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Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council Welcomes New Policy Analyst  [Logo  Description automatically generated]

[cid:image004.jpg@01D72F88.F40A6A60]Boston, MA (April 12, 2021) - The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council is pleased to welcome Angela Ortiz as our new Disability Policy Analyst, effective April 14th.  Angela's responsibilities include conducting policy analysis, interacting with elected and appointed officials, and supporting the Council membership in undertaking policy education and awareness activities.
Angela is no stranger to working passionately with and for people with disabilities and families. She previously worked as the first Development and Communications Director for the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, where she saw firsthand the importance of family support, public awareness, and self-advocacy. Following the birth of her now 7-year old daughter Ayla, a twin born with significant complex medical needs, Angela launched a statewide grassroots coalition, the Massachusetts Pediatric Home Nursing Care Campaign, to address the dire shortage of skilled nursing services needed to care for the state's most medically fragile kids at home and in the community.  "Angela brings that unique combination of personal experience and professional skills to the job", said Daniel Shannon, MDDC Executive Director.  "She will be a great asset to the Council and the disability community".
Angela possesses master's degrees in both Business Administration and Public Administration in Health & Disability Policy and completed the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) fellowship. She was a member of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women's 2018 Class of Unsung Heroines.
About the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council - The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) is an independent agency funded by the federal government to work with the state of Massachusetts to better support people with developmental disabilities and their families.  MDDC's mission is to help people with developmental disabilities have opportunities to lead successful lives in their communities; by supporting inclusive education, greater employment opportunities, and the right to make choices about where, with whom, and how they live.