Alison Whyte
Executive Director

Alison Whyte is the Executive Director of the DC Developmental Disabilities Council, leading grassroots efforts to engage families and advocates in systems and culture change through policy advocacy and program development. Alison has Co-Facilitated several systems change initiatives in DC, including the Supporting Families Community of Practice, Community of Practice for Cultural and Linguistic Competence, and the Bridging Aging and Disability Networks and Racial Equity Community of Practice. Alison engages with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to support person-centered practices, self-advocacy and leadership, employment, and other initiatives that help people live and thrive in their community. Alison loves calling DC home, meeting dogs, biking around DC, and planning her next adventure. 

Carla McCaskill
Program Support Specialist

Carla McCaskill joined DC Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) in July 2021 as a Program Support Specialist. She is from El Salvador and is a SODA (Sibling of a Deaf Adult). Carla is trilingual in Spanish, English, and American Sign Language. Carla has an extensive background in the finance sector. She previously served as a Program Support Assistant for the Department of Insurance Securities and Banking under the Office of Financial Empowerment and Education Department. She supported various year-round programs, including Financial Navigators and Bank on DC. Mrs. McCaskill will focus on the following goals for DC Developmental Disabilities Council. We are developing and implementing a communication plan for people with disabilities and their families and educating the community about DDC priorities to connect with a diverse community of people with Developmental Disabilities. Support the Latinx communities in civil rights and information about disability services. Share news in Spanish quarterly through social media and the DDC website. Support and develop an awareness campaign that centers the voices of people with disabilities and their families with diverse cultural identities. Provide administrative support with procurement and financing, leading the Planning committee for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Carla earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Sustainability at Mary Baldwin University. She is a wife and mother of two, lives in Ward 5, and enjoys spending time with family and knitting hats. 

Kevin Wright
Program Support Assistant

Kevin Wright is a native Washingtonian with a learning disability and speech impairment. However, Kevin does not view these as barriers; rather, he believes his quiet nature is his only obstacle. Growing up, Kevin attended two private schools. He attended Accotink Academy in Springfield, VA from kindergarten to eighth grade. Kevin attended Kingsbury Day School in Washington, DC for high school, graduating in his senior year. Afterward, he went to Mitchell College, a private four-year institution in New London, CT, where he majored in Communications with a minor in Graphic Design. Kevin received support from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) throughout high school and college.

Following college, Kevin’s persistence and networking led to a six-month internship with the Department on Disability Services (DDS) through the Aspiring Professionals Internship Program, a program focused on Employment First initiatives. This program places qualified individuals with disabilities in paid positions within District government agencies. As a result of his internship, Kevin was hired as a contractor for DDS under the DC Learners & Earners initiative. Kevin contributed to employment and advocacy efforts by presenting at national conferences, conducting trainings, creating and editing materials, and mentoring others.

In 2016, Kevin became a certified trainer for the People Planning Together program, which empowers people with developmental disabilities to create their own life plans and gain independence. He worked with DDS for five years before starting a new journey with the DC Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) in 2021, where he now serves as a Program Support Assistant.

Kevin’s former ultimate career goal was to mentor young adults by sharing his own experiences and helping them develop their career paths. His new objective is to spotlight as many individuals as possible, with or without developmental disabilities, allowing them to share their stories, accomplishments, and insights with professionals and employers, highlighting the benefits of hiring individuals with developmental disabilities.

Luz Zenaida Collazo Rosado
Administrative Support Specialist

Luz Zenaida Collazo Rosado comes to the DC Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) with 20 years of professional experience that includes serving, supporting, and advocating for the full participation and inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in society. Currently, she participates in a collaborative effort with agencies and organizations to promote practices on cultural diversity and linguistics for the inclusion of people with disabilities in DC. As a sibling of a person with DD, Luz firmly believes that persons with I/DD speak for themselves and make decisions about how to live their lives in an inclusive community.

Contact Email: [email protected]