BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Claire Stanley, Chair
American Council of the Blind (ACB)

Lydia Dawson, Co-Vice-Chair
ANCOR

Dan Berland, Co-Vice-Chair
National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)

Sarah Malaier, Treasurer
American Foundation for the Blind

Tonia Ferguson, Secretary
Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR)

Carol Tyson, Immediate Past CCD Chair
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

At Large Directors:

• Dania Douglas, National Health Law Program
• Vania Leveille, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Brittany Owens, The Arc of the United States
• Germán Parodi, The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
• Greg Robinson, Autistic Self Advocacy Network
• Stephanie Flynt McEben, National Disability Rights Network

ANTI-RACISM COMMITTEE

The Anti-Racism Committee advises the CCD Board and leadership on ways to ensure CCD is maintaining an environment in line with CCD’s mission and values and creating a culture of inclusivity and belonging for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), especially BIPOC disabled people. The Committee seeks to identify measures to ensure CCD's individual participants, Task Forces and member organizations have access to resources to support anti-racist interactions and adopt and promote policies with anti-racist and intersectional lens while seeking to lift up and be led by BIPOC people with disabilities.

Co-Chairs Dan Berland, dberland@nasddds.org, and Brittany Owens, owens@thearc.org

Members:
Lei Wiley Mydske, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
Brittany Owens, The Arc of the United States
Meghan Ryan, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Gelila Selassie, Justice in Aging
Ariel Simms, Disability Belongs
Claire Stanley, American Council of the Blind (ACB)
Carol Tyson, DREDF 

FINANCE COMMITEE

The Finance Committee develops CCD’s draft annual budget including reviewing and proposing changes to CCD’s income and expenses necessary to fulfill CCD’s mission. This includes reviewing and proposing changes to the annual CCD dues amounts and structure as outlined in the CCD Criteria for Membership and Bylaws. The Committee presents the draft budget to the CCD Board for review and feedback and then, per bylaws, presents the draft budget to full CCD membership for a vote each October preceding the start of the Fiscal Year in January. Throughout the year, the Finance Committee compiles, reviews and shares financial statements during each CCD Board meeting. The Finance Committee also reviews requests for funding as needed and makes finance-related recommendations to the Board.

Chair Sarah Malaier, smalaier@afb.org.

Members:
Laura Kaloi, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates & The National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools
Michael Lewis, Muscular Dystrophy Association
Germán Parodi, The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
Claire Stanley, American Council of the Blind (ACB)

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Membership Committee reviews and votes on incoming membership applications to ensure they are in line with CCD's criteria for membership. Applications along with the Committee's recommendations are forwarded to the Board for final approval. The Membership Committee receives and acts on complaints or feedback as outlined in the CCD Code of Participation Alleged Violation Confidential Complaint Process. The Membership Committee engages in proactive outreach to potential new members and currently prioritizes the recruitment of organizations that represent the interests of Black, indigenous and other people of color, especially disabled people. The Membership Committee also develops and implements strategies to support the individual members of CCD.

Chair Tonia Ferguson, Tferguson@csavr.org.

Members:
Vania Leveille, ACLU
Greg Robinson, Autistic Self Advocacy Network

NOMINATIONS AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE

To ensure effective management and operation of the coalition, the Nominations and Bylaws Committee oversees CCD Board and Board Committee membership, as well as changes to the bylaws. Leading up to the Annual Meeting as Board terms end and throughout the year when vacancies occur, the Committee ensures that Board and Board Committee membership are in compliance with bylaw requirements and are diverse and inclusive. The Committee also engages in activities to plan and support timely and effective succession for the CCD Board and Board Committees. Regarding bylaws, the Committee is familiar with, reviews and proposes changes to existing or entirely new bylaws as needed and then manages the vote necessary to change the bylaws.

Chair Carol (CT) Tyson, ctyson@dredfg.org.

Members:
Dania Douglas, National Health Law Program
Alicia Epstein, SourceAmerica
Germán Parodi, The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
Ariel Simms, RespectAbility

ACTIVITIES


CCD Reaffirming Advocacy for All Statement
As we enter into Disability Pride Month the undersigned Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Board of Directors reaffirms our commitment to advocating on behalf of all people with disabilities. CCD is the largest coalition of national organizations working together on behalf of our nation’s individuals with disabilities and their families.
(July 2,  2025) - Download [ PDF ]

CCD Board of Directors Statement on the Death of Sonya Massey
The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Board of Directors condemns the murder of Sonya Massey at the hands of a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy in Illinois. Sonya Massey called 911 to report a potential prowler around her home. Instead of receiving the help she needed, she was shot and killed in her home. According to the bodycam footage, the deputy who killed her told his partner that she would not need medical help immediately after the shooting.1 Sonya was a mother and had a mental health disability.
(July 30,  2024) - Download [ PDF ]

CCD Rehabilitation Act 50th Anniversary Statement
The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Board commemorates 50 years since the historic passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment, and in the employment practices of federal contractors.
(September 26,  2023) - Download [ PDF ]

CCD Statement & Resources COVID-19 and the Ending of the Public Health Emergency
On May 11, 2023 the nation's COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended. COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted disabled people, particularly those of multiply marginalized communities, and has led to increasing disability amongst those with Long COVID.
(May 17,  2023) - Download [ PDF ]

