Join NASDDDS for our annual Directors Forum and Federal Policy Symposium, where national leaders and state innovators come together to unpack today’s most consequential federal developments. Expert speakers will provide practical, actionable analysis of complex policy issues, paired with real-world state examples that demonstrate how federal changes are being implemented on the ground.
Federal partners, elected officials, and state leaders will offer timely insights on congressional activity, regulatory updates, executive actions, administrative priorities, and emerging system challenges. All of this content with a focus on helping states navigate change while advancing strong, sustainable HCBS systems.
The program will highlight critical issues shaping the field, including:
- Implications of H.R. 1
- Implementation of the Access regulation
- Planning considerations related to the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)
You will leave the Directors Forum and Federal Policy Symposium informed, connected, and equipped to lead confidently in an evolving federal environment.
Symposium Intensive Sessions
Attendees pick from one half day intensive session on June 17th.
Complex Needs, Coordinated Solutions: Lifespan Approaches to Supporting People with Dual Diagnoses
This intensive will explore cross-system strategies to support individuals with complex behavioral health needs and IDD across the lifespan, with particular attention to early identification and coordinated supports for children and youth. Participants will examine integrated service models, crisis prevention approaches, and policy considerations that strengthen continuity of care from childhood through adulthood.
From Design to Implementation: Success Strategies for a Dynamic Statutory and Regulatory Environment
State IDD systems are operating in a rapidly evolving policy landscape. This intensive will focus on practical strategies for implementing Access regulation requirements, responding to emerging rural health transformation developments, and navigating key H.R.1 implementation approaches impacting state systems. Participants will explore cross-state lessons, operational considerations, and actionable strategies to support compliance while strengthening person-centered IDD systems.
Keynote Speaker
Jordyn Zimmerman
Jordyn Zimmerman is a passionate educator and disability advocate. After being diagnosed as autistic at a young age, she did not receive access to augmentative communication, via iPad, until the age of 18. She now thrives on boldly showing up and redefining what is possible in learning spaces and throughout the broader community — and has personal experience challenging the status quo, which is featured in the documentary, This Is Not About Me.
Jordyn collaborates with organizations around the world, is Board Chair of the national nonprofit CommunicationFIRST, and was named to the inaugural 2025 Forbes Accessibility 100 List as a top accessibility innovator and impact-maker. She previously earned her Bachelor's degree in Education Policy from Ohio University, her Master's of Education at Boston College, and her Master's of Business Administration from Quantic School of Business and Technology. More at www.JordynZimmerman.com.
Invited Speakers
Daniel Brillman
Director of Medicaid and CHIP and Deputy Administrator, CMS
Mary Lazare
Principal Deputy Administrator performing the duties of the ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, ACL
Julie Hocker
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, ODEP
Nancy Thaler
Subject Matter Expert, Co-occurring IDD and Behavioral Health Conditions
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