Overview
The Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC) was established pursuant to section 13.05 of the Mental Hygiene Law. The Council is comprised of self-advocates, family members, provider representatives, and other stakeholders; the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State; provider associations and provider councils; the Statewide Family Support Services Committee; the County and Local Mental Hygiene Directors; and the Real Choice Systems Committee.
The DDAC, which began in this iteration in Spring of 2012, is a workgroup that meets quarterly and is designed to oversee and guide the development of the new waiver and assist OPWDD and its stakeholders define the system reforms the waiver will achieve. The DDAC has specific subcommittees that have responsibility for particular areas, including self-direction and managed care implementation.
The DDAC provides recommendations for statewide priorities and goals, comprehensive planning, resource allocation, and evaluation processes for state and local services for people with developmental disabilities. The Council meets at least four times per year.
Membership
Shameka Andrews
Geri Athenas
Daniel Brown
Nicholas A. Cappoletti
Janice Chisholm
Donna Colonna
Barbara DeLong
Randi DiAntonio
Stuart Flaum
Jeffery Fox
Gary S. Goldstein
Susan A. Hetherington, PhD
Lawana Jones
Paul Joslyn
Suzanne Lavigne
John Maltby
Delores McFadden
Debra McGinness
Melissa Miller
Robert Pitkofsky
Randi Rios-Castro
Kai Roman
Sumantra Sarkar
Helena Schmidt
Michael Seereiter
Stephanie Speaker
Leah Steinberg
Valeria Valdez
Meyer Wertheimer
Melissa Stickle, CLMHD Chair
Kerri Neifeld, Commissioner
Vicky Hiffa, DDPC
Chris Palaga, FSS Chair