I became the President of the All About Developmental
Disabilities (AADD) Board of Directors last July, having been involved with
this organization for over 6 years. My
story of how I became involved with AADD is not that interesting...in fact, it
is boring. I was a lawyer who took on a
pro bono project to revise the charter and bylaws of AADD...it does not get
drier than that. But through this
process I began to learn about AADD and its mission and I saw an organization
that was quietly but passionately doing amazing work in the community.
I was invited to join its Board of Directors and although
I was somewhat nervous about my lack of knowledge around developmental
disabilities and not having a direct connection to the cause, I was interested
in learning more. And then I heard THEIR
stories...the parents trying to advocate for their children in the school
system, the women who had been victims of abuse, individuals on the seemingly
endless waiting list to get waivers for services, families trying to stay
together, individuals with developmental disabilities receiving awards from
their employers for hard work and dedicated service, graduates from the Partners
in Policymaking class impacting legislation and more. Some stories were heart wrenching, some
stories were uplifting, but what was clear was that there is a real need...for
services, for resources, for leadership, for volunteers, for money, for waivers,
for engagement, for thoughtful new ideas and approaches.
What is also clear is that the people behind these
stories are tenacious problem solvers every day for issues big and small. They have a wealth of knowledge through their
experience and we wanted to create a forum where the experiences, the
information and the resources can be shared with many in an informal way. Their stories may teach you something new –
they may be a familiar story to which you can relate – they may make you laugh
or cry – or, as they did for me, they may inspire you to get involved. Welcome to our new blog.
