Description
The Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) established the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee (DDAC) in January of 2020 to provide a venue for members to give advice and recommendations on the activities of the Division and the Illinois DD service system.
More specifically, committee members:
- Provide feedback on policy and processes that the Division is implementing.
- Participate and/or establish smaller work-groups meant to create new policy, processes, training and/or other deliverables that will positively impact the service system. These work-groups will bring in additional individuals not currently seated on the Advisory Committee that can best inform the topic or work-group need.
- Assist the Division in obtaining feedback from individuals with I/DD in order to better inform services.
Advisory Committee Requirements
Training Requirements for this Board/Commission/Committee/Task Force.
Meetings
Meetings will be held at least quarterly and will be held by video/telephone conference. The DDAC are open meetings.
2025 Meetings
Membership
Appointments were made by the Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities based on an application process. The DDAC is comprised of individuals with DD, family members, stakeholders, association representatives, Independent Service Coordination Agencies (ISCs), advocates, provider staff and members of the Division, as well as staff representing other areas within IDHS or across agencies. Appointments of association representatives, Division staff and other departmental staff will be ongoing. Appointments of individuals with DD, family members, stakeholders, advocates, ISCs and provider staff will last 3 years, with the ability to renew.
Member Biographies
Name |
Affiliation |
Nicol Beaumont |
Subject Matter Expert |
Tyson Bedford |
Self Advocate |
Mike Bibo |
Trade Rep. |
Helen Blackburn |
Provider |
Stephanie Brown |
Family Advocate |
Kathy Carmody |
Trade Rep. |
Lisa Cesal |
Self-Advocate |
Dan Coffey |
Subject Matter Expert |
Sharon Costabile |
Family Advocate |
Diedre Foote |
Provider |
Hollis Gorrie |
Provider |
JJ Hanley |
IDHS |
Curtis Harris |
Self-Advocate |
Kristen Huffman-Gottschling |
Provider |
Omar Khan |
Provider |
Craig Laskowski |
Provider |
Amie Lulinski |
Association Rep. |
Susan Mack-Hans |
Family Advocate |
Abbi Mars |
Family Advocate |
Kimberly Mercer-Schleider |
IDHS |
Cynthia Mester |
IDHS |
Leanne Mull |
Subject Matter Expert |
Megan Mutti |
Family Advocate/Association Rep. |
Beth Owens |
Trade Rep. |
Zoubida Pasha |
Family Advocate |
Bob Peterson |
Self Advocate |
Shirley Perez |
Family Advocate/Association Rep. |
Abby Schindler |
Subject Matter Expert |
Gabriela Sierra Marquez |
Parent Advocate/Provider |
Shenita Sledge |
Family Advocate |
Vincent Smith |
Self Advocate |
Benjamin Stortz |
Provider |
Susan Wild |
Provider |
Pamela Winsel |
IDHS |
Adam Wiser |
Self Advocate |
IDHS Administrative Support
Developmental Disability Advisory Committee Contact: Megan Brennan. Please email DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov and you will be directed to her email.
Webpage last updated on 01/07/2025..