DDNJ Podcast Episode 20: DD Council in Idaho & Utah with Christine Pisani & Libby Oseguera

In this episode, Matthew Wappett, Executive Director of the IDRPP sits down with Christine Pisani, Executive Director of the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Libby Oseguera, Executive Director of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council. 

Developmental Disability Councils 

Wappett asked if Developmental Disability (DD) Councils look different depending on the state. Oseguera explained they all have the same federal charge, “which is, we are required to support leadership development of people with developmental disabilities. We are also required to work on public policy and systems change and create capacity where it doesn't exist, where there are gaps. We're supposed to figure out how to fill those gaps.” The main difference in DD Councils is the uniqueness that comes from public by talking to the people impacted by services, she said. 

Pisani talked about Idaho’s DD Council and the work they are currently doing. “We have in this current five-year plan, worked on abuse and neglect and exploitation. We were a recipient of a ... five-year federal grant called a living well grant that really gave us the funding to do a lot of deep work that we wouldn't have been able to do without it, because it gave us the funds to really explore abuse and neglect in our state.” Pisani explained that DD Councils don’t provide direct services. “Our work takes time... It can take up to 10 years to really see a person gain the confidence [to] overcome all of the messages that they've heard over their lifetimes.” 

Advocates as Leaders Speakers Network 

Oseguera speaks on the Advocates as Leaders, Speakers Network, which is a project that educates community members on disability related issues. “It began, I believe, in 2015 and it was a DD Council funded project that was operated through the UCEDD IDRPP. At the end of that plan period in 2021 [it] came underneath the DD Council as part of our in-house programming, and it's currently supported by the Council and the speakers’ network. The intention is to educate self-advocates, family members, siblings, professionals and other community members about various issues that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in everyday life and the network itself, the speakers who are providing this training are people with lived experience.” Osegueara explains that the project’s success has led to other DD councils to learn about the project and implement it in their own states. The project has trained over 10,000 people across the nation. 

How can future leaders get involved?

For people who are interested in getting involved with DD Councils, Oseguera explains that there are many ways to get started in Utah. “We have a lot of different programs that we offer, like the speakers’ network. We have a lot of different trainings and a number of different avenues for people to participate and learn and be educated with tools and resources. To actually be a formal governor-appointed council member, we open applications every winter, and a person could apply if they are a family member of a child with an intellectual or developmental disability, or of an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability who cannot advocate for themselves, or they are an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability... To learn more, you can find that information out on our website, or you can contact us directly by phone or email, and we'd be happy to discuss that with you.” 

Pisani explains how to get involved in Idaho. “We go through the process of accepting applications, and we have a membership committee that interviews all the applicants. They make recommendations to the governor's office, but it's ultimately up to the governor to decide who he appoints to serve on the council... We're always looking for people who want to be involved in the Our Care Can't Wait work that we're doing. This is all about trying to improve the way direct support workers in our home- and community-based services are being paid; the benefits, the training that they get, sick leave. And that is really led by people with disabilities and families, the council, other advocacy organizations are involved, including the center and the protection and advocacy organization. ... We're always looking for the lived experience of people and families to be involved in that work, leadership, development, opportunity... if you call us... and you tell us what you're interested in, we probably have something that we can offer to just get you involved.” 

About the Interviewees 

Christine Pisani began working for people with disabilities as a college student at the University of Idaho. Christine started on the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) in 1996 as the Council planner and then served as a program specialist. She has served as the Executive Director since 2013. 

Libby Oseguera earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, followed by a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council. 

Listen to the full conversation between Matthew Wappett, Christine Pisani, and Libby Oseguera on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and the DDNJ Author Insights Podcast page, or on the embedded player above.