As a sibling of a person with a developmental disability, Alison Whyte has been working toward full inclusion of people with disabilities in work, school, and community life for as long as she can remember. Currently, Alison serves people with disabilities and their families in the District of Columbia as the Executive Director of the DC Developmental Disabilities Council. In this role, Alison leads grassroots efforts to build an inclusive DC community through policy advocacy and program development that promotes self-determination, integration, and social justice. Alison is also a certified trainer in person centered thinking through The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices (TLCPCP) and a member of the Supporting Families Community of Practice. Alison has prior experiences in research and statistical analysis, capacity building, policy advocacy, leadership development, and coalition building with organizations such as the DC Department on Disability Services, The Arc of DC, Best Buddies, the United Nations, the World Bank and the Montana Youth Leadership Forum. Additionally, Alison serves on the Board of Directors for Art Enables, an art studio in DC, and as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of TLCPCP.

Alison has a Master’s of Social Work and Public Policy from the University of Michigan, where she focused on community organizing and policy advocacy as strategies for social change. Alison loves animals, being outdoors as much as possible, biking around DC, and practicing her Spanish and American Sign Language skills.