During the 2022 National Self-Direction Conference, Mary Sowers, the Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), presented the major trends impacting self-direction in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. She examined pervasive challenges such as the national workforce shortage and disparities among marginalized groups in their access to self-direction and home and community-based services. The discussion also included guidance for states on how to best take advantage of new resources, such as funding made available by the American Rescue Plan Act, to make significant investments in advancing self-direction.
