Irene Souada
Founder and Executive Director, Support Broker
Irene Souada has dedicated her life to assisting people with disabilities in accessing community resources and support. Growing up in Brooklyn, NY, with a Venezuelan mother and Costa Rican father, she experienced firsthand the challenges faced by English as a second language speakers, including discriminatory attitudes and practices in healthcare. These experiences, where healthcare professionals sometimes assumed she didn't speak English or wasn't in a leadership position, strengthened her resolve to ensure equitable access to services for everyone. A significant challenge she actively addresses is the common practice of sharing information exclusively in English and primarily via email. She consistently advocates for language access across all government and social service sectors. Her advocacy extends beyond interpreting and translating resources into Spanish; she champions sharing information in all languages commonly used in Maryland, including sign language and various print formats. Irene is a member of the Maryland Commission of the Department of Disabilities and Secretary of the Maryland Equity Coalition of People with Disabilities. She is also a former member of the Developmental Disabilities Council and has participated in Developmental Disabilities Administration focus groups, discussing the impact of policies on Latino communities. Irene is the founder and Executive Director of Choice and Control Inc., an organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities in leading their own services through coaching and mentoring, with a particular focus on marginalized communities to ensure they receive the same information and can make informed choices.
Mimi Souada
Director of Operations (Central and Eastern Maryland Regions), Support Broker
Mimi is Co-Director of Operations and has been a Support Broker since 2020. She has lifelong experience learning, volunteering, and working in Maryland Self-Directed Services; as well as lived experience advocating for herself and with others within academic disability services. With a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, and History, Mimi brings an analytical and unique approach to the twists and turns of SDS. Having grown up in a Latino and North African household, she deeply values community care and action. Mimi is committed to providing culturally competent services to her customers and standing together for equitable access.
Brenda Villalta
Director of Operations (Western and Southern Maryland Regions), Support Broker
Brenda Villalta is the Co-Director of Operations at Choice and Control, Inc. and has worked as a Support Broker since 2022. With over a decade of experience in the special education and disability community, she is passionate about empowering individuals and families through education and advocacy. Brenda is bilingual in Spanish and committed to making services accessible and inclusive for all.
Kiona Cloud
Support Broker
Kiona is a compassionate and approachable Support Broker who’s new to the Choice and Control team. With a background in customer-centered guidance, she’s ready to help individuals feel supported, heard, and confident in directing their own services.
Yaz Souada
Support Broker, Administrative Assistant
I’m a part-time support broker living in the Central Region of Maryland. I work towards making sure our customers receive the supports they need by providing administrative/clerical assistance for our brokering team. I hope to one day become a web developer by studying different coding languages, such as Java and Python.