Statement from the CCD Board of Directors on the Passing of Judy Heumann
The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Board joins others around the world in mourning the passing of Judy Heumann, a lifelong leader, and fierce local, national and international disability rights advocate. Heumann passed away in Washington, D.C. on March 4th.
(March 6,  2023) - Download [ PDF ]

Statement from the CCD Board of Directors on the Murder of Tyre Nichols

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD), we express our sorrow, anguish, and outrage over the brutal murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of officers in the Memphis Police Department. Tyre Nichols was a Black man with a disability whose encounter with police began with a traffic stop. People with disabilities, especially Black people, are at higher risk of arrest or harm from police. We join our partners in the disability and civil rights communities who are calling for justice and systemic change.
(January 31,  2023) - Download [ PDF ]

Statement from the CCD Board of Directors on the Passing of Lois Curtis
The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Board joins others in the disability community in mourning the passing of Lois Curtis, a Black disabled advocate, civil rights leader, and artist. Curtis passed away in her home in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3rd.
(November 9,  2022) - Download [ PDF ]

CCD Chair Statement on Dobbs v Women's Health Ruling
Statement from Laura Weidner and Carol Tyson, CCD Chair and Vice-Chair, on the Supreme Court's Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization Ruling.

As Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities Chair and Vice-Chair, we acknowledge the impact of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade on people with disabilities. For your information we are sharing a memorandum on the implications and responses from CCD member organizations.We are also sharing a statement from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, of which we are a member. Please contact us with additional resources or contact the organizations below with questions. We encourage Task Force and member conversations.
(June 27,  2022) - Download [ PDF ]

Statement from the CCD Board of Directors on the Passing of Julie Beckett
CCD joins others in the disability community in mourning the passing of Julie Beckett. Julie’s advocacy on behalf of her daughter Katie led to the first Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver.
(May 23,  2022) - Download [ PDF ]

CCD Board Statement on the Deadly Shootings in Buffalo, New York and Laguna Woods, California
The Consortium of Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) mourns the loss of eleven precious lives—ten Black Americans in Buffalo, New York and one Asian American in Laguna Woods, California, and the wounding of many others. We join the nation in grief over these racially motivated murders that reflect the continued proliferation of targeted hate in our country.
(May 18,  2022) - Download [ PDF ]

Statement from Members of the Board of Directors
Some members of the CCD Board of Directors issued a statement in response to recent remarks made by the CDC Director that even if unintentional, fuel inaccurate and harmful misconceptions that the lives of people with disabilities are of lesser value. These Board members call on CDC to address the impact of these comments, ensure that disabled people and those most impacted are front and center in identifying solutions and redouble its efforts to ameliorate the impact of the pandemic on people with disabilities. CCD looks forward to continuing to work with the CDC on these shared goals to effectively safeguard the health and lives of people with disabilities through the pandemic and beyond.
(January 18,  2022) - Download [ PDF ]

CCD Board Statement on Anti-Asian Violence and Discrimination and the March 16th Shootings
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) decries the March 16th murders of eight individuals including six Asian American women in Atlanta, Georgia and all violence and discrimination against Asians and Asian Americans. We mourn the eight people killed on the 16th: Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, Xiaojie Tan, Yong Ae Yue, Hyun Jung Grant, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Daoyou Feng, and Paul Andre Michels. We stand in solidarity with those demanding justice and who reject systemic and structural oppression, misogyny, and racism; call on government and elected officials to reform policies and practices that allow racism and misogyny to flourish; and call on CCD members to listen to and learn from Asian American Pacific Islander communities and advocates.
(March 22,  2021) - Download [ PDF ]

Resolution to Establish Anti-Racism Committee
The CCD Board of Directors approved a resolution to decommission CCD’s Anti-Racism Work Group in order to establish a permanent, standing committee of the Board of Directors charged with maintaining and improving CCD’s commitment, policies, and practices to anti-racism within the organization, among disability advocacy organizations, and throughout the disability community and American society at large.
(January 11, 2021) - Download [ PDF ]

CCD Board Statement on Capitol Hill Riot
We are deeply dismayed by Wednesday’s violent takeover of the United States Capitol by white supremacist rioters in an attempt to disenfranchise voters’ selection of President-Elect Biden and Vice-President Elect Harris to lead our nation. As a coalition focused on protecting and promoting the civil rights of all people with disabilities, we advocate in those very halls to ensure that people with disabilities have the freedom and opportunity to exercise individual decisions concerning their own lives, welfare, and personal dignity, including the right to cast their ballots and have those ballots counted.
(January 8,  2021) - Download [ PDF ]

Request for Proposals / Proposals for Anti-Racism Consultant for CCD
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is initiating a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals from firms to lend professional expertise in the area of anti-racism, racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Proposals are due on December 2, 2020. Please share this proposal with any consultants you think would be a good fit for CCD's efforts.
(November 2,  2020) - Download [ PDF ]

CCD Board of Director's Statement on George Floyd
The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities decries the murders at the hands of law enforcement of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Malik Williams, and the countless other Black Americans who have lost their lives through similar circumstances but their names do not make the media. We are in solidarity with those demanding justice, who reject hate and racism, across the nation.
(June 3,  2020) - Download [ PDF ]

Statement from the CCD Board of Directors on the Passing of Judy Heumann
The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Board joins others around the world in mourning the passing of Judy Heumann, a lifelong leader, and fierce local, national and international disability rights advocate. Heumann passed away in Washington, D.C. on March 4th.
(March 6,  2023) - Download [ PDF ]