National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

05/15/2026

Webinar Announcement:

Topic: Cross-System Strategies to Support Children with Complex Behavioral Health Conditions
Date: May 20, 2026
Time: 2 pm ET
Location(s): Zoom
Link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mmc5ek9nTn6KvPihem4ozQ #/registration

Speakers:
Nancy Thaler, Project Lead
Stacey Nanemaker, Director of Cross-System Strategies, NASDDS

Facilitator:
Beth Stalvey, Executive Director, Texas DD Council

Children with complex behavioral health needs — and their families — face real barriers to getting effective help. This presentation unpacks the science of brain development to explain why dysregulated behavior happens, how it affects healthy growth, and how the brain's natural plasticity opens doors to real, lasting change.

This presentation is the product of a two-year project funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through the NASDDDS Link Center. The Link Center partners include NASMHPD, NASHIA, NADD.

05/12/2026

Have you ever wondered what exactly DD Councils do?

Swipe through the images below to learn all about what DD Councils are, what they do, how they work, and (most importantly) how YOU can get involved!

Find your state's DD Council in our website directory at this link: https://nacdd.org/councils/

04/29/2026

Council Highlight: Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)

MDDC has a vision to let all Mainers know that people with disabilities live and contribute to every Maine community!

MDDC recently partnered with the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS), Speaking Up for Us (SUFU), and Disability Rights Maine (DRM) to gather stories from people with disabilities across Maine about why they value being part of their communities and why everyone should value all community members.

See the stories here: https://youtu.be/1hqOHH2PhEc

04/27/2026

Webinar Announcement:

Topic: Cross-System Strategies to Support Children with Complex Behavioral Health Conditions
Date: May 20, 2026
Time: 2 pm ET
Location(s): Zoom

Link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mmc5ek9nTn6KvPihem4ozQ #/registration

Speakers:
Nancy Thaler, Project Lead
Stacey Nanemaker, Director of Cross-System Strategies, NASDDS

Facilitator:
Beth Stalvey, Executive Director, Texas DD Council

Children with complex behavioral health needs — and their families — face real barriers to getting effective help. This presentation unpacks the science of brain development to explain why dysregulated behavior happens, how it affects healthy growth, and how the brain's natural plasticity opens doors to real, lasting change.

This presentation is the product of a two-year project funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through the NASDDDS Link Center. The Link Center partners include NASMHPD, NASHIA, NADD.

04/21/2026

Another edition of NACDD's Insight newsletter is available!

Featured articles:
- Celebrating Our Impact - DD Awareness Month Launched!
- On the Hill: DD Councils Go To Washington
- Community Webinar Series Launches, Shares Insight & Expertise
- Advocating for Accessibility in DC
- A Word from ED Jill Jacobs: Excerpts from "Where the Ramp Ends" podcast interview

Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/nacdd.org/insightdecember2025-9317855?e=c4b5fc9386

Stay engaged! Join NACDD’s advocacy network for new advocacy actions and alerts.

If you have ideas and stories you want to share about your DD Council and community, send them to media@nacdd.org.

04/17/2026

UPDATE: Please note the event time is 2pm ET. The time on the image is incorrect.

Webinar Announcement:

Topic: Cross-System Strategies to Support Children with Complex Behavioral Health Conditions
Date: May 20, 2026
Time: 2 pm ET
Location(s): Zoom
Link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mmc5ek9nTn6KvPihem4ozQ #/registration

Speakers:
Nancy Thaler, Project Lead
Stacey Nanemaker, Director of Cross-System Strategies, NASDDS

Facilitator:
Beth Stalvey, Executive Director, Texas DD Council

Children with complex behavioral health needs — and their families — face real barriers to getting effective help. This presentation unpacks the science of brain development to explain why dysregulated behavior happens, how it affects healthy growth, and how the brain's natural plasticity opens doors to real, lasting change.

This presentation is the product of a two-year project funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through the NASDDDS Link Center. The Link Center partners include NASMHPD, NASHIA, NADD.

04/10/2026

04/10/2026

Event Alert:

Grassroots Project Webinar: An Overview of H.R. 1
April 13, 2026
2pm-3pm EST

NACDD's Policy Director Erin Prangley will be a guest on the Grassroots Project webinar, a one-hour walkthrough and overview of H.R. 1. The webinar will focus on how this legislation pertains to people with disabilities.

Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w_BCZzNVQXiSpOYrJSOhoA

Learn more about the Grassroots Project from HSRI: https://www.hsri.org/projects/the-grassroots-project/

04/09/2026

"When talking to students, I saw first-hand how their disability affected them and how I could help them,” Dumas said. “Now I want to help create systems that make things clearer, more accessible, and more supportive for others so that another student won’t feel the same way I did.”

Allan Dumas is a graduate student at SUNY Brockport and interns at the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. In his work, he is supporting national disability policy and advocacy initiatives.

Check out his experience here and what he plans to do in the disability field!

Graduate student interns at the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities supporting national disability policy and advocacy initiati...