Speaker's Bureau Bios

Bradley Kneuppel

Bradley is 39 nine years old and has been a member of the FREE family for 10 years. Known affectionately to the Agency as the “Governor”, Bradley currently works for Saddle Rock Ranch and at the Lincoln residence caring for the animals. Currently, Bradley is attending several Career Fairs in the community to recruit people for volunteerism, employment and internship opportunities where he advocates for the agency, FREE Your Mind, and their mission to change the world.

Monique Medina

Monique is 27 years old and has been a member of the FREE family for 9 years. Known affectionately to her staff as the “First Lady” of FREE, she is extremely involved with the Bethpage Theater Program and Choir and is a strong advocate for our individuals that cannot advocate for themselves. Monique’s desire in life is to become at teacher.

Anthony Urbano

Anthony is a full time employee in the Accounting Department at FREE. He is 34 years old. Anthony has Cerebral Palsy and has joined the Speaker’s Bureau not only as a support to our individuals, but also to educate the world to not assume that everyone who has a disability is the same. Everyone person is unique, no matter what their needs are and they should not be judged simply by their differing abilities.

Megan Oberting

Megan is 33 years old and going strong. As a child, doctors told her parents she was not going to survive. Today, Megan works at TJMAXX, is part of the Speaker’s Bureau, volunteers in the community and set a precedent in NY State by becoming the first Special Olympics athlete to become a coach. Megan coaches track and field and has 70 athletes on her team. Megan hopes that by speaking to the greater community, people will see how much she has to offer the world and will want to get to know her, not just walk away.

Michael Brennan

Michael Brennan is 23 years old and has Down Syndrome. Michael is very open about his Down’s Syndrome, however, he wonders why people think this should stop him from doing all the things he enjoys. Michael is a member of the Theater Program in Bethpage and has been speaking in classrooms in the community as well as working closely with the National Foundation for Human Potential. This year, Michael was the first person with a disability to win the 40 under 40 Achievement Award. Michael just moved into his “own place” with 5 other roommates and is loving every minute of it!

Timmy Wiggins

Tim just turned a golden age of 50 but has so much energy and ambition that you would think he was 19! Timmy is an employee of the Maintenance Department at FREE and states that if it wasn’t for him, the entire place would fall apart! Timmy struggled through his child and early adulthood at different places he lived. He is very open about his experiences there and is thrilled to be living at his group home. When asked what it feels like to have all the rights of everyone else in the world now that he lives with us...he responds...he feels FREE.

Anthony Galatro

As Anthony puts it, he is “30 something –ish”. Anthony suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury at the age of 19 which changed his life forever. After years of therapy and rehabilitation, Anthony has beaten the odds. When first injured, his friends and family hoped only that he would survive...but he has thrived! Anthony currently lives in his own apartment in downtown Port Jefferson. He works at FREE in several different departments and teaches part of Orientation with the Education and Training Department. Anthony’s hopes for the future are to have a family of his own and to take the Speaker’s Bureau across the nation. He states WE are making the difference.