Skip to Content

Illinois Board, Commission, Task Force and Council List

Boards and Commissions Detail | Skip to Member Names | View all Boards and Commissions

Title:Developmental Disabilities, Illinois Council on
Website:Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
Contact Name:Kimberly Mercer-Schleider
Contact Title:Director
Contact Phone:(312) 814-2080
Contact Comments:
Function:The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities is a 100% federally funded state agency. ICDD engages in advocacy and other activities to create systems change that will allow individuals with developmental disabilities to participate fully in their communities. Its governing board is comprised of a majority of people with developmental disabilities and their families and has a mission that is guided by federal law. ICDD invests in organizations and agencies to demonstrate new approaches in services and support for people with developmental disabilities and collaborates with state and local agencies to make changes in the system that help people with developmental disabilities live their lives in the community as they choose.
Term:3 years, and until successor is appointed.  Maximum of 2 successive terms.
Senate Confirmation:No
Qualifications:Individuals with values that are consistent with the intent and purposes found in the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act amendments of 2000 (DD Act) and are residents in the state of Illinois. Nominations are considered from advocacy and community-based organizations. None of the appointed members may be employees of a state agency or managers or owners of any other entity receiving funds or providing services under the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act amendments of 2000.
Compensation:Chairperson & appointed members – reimbursement of reasonable & necessary expenses plus up to $50/day for loss of wages.
Composition:29 total members: 19 Illinois residents appointed by the Governor: 17 public members, including -At least 6 with DD, -At least 6 immediate relatives/guardians of persons with mentally impairing DD -5 members must be a combination of persons described in paragraphs (1) and (2); at least one of whom must be (i) an immediate relative or guardian of an individual with a developmental disability who resides or who previously resided in an institution or (ii) an individual with a developmental disability who resides or who previously resided in an institution. - 2 representatives of local agencies, nongovernmental agencies and groups concerned with services to persons with DD - 9 representatives of state agencies and other mandated organizations: -Director, Department on Aging, or designee -Director, DCFS, or designee -Director, Healthcare and Family Services, or designee -Representative, State Board of Education -Representative, State Protection and Advocacy System -Representative, State University Center for Excellence in DD Education, Research and Service -Representative, DHS, Office of Developmental Disabilities, designated by the Secretary of DHS -Representative, DHS, Office of Community Health & -Prevention, designated by Secretary of DHS -Representative, State entity that administers federal moneys under the federal Rehabilitation Act - 1 Ex-Officio (non-voting) member: Director, Office of Management and Budget, or designee
Chair:Designated by the Governor.
Authority:20 ILCS 4010/2003

 Member Names
Name (Last, First)Term ExpiresMember SinceAffiliationAppointed ByPositionTitleCounty
Aaron, Suzanne1/1/202310/5/2020GovernorMember, Parent or relative of child with DDCook
Bogdan, Bill1/1/20221/1/2004GovernorChair, Member, Parent or relative of child with DDWill
Braun, Diana1/1/20153/12/2010GovernorMember, Individual with DDSangamon
Brown, Stephanie1/1/20227/3/2019GovernorMember, Parent or relative of child with DDJackson
Calomese, HeatherStatuteMember, State Board of Education DesigneeNone
Cesal, Lisa1/1/20239/25/2020GovernorMember, Individual with DDDuPage
Cooper, Adam1/1/20233/10/2017GovernorMember, Individual with DDMadison
Cruz, Ana1/1/20227/29/2019GovernorMember, Parent or relative of child with DDMadison
Eckert, JohnStatuteMember, Department on Aging DesigneeNone
Fonfa, SusanStatuteMember, Healthcare and Family Services DesigneeNone
Hanley, J.J.1/1/20211/2/2014GovernorMember, Local Agencies, Non-governmental Agencies and Private Non-Profit OrganizationsCook
Harris, Curtis1/1/20243/12/2021GovernorMember, Individual with DDCook
Heller, TamarStatuteMember, State University Center for Excellence in DD EducationDr.None
Joerndt, Nathan1/1/20233/10/2017GovernorMember, Individual with DDLivingston
Kelly, Linda10/23/2019StatuteMember, DCFS DesigneeNone
Naiditch, ZenaStatuteMember, State Protection and Advocacy SystemNone
Ovalle, Jose1/1/20206/7/2013GovernorMember, Parent or relative of child with DDCook
Palmer, AndreaStatuteMember, DHS Office of Community Health & Prevention designeeNone
Parks, Teresa10/10/202210/10/2019GovernorMember, Parent or relative of child with DDWoodford
Pasha, Zoubida1/1/202312/1/2017GovernorMember, Parent or relative of child with DDCook
Porter Jr., John1/1/20221/1/2005GovernorMember, Individual with DDSangamon
Pritchard, Barbara1/1/20163/12/2010GovernorMember, Individual with DDChampaign
Schleider-Mercer, KimberlyStatuteEx-Officio, Director of Council on Developmental DisabilitiesNone
Staley, MarcStatuteEx-Officio, Office of Management and Budget designeeNone
Staton, RandyStatuteMember, Rehab Act state designeeNone
Stauter, Jeffrey1/1/20215/11/2012GovernorMember, Local Agencies, Non-governmental Agencies and Private Non-Profit OrganizationsLee
Stover, Julie1/1/20169/10/2010GovernorMember, Parent or relative of child with DDLawrence
VACANTGovernorMember, Parent with child DD or RelativeNone
Wesley, Tavarus1/1/20227/3/2019GovernorMember, Individual with DDCook
Wright, MelisaStatuteMember, DHS Office of Developmental Disabilities DesigneeNone