SINCE 2016
The Alliance for Citizen Directed Supports was established to ensure opportunities for people with disabilities to live fully-included lives of their own design through self-direction.
Our History
In September 2015, a group of advocates from across the country began meeting in response to a surge in public support for placing people with disabilities in segregated and gated communities that denied them human rights. The Alliance was founded in 2016 by advocates who opposed this move to greater segregation and isolation. These advocates wanted to organize to ensure that people with disabilities could freely determine where they’d live, who’d provide their services and supports, and how they’d pursue their own personal and career goals through self-direction.
The Alliance unifies people with disabilities, families, organizations, and advocates dedicated to advancing self-direction. We are an inclusive community that is not about one type of disability or identity, but that comes together in support of the shared commitment that everyone should be in charge of their own lives. Together, our members share their knowledge of how to promote and enable full lives and supports that are designed, implemented, and evaluated by the people receiving them.
What Drives Us
Our Mission
The Alliance is dedicated to supporting people with disabilities who wish to take charge of their lives through self-direction and those people and organizations that support them.
Nicki Sebastian Photography
Help Change a Life
5 Reasons Why
01. Make Connections
Be part of an inclusive community of people, families, and organizations that share your commitment to self-direction.
02. Keep Learning
Learn through webinars, newsletters, our resource hub and through stories of people self-directing their services.
03. Get Answers
Ask questions and advice of our experienced members and leaders.
04. Amplify Your Voice
We?ll provide you with tools and opportunities to advocate for self-direction and the human rights of people with disabilities.
05. Be A Pioneer
This is the best time to join the self-direction movement; we are growing rapidly every day as segregated facilities close across the U.S. and people realize the efficiency and efficacy of services that prioritize personal freedom.
The people that rock
Our Board Members
Caitlin Bailey
Marian Frattarola-Saulino
Nancy Weiss
Board Treasurer
Co-Founder of The Alliance
nancy@citizendirectedsupports.org
Pamela Harvey Photography
Lateef mcleod
Board of Directors
lateefmcleod@citizendirectedsupports.org
ANITA CAMERON
Board of Directors
DJSavarese@citizendirectedsupports.org
Pamela Harvey Photography
KYLA MUNDWILLER
Board of Directors
KylaMundwiller@citizendirectedsupports.org
Priya Penner
Board of Directors
PriyaPenner@citizendirectedsupports.org
EDWARD WILLARD
Board of Directors
EdwardWillard@citizendirectedsupports.org
Amanda Rich
Lydia X.Z. Brown
Board of Directors
lydia@citizendirectedsupports.org
David (DJ) Savarese
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Sign up for our email list and we'll keep you up-to-date with the latest news, events, and resources relevant to the self-direction community.
Our updates will help you overcome challenges to self-direction through personal insights and stories from our members. You'll also have opportunities to advocate for and support expanding self-direction for all.