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.
2024 Meetings
Membership
Appointments were made by the Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities based on an application process. The DAC 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 |
| Tyson Bedford |
Self-Advocate |
| Mike Bibo |
The Center |
| Kathy Carmody |
The Institute on Public Policy |
| Shawna Egan |
Family |
| Joe Ferrara |
Misericordia Homes |
| Timotheus Gordon |
Self-Advocate |
| JJ Hanley |
ABLE - IL. State Treasurer's Office |
| Doris Hayes |
EPIC! |
| Sherry Healey |
Community Access Naperville |
| Hollis Gorrie |
Clearbrook |
| Kristen Huffman-Gottschling |
PACTT Learning Center |
| Kimberly Johnson |
Chicago Public Schools |
| Dawn Lamp |
Coleman Tri-County Services |
| Craig Laskowski |
So. IL. Association of Rehabilitation Facilities |
| Merlin Lehman |
Family |
| Amie Lulinski |
The Arc of Illinois |
| Sheila Lullo |
Clearbrook |
| Kimberly Mercer-Schleider |
IL. Council on Developmental Disabilities |
| Leanne Mull |
Blue Tower Solutions |
| Carl Nave |
Self-Advocate |
| Shelley Peck |
Family |
| John Pingo |
Goldie B. Floberg Center |
| Eric Robke |
Community Link |
| Mary Kaye Spidel |
So. IL. Case Coordination Services |
| Deb Stanley |
Suburban Access |
| Melanie Stith |
Family |
| Kaitlin Stober |
University of IL. at Chicago |
| Ben Stortz |
Cornerstone Services |
| Patty Walters |
Developmental Services Center |
| Lea Whitney |
Supporting IL. Brothers & Sisters (S.I.B.S.) |
IDHS Administrative Support
Developmental Disability Advisory Committee Contact: Megan Brennan - megan.brennan@illinois.gov; (217) 986-1187.
