FDDC Connections: March 2025

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day

Developmental Disabilities Day 2025 at the Capitol was a huge success. Please click on the link below to see photos from the event and be sure to visit our social media pages to see lots of images from the day!

Pictured above: Taylor Hatch, Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families; Valerie Breen, Executive Director of the FDDC; and Shevaun Harris, Secretary of the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration.

The Idelio Valdes Self-Advocate Award and the Bobbie Lake Family Member Award



The Florida Development Disabilities Council (FDDC) honored two individuals with advocacy awards last week in Tallahassee. Krystal Sims received the 16th Annual Idelio Valdes Leadership and Advocacy Award – the state’s top honor recognizing an individual with a developmental disability. The award is presented each year by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) to a self-advocate who has demonstrated advocacy activities in keeping with the spirit of Idelio Valdes and has acted as an advocate, embraced the community, and worked with groups while encouraging others to do so by example.

Presenting the award is Senator Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart, Florida Senate District 31) along with Margaret Hooper, FDDC Director of Public Policy and Advocacy.

Stephanie Nordin was the recipient of the inaugural Bobbie Lake Family Member Award which was presented for her outstanding leadership and advocacy on behalf of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Bobbie Lake Family Member Leadership and Advocacy Award was created in honor of family member, Bobbie Lake, who had a tremendous impact on Florida’s disability community through his advocacy and leadership. Presenting the award is Representative Lauren Melo (R-Naples, Florida House District 82) along with Margaret Hooper.

Congratulations Krystal and Stephanie - please click the link below to learn more about their incredible achievements.

FDDC "Our Work Matters" Podcast Series Episode 3

FDDC Weekly Updates

Be sure to receive your weekly Capitol Update during the Florida legislative session. We track the bills impacting the I/DD community and keep you informed about the latest news from the Capitol. These emails arrive in your inbox every Monday!

You can view the FDDC Legislative Platform here.

Become a Florida Partner in Policymaking!

Interested in becoming a Partner? Apply today!

The application period for the 2025-2026 PIP class closes June 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. 

Partners in Policymaking® (PIP) is a leadership training program that prepares adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, family members who have decision-making responsibility for their family member with intellectual and developmental disabilities (e.g., parent, sibling, grandparent), and legal guardians of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be effective advocates at the local, state, and federal levels.



PIP teaches leadership skills and techniques to develop positive partnerships with elected officials, school personnel, and other individuals who make policy decisions about services that you and/or your family use.

Become a Florida SAND Fellow!

Interested in becoming a FL SAND Fellow? Apply today!

The FL SAND Fellows Leadership Program is an immersive training experience designed for seasoned self-advocates who are dedicated to enhancing their problem-solving, leadership, and management skills. In addition to virtual training sessions, Fellows undertake various assignments, including providing technical support to the FL SAND board of directors and network of self-advocacy groups, as well as developing self-advocacy training through FL SAND’s Breaking Barriers Training Academy.

Fellows are compensated for their work and serve for one year, with the opportunity for a one-year extension. The time commitment typically ranges from four to eight hours per week. While most training and project work is conducted virtually, Fellows are required to travel to Florida 1-2 times per year.

Applications are accepted year-round, with the review process for the upcoming year starting in August. For more information, please email contactflsand@gmail.com.

Share Your Experience Working As A Direct Support Professional



As a direct support professional (DSP) who provides services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Florida, your insights and experiences are invaluable. Here is an opportunity to participate in research. If eligible, you will receive a $40 incentive to thank you for your time.

While you may use the job title DSP, you may also be called a home health aide, caregiver, or something else. We use the term DSP to refer to someone who works directly with people with I/DD to assist the people they work with to become independent and integrated into their community. 

As you may be aware, there are ongoing legislative efforts aimed at expanding the pool of individuals who could serve as DSPs, paid through state funds. These efforts are crucial to ensure adequate support and care for people with disabilities. The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. (FDDC) would like to understand the experiences of DSPs who are directly hired by families. To do this, we are organizing a virtual group discussion which will be conducted by an outside research firm, Mathematica, on behalf of the FDDC.

The 90-minute group discussion will include 6–10 DSPs and will take place virtually in mid- to late-April. Exact date and time are to be determined, pending participant availability.

A $40 incentive will be offered to eligible DSPs for their participation. Incentives are funded by Mathematica. No Florida Developmental Disabilities Council funds will be used for this purpose.

If you are interested in participating or learning more, please contact Mathematica at FLProviderSolutions@mathematica-mpr.com. If you know someone who might be interested, please forward this information to them.  

We look forward to your participation!

New Tool for Individuals Working with a Case Manager



Would you like to better understand what to expect from your case manager? Or do you want to know how to give feedback about your case manager’s performance?

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council developed a “Working with Case Managers” tool and guide to help you assess your case management services.

Download the guide here.

FDDC Advocacy Toolkit



Ready to make a difference? Download our four must-have toolkits to learn about the ways you can participate in developmental disabilities advocacy. These resources will help you create a lasting impact in your local community. Take the first step today—because advocacy starts with you!

Our Care Matters - Video Spotlight

The "Our Care Matters" series has now reached over 500,000 video plays, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Your views, shares, and comments are helping ensure these stories—of Floridians with developmental disabilities and their caregivers—are amplified across Florida and beyond.

Thank you for standing with us and for being part of the change we’re working toward together.

Want to hear the stories from people in your community? Click the link below to watch the "Our Care Matters" videos and see how individuals from counties across Florida are sharing their experiences.

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