Leadership in IDD

In Memoriam

Donald J. Anderson, MSW

Donald “Don” Anderson passed away after a short illness on March 3, 2023. Mr. Anderson was a lifelong educator, and probably most known for his career as at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison. He held several positions during his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and retired as a Senior Lecturer.

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Notables

AAIDD Announces its 2023-2024 Board of Directors

President: Dalun "Dan" Zhang, PhD, FAAIDD

• Professor and Director, Center on Disability and Development, Texas A&M University, College Station

President-Elect: Melissa A. DiSipio, MSA, FAAIDD 

• Director, Philadelphia Coordinated Health Care, SE Region Health Care Quality Unit, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Vice President: Anthony Rodriguez, PhD, FAAIDD

• Associate Professor, Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island

Secretary-Treasurer: Sarah Hall, PhD, FAAIDD 

• Research Associate, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Past President: Karrie Shogren, PhD, FAAIDD

• Professor and Director, Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities, University of Kansas, Lawrence

At Large: Kruti Acharya, MD

• Associate Professor and Director Illinois LEND Program, University of Illinois, Chicago

At Large: Vincent Chesney, MS, FAAIDD

• Psychological Services Specialist, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Lackawanna College; and Luzerne County Community College

At Large: Joyce Louden, PhD, FAAIDD

• Director¬ of Education and Training, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, Louisiana Department of Health, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

At Large: Heather Williamson, DrPh, MBA, FAAIDD

• Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona

Publications

James R. Thompson, Robert L. Schalock, Karrie A, Shogren, Marc J. Tasse, Michael L. Wehmeyer, Ellis M. Craig, and Carolyn Hughes Just Released Supports Intensity Scale—Adult Version® (SIS—A®) 2nd Edition

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Member Spotlight

Steven Erickson, PharmD, FAAIDD

Associate Professor, University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Member since: 2014

Why did you join AAIDD?   

While on sabbatical at the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute at Wayne State University, I learned of AAIDD from the institute’s director, Barbara LeRoy. She encouraged me to learn more about the organization and to attend a meeting.  I was looking for ways to increase my awareness of policy, practice, and research on issues important to persons with disabilities, particularly around health.  

Why did you choose the field of intellectual disability?   

I came to the field mid-career, after spending several decades as a pharmacist, educator and health outcomes researcher.  As our son Christopher, who has Down syndrome, aged into adulthood, I began to realize there was little information about the use of medications by persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  This was an opportunity to use my research and practice skills, as well as the relationships I developed with the community through advocacy work, to move an agenda forward to ensure the safe and effective use of medications by persons with disabilities.   

AAIDD leadership positions: 

• Research Interest Network 2014 to present, Secretary 2022 to present
• Health and Wellness Interest Network member 2014 to present

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AAIDD is looking to feature notables and perspective pieces from our members in the field! Send us your commentary to be featured in a future Leadership in IDD Newsletter.

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