Arizona: State Legislation to Extend Waivers for Paid Family Caregivers

By Catherine Citta, JPKF Public Policy Fellow   Jon Meyers, Executive Director for the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, participated in an interview with Catherine Citta, 2023 Public Policy Fellow with the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, to discuss Arizona’s successful policy change for child and adolescent family caregivers. Arizona received a temporary extension in…

North Dakota: An Invitation to the White House

By Catherine Citta, JPKF Public Policy Fellow   The Biden-Harris Administration hosts state, local, Tribal and community leaders to the White House “Communities in Action” events to demonstrate how the administration is delivering results for the American people. In November 2023, Julianne Horntvedt, Executive Director for the North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities was…

Ohio Fly-In: Advocating on The Hill

By Naomi Moore, Fall 2023 NACDD Policy Intern    On Sept 12, 2023, a bipartisan bill was introduced by Senator Brown and Senator Cassidy called the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Savings Penalty Elimination Act.     Currently with Supplemental Security Income (SSI), there is an assets limit that has been stuck at $2,000 for individuals and…

Alabama: An Invitation to the White House

By Catherine Citta, JPKF Public Policy Fellow    The Biden-Harris Administration hosts state, local, Tribal and community leaders to the White House “Communities in Action” events to demonstrate how the administration is delivering results for the American people. In September 2023, Darryle Powell, Executive Director for the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) was invited…

On Super Tuesday & in Honor of the Late John Lewis, Durbin Calls on his Colleagues to Protect the Right to Vote

On Super Tuesday, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his Republican colleagues to support critical voting rights legislation that was introduced in the Senate last week.  The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would update and restore critical safeguards of the original Voting Rights…

A World of Opportunities: Creating Inclusive Communities

By Alison Barkoff, Performing the duties of ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging   Every March, ACL joins the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners to observe Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). This year’s theme, “A World of Opportunities,” focuses on ACL and NACDD’s shared goal of removing obstacles…

NACDD Celebrates Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) commemorates Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). JDAIM represents a collaborative initiative involving Jewish and disability organizations globally, aimed at raising awareness and promoting acceptance and inclusion for individuals with disabilities, mental health conditions, and their supportive communities.   Established in 2009 by the…

NACDD Celebrates Black History Month

During Black History Month, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) commemorates and pays tribute to the accomplishments and rich history of both Black Americans and Black Americans with Disabilities.   This month serves as a moment to envision the potential opportunities that lie ahead. It’s an occasion to acknowledge the remarkable contributions…