About the Council
Updated 12.19.24
The purpose of the DD Council is to help people with developmental disabilities be self-determined, independent, productive, and integrated and included in all parts of community life.
Councils on Developmental Disabilities are in every State and most US Territories.
DD Council members serve as volunteers and are appointed by the governor to represent and advocate for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
History notes:
Before the first passage of the Developmental Disabilities Act in 1970, families received almost no help, children could not attend schools, and many people were sent to State institutions for life.
Over the past 50 years, DD Councils have helped to bring about changes.
The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council has 27 seats.
Membership consists of:
- 17 Governor-appointed members. Of these:
- at least 1/3 must be adults with developmental disabilities (DD) (5 seats)
- at least 1/3 must be parents of children with DD or family members of adults with DD who are unable to advocate for themselves (6 seats)
- the 1/3 remaining seats can be any combination of the first two designations listed above (6 Seats)
- View
Defining Developmental Disabilities
for definitions - 2 represent non-governmental/local agencies that provide services for individuals with DD.
- Speaking Up For Us
- Volunteers of America Northern New England
- 6 members who represent State agencies administering federally-funded programs related to persons with disabilities.
- Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS)
- Maine Department of Education
- Maine Department of Labor
- Maine Child Development Services (Department of Education)
- Maine Office of Child and Family Services (DHHS)
- Maine Children with Special Health Care Needs (DHHS)
- 2 members representing the Protection & Advocacy system and the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities,
- Disability Rights Maine
- Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies at the University of Maine, Orono.
Helpful Council Documents
Click on the titles for links to these documents
The Stevens Amendment for the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council
Former Senator Ted Stevens once said that taxpayers "ought to be informed [about] how much money comes from federal sources in any program, project, or grant activity."
The purpose of the Stevens Amendment is to ensure transparency and accountability in federal spending.
Statements, Press Releases, Flyers, and related Documents (including Brochures, issue briefs, manuals, toolkits, PowerPoint training presentation, websites, etc.) is supported by the Administration for Community Living of the Department of Health and Human Services as part of an award totaling $527,570.00 with 100% from federal funding.
Current Council Members
updated 10/20/2025
Abbott Philson (Co-Chair)
Self-Advocate
Andrea Dole
Family Member
Alan Cobo Lewis / Sue Russell
University of Maine, Center for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies (Protection & Advocacy)
Cheryl Hathaway
Office of Child & Family Services, Department of Health & Human Services
VACANT
Office of Aging and Disability Services Representative, Department of Health & Human Services
VACANT
Family Member
Leigh Larderi
Department of Education
Jennifer Marks
Parent
Jessica Creedon
Parent
Jon McGovern
Self-Advocate
VACANT
Self-Advocate
Kile Pelletier (Co-Chair)
Self-Advocate
Kristine Adams
Parent
Marc Roix
Self-Advocate
Maria Cameron
Volunteers of America, Northern New England (Non-Governmental Agency)
Maryann Preble
Self-Advocate
Monique Stairs
Executive Director – SUFU (Non-Governmental Agency)
Nicole Achey
Family Member
Regina Bowie
Self-Advocate
Shaun Nixon
Department of Labor
Staci Converse
Disability Rights Maine (Protection & Advocacy)
Stacey LaFlamme
Children with Special Health Care Needs, Department of Health & Human Services
Stacy Atter
Self-Advocate
Stacy Smart
Self-Advocate
VACANT
Family member
VACANT
Family Member
If you are interested in becoming a Council member, click here
