About PA SILC

Matthew Seeley has been involved in the Independent Living movement for the past 12 years. After a life-changing car accident and subsequent rehabilitation in a nursing home, Matthew graduated Magna Cum Laude from DeSales University in Center Valley Pennsylvania in 2004, with a degree in Political Science. Not long thereafter, Seeley settled down in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he began his professional career as an advocate for people with disabilities. Seeley first began working for the PASILC as Policy Coordinator where he coordinated the activities of PASILC disability policy committees to effect positive change for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. During this period, Seeley also was appointed as the PASILC representative to the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council where his advocacy helped individuals with disabilities get back to work through the services of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Matthew left the PASILC in 2007 to attend Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Attorney Seeley earned his Juris Doctorate in 2010 and was admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the New Jersey Supreme Court and the United States District Court of New Jersey. During Attorney Seeley’s legal career, he spent time as an Assistant District Attorney, a Criminal Defense Attorney as well as doing other pro bono work. In 2014, Seeley’s path led him back towards Independent Living and he was appointed to serve as a board member to both the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council and again to the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council. In early 2015, Matthew’s career came full circle as he was hired by the PASILC as Executive Director.

Corrine Dietrich is no stranger to the Independent Living community. A former board member of the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (Pa SILC), she now returns to the organization in the role of Operations Manager. Corrine began her career in 2009 at Abilities in Motion, where she developed a strong foundation in the Independent Living Philosophy. She has since applied this knowledge across multiple fields, including Intellectual Disability services and the Juvenile Justice system.

A lifelong Pennsylvanian, Corrine earned her degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences. She currently lives in Mohnton, Berks County, with her husband, three children, and a lively zoo of animals.

Jeff Iseman returned in early 2019 as the Public Policy & Outreach Coordinator for PA SILC after serving in a similar role for ten years (2007-2017). He has been an active member of NCIL’s subcommittees and various state groups. Other areas of focus have included PA Transportation Alliance, Disability Budget Coalition and various other stakeholder groups related to Pennsylvania disability public policy (including housing; employment; home and community based services; voting; and other IL issues).

Jeff is a lifelong Pennsylvanian and graduate of Shippensburg University Masters in Public Administration (MPA) graduate and Grove City College (B.A). In 2005, he relocated to Central PA after living in SWPA following a short stint in SEPA. Prior to the PA SILC, Iseman worked at The Arc of PA in Public Policy & Systems Advocacy and for Congresswoman Melissa Hart as a Constituent Services Representative. Jeff has also served as Direct Supports Staff in the mental health, intellectual and physical disabilities / seniors HCBS systems. He also has had interim roles with PA Partnerships for Children, Disability Rights PA and CIL of North Central PA.

Brenda Dare grew up in Western Pennsylvania in the 80s and 90s. Much of her early childhood was spent in the residential component of what is now The Rehabilitation Institute of Pittsburgh. It was there that her journey as an advocate began. She learned that speaking up for herself and others helped to create change. Whether it was choices available in the cafeteria or activities that happened on the weekends, she helped fellow residents get more of what they wanted.

At home in Washington Pennsylvania, she was the first fully mainstreamed student in her school district. At the beginning of third grade, she successfully advocated for the right to travel school hallways without an escort. She went on to attend Edinboro University and begin her career in earnest at Three Rivers Center for Independent Living in the mid-1990s. There, she was a founding member of Pennsylvania first statewide advocacy collaborative project known as the Statewide Action Team (SWAT). In that role, she helped lead the effort to bring shared ride to all 67 Pennsylvania counties. She has also worked for Transitional Paths Independent Living where she further her honed skills as an advocate and a speaker. She has presented at national and international conferences on a variety of disability rights subjects.

She began her new role with Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council in February 2024 with the goal of creating a more equitable service system across all diagnoses and age groups.

She has also recently discovered a passion for creating art, primarily focused on fluid acrylics. She is an avid reader and fosters for several western Pennsylvania animal rescues. She loves live music shows, laughter, and good coffee.