Missouri Policy and Advocacy

Legislative Update: Employment And Health Assurance

February 17, 2023

We had a busy week advocating with lawmakers regarding  HB 971 on Competitive Integrated Employment and HB 970 on Ticket to Work Health Assurance. MODDC has been providing updates and information on these two bills from Representative Stinnett.  Pictured below are a group of advocates with Representative Melanie Stinnett from across the state who testified on these two bills. Now…

Legislative Update:  MODDC Welcomes Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek

January 19, 2023

Council Chair Animesh Shah, Executive Director Vicky Davidson, and Project Coordinator Leigh Anne Haun attended the swearing-in ceremony of Missouri’s 48th State Treasurer, Vivek Malek. State Treasurer Vivek Malek is tasked with overseeing the state’s bank accounts, unclaimed property, and Missouri’s investments.  He is the first Indian American to hold a statewide office in Missouri.  He…

Jan. 6 Legislative Update and Advocacy Training

January 11, 2023

The 2023 Legislative Session began this week! Now is a great time to start getting to know some of the bills that have been filed by our elected officials. There are a few ways to do this: To find bills filed by your representative, click here: Missouri House of Representative – Members (mo.gov) Bill to Watch:  HB…

MODDC shares restraint and seclusion recommendations; MO DESE publishes Seclusion and Restraint Data

January 5, 2023

The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council stresses the importance of Missourians acknowledging that restraint, seclusion and other aversive interventions do not improve students’ academic performance or behavior. Therefore, schools should only use them when there is grave and immediate danger to human life and after all other alternatives have been attempted and proved ineffective. The Missouri…

People with disabilities have the right to receive supports and reasonable accommodations to achieve competitive employment

January 4, 2023

The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) believes everyone who identifies work as a goal is employable, with the right opportunities and support. People with disabilities have the right to, and should, receive individualized supports and reasonable accommodations to help them prepare for and attain competitive employment. Competitive employment means jobs in the community, working alongside…

The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) establishes priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session

December 2, 2022

It is the goal of the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) to advocate for items in the budget and legislation that will further impact these priorities. MODDC will advocate for policies and practices addressing the following areas: Access to Quality Care 1.  Ensure that all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Missouri have access…

MODDC and Mo P&A support the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent announcement of the disability rights investigation of Missouri’s use of skilled nursing facilities

November 23, 2022

The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) and Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services (Mo P&A) support the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent announcement of the disability rights investigation of Missouri’s use of skilled nursing facilities. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the DOJ will review whether the state of Missouri unnecessarily institutionalizes adults with serious…

MODDC develops Accessible Voting Equipment Tutorials in preparation of Midterm Election

October 25, 2022

The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) funded a project to connect voters and election workers in Missouri with quick, overview videos on how to use the accessible voting equipment in their county. These videos are designed to: prepare voters on what to expect when they go vote, provide additional support to election judges on how…

Build the power of the disability vote this week, during Disability Voting Rights Week

September 14, 2022

As a partner of Disability Voting Rights Week, the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) is building the power of the disability vote in Missouri communities during the week of September 12-16, 2022. Disability Voting Rights Week is a national, nonpartisan initiative this September to build the power and presence of the disability vote. Disability Voting…