WV Developmental Disabilities Council

05/31/2026

WV DD Council Member, Samantha Ribeiro Matos, was recently in the spotlight at her job for her hard work and dedication. Congratulations and thank you for all you do for your community!

✨ Staff Spotlight Series — Day Three✨
Today, we are proud to highlight our Treatment Coordinator Samantha Ribeiro Matos.

At the 18th Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Program and Lewis/Upshur Community Recovery Centers, our mission is made possible by the dedicated individuals who serve our communities every single day.

We are excited with the launch our new Staff Spotlight Series — a chance to introduce the incredible people behind our programs, highlight their years of service, celebrate their accomplishments, and recognize the compassion and commitment they bring to the individuals and families we serve.

From leadership and case management to recovery support and community outreach, each member of our team plays an important role in creating positive change throughout our communities.

Over the coming weeks, you’ll get to know the faces behind the mission, learn about their passions, experience, and dedication, and celebrate the people who help make our programs stronger every day.

Stay tuned as we shine a light on the outstanding staff members who continue to make a difference across Lewis and Upshur Counties. 💙

05/30/2026

A big shout out to WV DD Council Member Sheri Mills for her continued advocacy on Capitol Hill. Council Members are making good things happen everyday!

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

Council member Shawn and his wife Jamie continue to advocate for the critical services and providers for children with autism.

ATHENS, WV (WVNS) — West Virginia is facing a critical lack of licensed behavioral health workers.  That is according to Mountaineer Autism Project, a group dedicated to bringing the nec…

05/13/2026

West Virginia lost a great man today. Kevin Smith was an advocacy champion. He advocated to uphold and protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities.

Kevin helped bring Partners in Policymaking to the WVDDC. Kevin's legacy as a former Council member still impacts Members today.

Kevin was the first Coordinator for People First of WV. Most recently he was a trainer for Person Centered Planning, and trained people across WV.

He touched many lives and we will remember him by all the wonderful stories we can share with others about his life.

We will greatly miss Kevin. We want to extend our condolences to his partner, Darla R Ervin.

05/09/2026

05/07/2026

We celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month each May, providing a great opportunity to talk about mental health and disability.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, adults with disabilities report experiencing mental distress almost 5 times as often as those without disabilities.

A CED study from 2018 examined barriers to services and explored service gaps for West Virginians with co-existing intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental health conditions. 395 mental health and/or I/DD service providers from across the state completed the survey.

The top 5 reported barriers to service were:
- Lack of in-state resources/services.
- Limited knowledge of existing resources.
- Lack of agency/service collaboration.
- Long waitlists.
- Lack of transportation.

How do we help remove these barriers? By advocating for services for people with I/DD and mental health conditions, raising awareness about existing services, creating new services, and improving access to care.

The CED's Mental Health Services provides individual, group, and family counseling in person and through virtual sessions. Individuals with at least one reported disability, their families, their providers, and people at risk of disability are all eligible for these services.

Learn more: https://cedwvu.org/mental-health-services/

Learn more about WV mental health resources by selecting the "Mental Health" tab on this resource page: https://cedwvu.org/resources/children-and-families/

WV Developmental Disabilities Council
NAMI Greater Wheeling/NAMI in West Virginia

05/06/2026

What does "Home" and "Community" mean me to you?

With home and community-based services being a topic of conversation, the WV DD Council would love to share how home and community-based services positively affect West Virginians.

What we are looking for:
-Your short story of how home and community- based services positively impacted your life or the life of your family member
-3-5 sentences we may share on social media
-A picture we may also share on social media

Email your story to [email protected].