Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services staff announcement

The Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) has restructured several positions to address and respond to program administration needs. Effective December 18, 2017, the following staffing changes will be implemented:

Director of Client ServicesHolly Wimsatt with be assuming her new role as director of client services in BDDS. Holly has been promoted to this revised role to serve as a liaison between BDDS and other partnering agencies who support the needs and services of BDDS program participants. Holly will coordinate efforts and initiatives supporting person-centered thinking and practices and LifeCourse Framework concepts in the processes and procedures implemented by BDDS. This position works very closely, and in conjunction with the director of field operations to ensure efficiencies and operational needs in district offices are balanced with person-centered philosophies and practices.  Holly has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and has been a valuable member of the BDDS team for over 14 years.

Director of Field OperationsBDDS is pleased to have Scott Sullivan join the leadership team as the director of field operations. BDDS recently developed this new leadership position within the bureau.  Scott will serve to coordinate new hire onboarding, training, customer service practices, and identification of resource needs (technology or otherwise) for the BDDS district offices and staff.  Scott has worked for the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) for the past two years as the DDRS technology coordinator. Previous to his time with the state he worked at Franklin College as an academic technology administrator, working with faculty, staff and students with a focus on classroom technology. He earned a degree in education from Ball State University and is currently the school board president at Franklin Township Community School Corporation in Marion County. 

Family Engagement SpecialistAdditionally, Heather Dane will be joining BDDS as a family engagement specialist. This state-level position will serve as one way for BDDS to engage with families through regional meeting opportunities, family resource material development based on the LifeCourse Framework philosophy, and technical assistance to families directly as needed.  In this role, Heather will also provide educational support to families on system navigation needs and leverage her direct family experiences in BDDS services to improve BDDS communications with stakeholders.

Heather Dane most recently worked as a health information specialist with Family Voices Indiana where she assisted families and professionals in navigating the various systems serving children with special health care needs. Prior to that, she worked as a family advocate for the Arc of Indiana assisting families and individuals with developmental disabilities in finding services and resources. Heather has a bachelor’s of business administration degree with a concentration in marketing from Marian University where she graduated with highest honors. Heather is also the proud parent of two children, Joseph and Mikayla, who happen to have complex medical needs and multiple disabilities.