Ep 156: Dignity, Technology, and the Future of Disability Services

Valerie Huhn, Director of Missouri's Department of Mental Health and President of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), discusses her career in public service and key issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She highlights the importance of collaboration among states, improving health outcomes, addressing oversight concerns around service quality and Medicaid funding, and leveraging technology to increase independence and efficiency. Huhn emphasizes initiatives such as integrating health and long-term support records, expanding technology-enabled supports, and modernizing service systems. She also shares her role on a federal healthcare advisory committee focused on vulnerable Medicaid populations. Her core recommendations are to promote the dignity of risk, support individuals through a flexible continuum of care, and recognize that successful outcomes depend on comprehensive supports—including housing, transportation, healthcare, and community services—that help people with IDD live meaningful, independent lives.