About the Council
The Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC) was established under 13.05 of the Mental Hygiene Law. The DDAC provides recommendations for statewide priorities and goals for services for individuals with developmental disabilities in cooperation with the OPWDD commissioner. It began in its current iteration of the workgroup in 2012. It has no executive, The council has no executive, administrative or appointive duties. Some of the DDAC's responsibilities are:
- To foster public understanding and acceptance of developmental disabilities
- Advise the commissioner on matters related to development and implementation of the statewide comprehensive plan
- Advise on any matter related to individuals with developmental disabilities and on policies, goals, budget and operation of developmental disabilities services.
The DDAC meets at least four times a year.
Meetings
Membership
The board consists of 36 members; 33 appointed positions and three representatives from state agencies (ex-officio), including the OPWDD commissioner.
Appointed Members
Appointed By Governor
| Member, County of Residence | Background | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
| Shameka Andrews, Albany | Self-Advocate | Governor |
| Geralyn Athenas, Suffolk | Family Advocate | Governor |
| Daniel Brown, Tompkins | Provider, Family Advocate | Governor |
| Nicholas Cappoletti, Onondaga | Provider | Governor |
| Janice Chisholm, Queens | Provider | Governor |
| Donna Colonna, Suffolk | Provider | Governor |
| Barbara Long, Erie | Family Advocate | Governor |
| Stuart Flaum, Kings | Family Advocate | Governor |
| Gary S. Goldstein, Schenectady | Provider, Family Advocate | Governor |
| Susan Hetherington, Monroe | Executive Director, Strong Center for Excellence at University of Rochester | Governor |
| Paul Joslyn, Onondaga | Provider | Governor |
| Ray Knights, Kings | Provider | Governor |
| Suzanne Lavigne, Franklin | Provider | Governor |
| John Maltby, Columbia | Provider, Family Advocate | Governor |
| Delores McFadden, Orange | Former Director, Orange County Developmental Disabilities Services | Governor |
| Robert Pitkofsky, Rockland | Family Advocate | Governor |
| Kai Roman, Bronx | Family Advocate | Governor |
| Sumantra Sarkar, Broome | Family Advocate | Governor |
| Helena Schmidt, Onondaga | Self-Advocate | Governor |
| Stephanie Speaker, Erie | Self-Advocate | Governor |
| Leah Steinberg, Kings | Provider | Governor |
| Valerie Valdez, Schenectady | Family Advocate | Governor |
| Meyer Wertheimer, Orange | Provider | Governor |
Appointed By Assembly and Senate Leaders
| Member, County of Residence | Background | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Abinanti, Westchester | Family Advocate | Speaker of the Assembly |
| Randi DiAntonio, Monroe | Provider (Governmental) | President of the Senate |
| Jeffrey Fox, Dutchess | Provider | President of the Senate |
| Theresa Hamlin, Sullivan | Provider | Speaker of the Assembly |
| Lynne Koufakis | Provider | Speaker of the Assembly |
| Kirk Lewis, Schenectady | Provider | Speaker of the Assembly |
| Debra McGinness, Sullivan | Provider | Minority Leader of the Senate |
| Melissa Miller, Nassau | Family Advocate | Minority Leader of the Assembly |
| Randi Rios-Castro, Rockland | Provider | President of the Senate |
| Michael Seereiter, Albany | Provider | President of the Senate |
Ex-Officio Members
| Member, County of Residence | Title, Agency |
|---|---|
| Kerri Neifeld | Commissioner - NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities |
| Vicky Hiffa | Executive Director - NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities |
| Melissa Stickle | Director, NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors |