of personal necessity. While in college, Fran sustained a spinal cord injury and needed to find accessible routes around her home of Cortland, NY.  In 1996 she started a grassroots organization to advance accessibility for people with disabilities, which later became Access to Independence of Cortland County. Today Fran is the Program Coordinator of Access to Independence and has worked to get multiple laws changed for people with disabilities. Access to Independence is a independent living center offering multiple services including equipment loans, advocacy services, architectural barrier/ ADA consulting, independent living programs, and transitional programs for youth.  As program coordinator, Fran works with people on achieving health and wellness and sees recreation as an important part of health. If someone comes to her for help and they are not in her region, Fran will find someone in their network to help them. Fran wants the community to know that Access to Independence is a community resource and encourages people to come to the center for information. Fran’s goal is to keep people healthy and independent and will work with people to help find solutions and resources for accessibility. 

Rob Ferri did not plan on becoming an advocate for people with disabilities either, but after breaking his back while working construction he became involved in helping people with disabilities find jobs through New York’s Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID). He found that architectural barriers were a main issue and decided to use his background in construction to find ways to remove the barriers. Rob is now the Architectural Barriers Specialist at Access to Independence. He provides technical assistance to the community through architectural barrier consultations.  A major project he is working on right now is the Access to Home Grant, which provides funding for modifications to individual’s homes so that they can stay in their homes independently and safely.  Just a few of the places Rob has helped become more accessible include Greek Peak’s Hope Lake Lodge, Cortland Country Music Park, Lime Hollow’s Trail for All, SUNY Cortland Alumni House and the Tioughnioga River trail.

Among all the great work they do, Fran and Rob have also been important assets to the NYSIRRC.  Fran has an interest in the NYSIRRC because of her love of travel and recreation. She is excited to use the center’s website for travel information. Fran and Rob took the very first Inclusion U training and since, Fran has helped to assess Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture as well as Shipwreck Miniature Golf.  Rob incorporates Inclusion U ideas into his everyday assessments.  The NYSIRRC is grateful to Fran and Rob for their assistance, knowledge and support. We look forward to continuing working with them in the future. Please find out more about Access to Independence, Fran and Rob at www.aticortland.org.