Are you a person with a developmental disability (DD) or a family member who is passionate about improving the lives of people with DD in Missouri? Are you interested in advocacy and disability policy issues? Do you have lived experience or technical expertise that could inform projects or policies that impact people with DD? If you answered "Yes" to these questions, consider applying to become a Council member with the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC)!
About MODDC
If you aren't familiar with MODDC, we are a federally-funded state government agency. Our mission is to assist individuals, families, and the community to include all people with DD in every aspect of life. Our work is guided by 23 governor-appointed Council members, 60% of whom are people with DD or family members. Each person on the Council brings their unique perspective and experience to the full Council.
Council members serve three-year terms, and the Council meets every other month to make important decisions about projects and policies that impact people with DD.
About Becoming a Council Member
If you are interested in joining MODDC, the first step is to complete the short Become a Council Member form. The primary purpose of the form is to give you an opportunity to express your interest in becoming a Council member. After you complete the form, we will determine if you are eligible to serve on the Council.
If you are eligible, we can follow up with you so you can learn more about what it's like to serve on the Council. If it sounds like you would be a good candidate, we can help you submit your official MODDC Council Membership application to the Governor's Office.
Diverse Membership
The makeup of the Council should be as diverse as the state it represents. In addition to looking for applicants who are self-advocates and family members of people with disabilities, we're also looking for:
- people of color,
- people who speak languages other than English,
- people from the LGBTQ+ community, and
- people who live in rural areas.
We would like a diverse mix of disabilities represented on the Council. Also, we are specifically looking for a self-advocate who has lived in an institution so they can bring their unique experience to the Council.
Are You Interested?
If you are interested and you think you would be a good candidate to be a Council member, get started by filling out the Become a Council Member form. If you need help completing the form or if you need the form in an alternative format, please email Vicky Davidson at vdavidson@moddcouncil.org. If you would like more information, check out the Council Member Application page.
