About this episode

Valerie Huhn discusses her career and key issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, emphasizing the role of technology and collaboration in improving 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.

People in this episode

Guest: Valerie Huhn

Topics covered

• disability services
• technology in healthcare
• public service
• intellectual and developmental disabilities
• health outcomes
• service quality
• independence

Keywords

• disability services
• technology
• healthcare
• Medicaid
• independence
• public service
• support systems
• collaboration
• service quality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Missouri's Department of Mental Health, National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, Medicaid, federal healthcare advisory committee

More episodes of IDD Health Matters

• Ep 157: Person-Centered Support in Action: Practical Tools for Better Outcomes · July 20, 2026 · 31 min
• Ep 155: Empowering Lifelong Learning for People with Disabilities · July 2, 2026 · 20 min
• Ep 154: IDD Perspectives Webinar with Jonathon Crumley · June 29, 2026 · 55 min
• Ep 153: Fixing Care and Workforce Challenges in Developmental Disabilities · June 22, 2026 · 34 min
• Ep 152: From Overlooked to Advocate: Neil Romano's Fight for Disability Rights and Respect · June 15, 2026 · 36 min

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