STATEMENT OF GOALS
I would bring a practical approach to the AAIDD board of directors, an approach that shares that true quality for people with I/DD rests on the shoulders of our direct support workforce. I believe that we need to bridge the gap between research and practice. I believe that direct support professionals must understand the science behind their profession, and they should be engaged in quantitative measurement. I believe we, as a field, need to do better at translating research outcomes, so the workforce and people who receive services can be more effective advocates in public policy. I believe that by broadening the direct support professional’s world view, the I/DD system would be far more inclusive.
I built a nationally recognized organization from scratch, and I’m very proud of what we’re accomplishing at NADSP. I also take pride that our organization has become respected by the I/DD community and built trusted organizational relationships with others who share our values. But we have only touched the surface of what direct support professionals can contribute to systems change and systems growth, and I’d bring that perspective to every meeting, because ultimately, they’re responsible for quality outcomes – every day.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Current Position:
President and Chief Executive Officer. The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, Inc.
Previous Positions:
Assistant Executive Director. The New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, Inc.
Director of Specialized Programs. The Center for Disability Services, Inc.
Direct Support Professional.
Education:
BS (Psychology). Russel Sage College
AAS (Human Services). Herkimer County Community College
AAIDD Participation:
- 2022: AAIDD Service to the Field Award
- 2020: AAIDD, National Honoree, the National Historic Recognition Project for significant national contributions in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities in the US between 2000 and 2020
- 2019-2024: Hewitt Book for AAIDD (Unpublished) Chapter- Boiling the Ocean: Top Priorities in the National Arena and for Local Collaboration: Collectively, the industry has not prioritized workforce issues and solutions in a well-organized and coordinated way. (Amy Hewitt, Joe Macbeth)
- 2018: Strand Leader National Workforce Summit, St. Louis, MO. Sponsored by AAIDD.
Activities/Awards:
- 2008 to 2012: Board Member. American Network of Community Options and Resources Foundation
- 2009 to Present: National Advisory Board. DirectCourse. UMN
- 2009: Advocacy Award: American Network of Community Options and Resources
- 2009: Excellence in Advocacy Award: Self-Advocacy Association of New York State
- 2009 to 2011: Board Member, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, Inc.
- 2012 to Present: Guest Faculty, National Leadership Consortium on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
- 2012 to 2019: Board Member. Council on Quality and Leadership
- 2016 to Present: Advisory Council Member. Justice Center for the Protection of Vulnerable New Yorkers
- 2017: New York State Justice Center Champion Award: New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs
- 2017 to 2021: Board Member. The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices
- 2019: The Public Policy and Social Justice Award: New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation
- 2020: Blazing New Trails for Community-Based Direct Support Professionals Challenge: Innovations to Transform the Direct Support Professionals: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- 2021: “50 for 50 – Fifty Years of Advocate Heroes”: Exceptional Parent Magazine
- 2021 to 2022: Editorial Board. Exceptional Parent Magazine
- 2021: 33rd Annual Richard P. Biondi Recognition Award: Institute of Applied Human Dynamics
- 2022 to Present: Citizen Member. President’ Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities Appointed by President Joseph R. Biden
- 2023 to Present: Board Member. National Association on Dual Diagnosis
- 2024: Member: HCBS Quality Measure Set Review Workgroup. Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services.