Donna Colonna

 

DONNA COLONNA joined SUS in January 1997 and was appointed President/CEO in January 2002. Ms Colonna has dedicated her entire career to creating opportunities and services for individuals with disabilities having begun her career in 1974 as a live in house parent for Catholic Charities in a group home for individuals with mental retardation from Willowbrook State School. This experience shaped her philosophy, beliefs and her career path. After leaving Catholic Charities, Ms. Colonna joined the League School for children with special needs and developed their first residence for young adults with severe autism and challenging behaviors, and their first vocational program for young adults graduating from the school.

For eight years during the late seventies through the mid eighties Ms. Colonna worked for OMRDD and then OMH NYC regional offices as part of a small team of individuals who created the beginnings of community-based services for individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities and individuals with mental illness. (OMRDD was then a newly formed State agency separated from the NYS Office of Mental Hygiene, created in response to the landmark federal court mandate requiring the closing of Willowbrook.) OMH later recruited Ms. Colonna to develop a State response to the need for community residential programs for individuals with mental illness.
 
After leaving the State, Ms. Colonna was the Chief Operating Officer of a not-for-profit (PSCH) that provided services for individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities and individuals with mental illness. During her 12 year tenure there, she developed $35 million of services--specialty health and habilitation clinics, day programs, employment programs including a consumer-run business, residences and in-home case management and habilitation services. Just prior to joining SUS, she consulted for UCP/NYC to help improve and expand their Article 28 health clinics for individuals with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities.
 
Over the years Ms. Colonna has served in industry leadership positions in statewide and NYC trade associations and has served on numerous government committees that have shaped policy and program implementation. She served on the Association for Community Living (ACL--a statewide mental health association) board for 10 years and as President of ACL. She has also served on the board of NYAPRS (NYS Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services–a statewide consumer/provider advocacy group). She is currently on the boards of the InterAgency Council of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Agencies and the Coalition for Behavioral Health Care. Both are important trade associations each representing about 150 service providers.
 
Ms. Colonna holds a B.A. degree from Hunter College and an M.S. from Pace University. 
 
Throughout her career she has been a vocal advocate for the rights and services for consumers.