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2026 National APSE Board of Directors At-Large

Please describe your history/nature of involvement/interest in promoting competitive integrated employment in your state. Additionally, explain why you are passionate about competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities:

Throughout my professional and community work, I have been deeply committed to advancing competitive, integrated employment (CIE) for people with disabilities across Maryland. My involvement has included advocacy at both the state and regional levels, collaboration with service providers and policymakers, and active engagement with organizations focused on employment equity and systems change. I have worked to promote policies and practices that move our state away from segregated employment models and toward meaningful, community-based employment opportunities where people with disabilities earn competitive wages alongside peers without disabilities. As a leader within APSE and in broader disability and workforce initiatives, I have supported conversations that center informed choice, equity, and real pathways to career advancement—not just job placement. My passion for competitive, integrated employment is rooted in a fundamental belief that employment is about dignity, independence, and belonging. Work provides more than a paycheck; it offers identity, purpose, and full participation in community life. People with disabilities deserve the same opportunities for career growth, financial stability, and professional fulfillment as anyone else. I am particularly driven by the inequities that still exist—where individuals are too often underestimated or funneled into low-wage or segregated settings. I believe strongly that expectations matter. When we raise expectations and invest in individualized supports, people thrive. Competitive, integrated employment is not simply a policy goal—it is a civil rights issue. I remain committed to strengthening partnerships across state agencies, providers, families, and self-advocates to ensure Maryland continues progressing toward an employment-first culture where every individual has the opportunity to contribute their talents in inclusive workplaces.

What best represents your position/lived experience?

Service Provider or Manager

What skills, knowledge, or lived experience do you have that will contribute to strengthening and growing the financial health of APSE and promoting its mission to advance employment and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities?

I bring a strong combination of leadership, relationship-building, and systems-level advocacy that will contribute meaningfully to strengthening and growing the financial health of APSE while advancing its mission of competitive, integrated employment for all people with disabilities. Through my involvement in state and regional advocacy efforts, I have developed a deep understanding of Employment First principles, public policy, and the funding structures that support disability services. I understand how Medicaid, vocational rehabilitation, workforce development systems, and community providers intersect—and how strategic alignment across these systems can drive sustainable growth and impact. My experience cultivating partnerships is one of my greatest assets. I have successfully engaged stakeholders across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, service providers, employers, and self-advocates. This collaborative approach is essential to strengthening APSE’s membership base, expanding sponsorship opportunities, and increasing visibility within the broader workforce and disability communities. I believe that financial health is directly tied to meaningful engagement and clear value for members. In addition, I bring strong communication and outreach skills. I’m comfortable facilitating conversations, building consensus, and energizing stakeholders around a shared vision. My ability to articulate the importance of competitive, integrated employment as both a civil rights and economic issue positions APSE to attract new allies and supporters. My lived experience working alongside individuals with disabilities and families fuels my commitment to long-term sustainability. I understands that advancing employment and self-sufficiency requires not only advocacy but also organizational stability and responsible stewardship of resources. I’m committed to helping APSE grow strategically—expanding membership, strengthening partnerships, increasing sponsorships, and ensuring financial sustainability—so the organization can keep continue leading the movement toward equitable employment opportunities nationwide.

How do you think serving on the National APSE Board will help you grow as a leader in the Employment First Movement?

Serving on the National APSE Board would help me grow as a more strategic and impactful leader within the Employment First movement. Engaging at the national level would broaden my understanding of how different states implement policies, fund services, and advance competitive, integrated employment. Learning from diverse models and experienced leaders would deepen my knowledge of best practices and innovative approaches. Board service would also strengthen my skills in governance, financial stewardship, and long-term strategic planning. It would challenge me to think beyond state-level efforts and contribute to sustainable, nationwide solutions that promote employment equity. Most importantly, collaborating with advocates, self-advocates, policymakers, and providers across the country would sharpen my ability to build consensus and lead systems change. This experience would enhance my capacity to advance Employment First principles both in Maryland and nationally, ensuring greater opportunity and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.

Biography

Patricia Sastoque is a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of experience across complex health, child welfare, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) systems. As Chief Programs Officer at Makom, she serves as the senior programmatic leader, overseeing the full continuum of services for adults with IDD in Maryland and Northern Virginia. She leads four Program Directors and is responsible for strategy, quality, compliance, fiscal stewardship, and workforce development, ensuring services remain person-centered, innovative, and outcomes-driven. Previously at CareSource, Patricia led the development and implementation of Medicaid-financed long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs across multiple markets, advancing home- and community-based services and promoting meaningful community integration. She also brings extensive child welfare experience, supporting youth with complex behavioral and developmental needs and coordinating successful transitions from detention and institutional settings into stable, family-based environments. As former Director of the Developmental Disabilities Administration for the Maryland Department of Health, Patricia led large-scale systems transformation, strengthened provider oversight, and expanded self-direction, housing, and employment opportunities. A strong champion of Employment First, she helped ensure competitive, integrated employment remained central to Maryland’s service system and played a key role in the state’s designation as a Technology First State. Patricia began her career as a direct support professional and job coach, grounding her leadership in frontline experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and a master’s degree in health science, and remains deeply committed to advancing person-centered systems that promote inclusion, opportunity, and meaningful community life.