About DDNA
Incorporated in 1992, the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit nursing specialty organization that is committed to advocacy, education, and care for nurses who provide services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). DDNA believes that I/DD nurses are the experts in this specialty area of nursing. Our goal is to foster the growth of nursing knowledge and expertise about optimal care of persons with I/DD, thereby improving their care, services, and quality of life.
Thousands of DD nurses, student nurses, and supporters are united to promote high quality education, national recognition, and certification in this important, highly skilled area of nursing practice. DDNA's members share a common purpose -- to enhance developmental disabilities nursing practice through networking and education -- effecting positive change for persons with developmental disabilities locally, nationally, and globally. DDNA supports this common purpose by: offering continuously updated news relevant to the care of persons with I/DD, with more than 1,000 references on its website; providing high-quality education in the form of conferences and online learning (CE); promoting and supporting opportunities for professional networking among members through our regional chapters/networks and online; publishing a peer-reviewed scholarly online journal in I/DD nursing; and offering certification in the specialty of I/DD nursing to both RNs and LPN/LVNs via experience, examination, and continuing education.
The Board of Directors
President - S. Diane Moore, BSN, RN, CDDN
Ms. Moore is the co-owner of Innovative Outcomes, Inc., a privately held Texas based company which provides a comprehensive array of services to individuals [ more ]
Ms. Moore is the co-owner of Innovative Outcomes, Inc., a privately held Texas based company which provides a comprehensive array of services to individuals with developmental disabilities in residential and natural home settings. She has been a Registered Nurse for over 25 years, with more than 20 years of experience in the field of developmental disabilities. Ms. Moore has been a member of DDNA since 1993 and in 1994, she co-founded DDNA of North Texas, where she served as the network President for six years. She has served at the national level since 2001, serving as the First Vice President of DDNA from January 2001 through December 2007. Ms. Moore currently serves as the President-Elect of DDNA, with her term as President beginning in January 2010. Her areas of interest include ensuring appropriate intervention and management for persons with challenging behaviors and developing quality health education programs for direct support staff.
President-Elect - Kathy Brown, RN, BA, CDDN
Kathy has been working in the field of developmental disabilities for 35 years. She is the Director of Development for Pharmacy Alternatives [ more ]
Kathy has been working in the field of developmental disabilities for 35 years. She is the Director of Development for Pharmacy Alternatives, a pharmacy that provides pharmacy services and medications systems exclusively for the I/DD population, with an emphasis on self administration of medication. She has worked in the DD field for the last 32 years, 17 of which have been with the pharmacy. She helped start the Northern Illinois DD Network in 1994 and has served as president for the past 15 years. She has attended the DDNA national conference for the last 14 years and has been an exhibitor there as well. She helped craft legislation for medication delegation in Illinois and taught the course for 7 years, training over 600 nurses. She is very interested in developing DDNA networks, increasing membership for DDNA, and increasing the number of nurses sitting for the certification exam. She has presented at several national conferences.
Vice President - Judy Stych BS, RN, CDDN
Judy is a Nurse Consultant/Quality Specialist in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Family Care program - an innovative Medicaid managed care program supporting individuals with physical and intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and frail elders. [ more ]
Judy is a Nurse Consultant/Quality Specialist in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Family Care program - an innovative Medicaid managed care program supporting individuals with physical and intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and frail elders. Judy chose the specialty of I/DD early in her 30 year nursing career and has served children and adults and their families in clinical, community, supervisory and teaching positions. In 1996, she founded the WI Chapter of DDNA. She has served as President, Secretary, and is currently Vice President. Collaborating with several strategic community partners, in 2007, Judy spearheaded the development of a WI pilot project of the College of Direct Support, an online learning management system designed to enhance training and development of competent direct support professionals supporting individuals with I/DD. Currently, Judy also serves as Clinical Director of the Special Olympics Wisconsin Healthy Athletes Health Promotion program which has provided her the opportunity to not only raise awareness about the health disparities of individuals with I/DD particularly among public health colleagues, but to pursue her passion to promote and support self-directed prevention and wellness lifestyles for individuals with I/DD.
Secretary - Richanne Cunningham, RN, QMRP, CDDN
Richanne Cunningham has been specializing as a nurse in the field of I/DD for more than 12 years and has been passionately involved with the Special [ more ]
Richanne Cunningham has been specializing as a nurse in the field of I/DD for more than 12 years and has been passionately involved with the Special Olympics for almost 40 years. Currently a Nurse Service Coordinator and Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP) for ARCA, a non-profit organization providing residential supports for individuals with DD, Richanne oversees two ICF/MR homes. In 1999, Richanne helped to create the New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association and has served as both Secretary and Treasurer for NMDDNA for many years. She is currently the President of NMDDNA. She is supportive of education, and has assisted in the development of various types of training, such as the copyrighted Certified Medication Aides training presentation.
Treasurer - Linda Tupper, RN, CDDN
Linda has been a member of DDNA since 1995. She is the current President of the Mid-Florida Developmental Disabilities Nurse Network and also served as [ more ]
Linda has been a member of DDNA since 1995. She is the current President of the Mid-Florida Developmental Disabilities Nurse Network and also served as Treasurer. She is a member of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (formerly AAMR) and an active member of the Health Action Group. She has served as Health Care Chair for the Southeast AAIDD and is currently the General Chair. With close to 21 years in the field of Developmental Disability nursing, she has worked in both facility and community settings. She currently works for Delmarva and is the RN Consultant for the Florida Statewide Quality Assurance Program for Individuals on the Home and Community Based DD Waivers. Linda is a frequent presenter at both local and national conferences and promotes the field of developmental disabilities nursing at every opportunity.
