Statewide Autism Programs Move to Department of Education

The Delaware Office of Statewide Autism Programs is now part of the Delaware Department of Education.

The office, once also known as the Delaware Autism Program, provides supports to students with an educational classification of autism. Christina School District formerly administered the state-funded program. The Delaware General Assembly made the change through epilogue language.

The move, which took effect Jan. 1, 2023, brings Director Mary Whitfield and two training specialists (one position is vacant) to a newly created Autism Resources Workgroup on the department’s Academic Support Team. The Autism Resources Workgroup will collaborate with the department’s Exceptional Children’s Resources Workgroup, which supports students with disabilities including autism.

“As a statewide program, moving the office to a state agency just makes sense. The change allows us to better coordinate with other state supports and programs so ultimately we can better serve our children with autism,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said.

The Autism Resources Workgroup will continue to provide training and technical assistance on evidence-based educational programming to public school teams who support students with autism so these students can become productive, socially connected, and personally fulfilled members of the community. It will continue to  provide school teams with the knowledge and abilities to develop academic, daily living, social, and vocational skills in students with autism as well as support families with the development of these skills when working with students at home.

The Delaware Office of Statewide Autism Programs previously administered a respite program as part of its services. As of Jan. 1, pediatric respite now is available through the state’s Medicaid program.


State, Christina collaborate on future of Delaware Autism Program

The Delaware Department of Education, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of the Controller General, and Christina School District have been working together to best support students with autism and their families through the Delaware Autism Program.

The Delaware Autism Program will continue to be administered by the Christina School District. Please see the attached letter to legislative leadership that outlines the agreement between the four agencies.

Secretary Bunting, Superintendent Gregg, Director Jackson and Controller General Morton and their teams are united in the work they are doing and appreciate the passion behind ensuring the success of the Delaware Autism Program.


New Director to Lead Division of Developmental Disabilities Services

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 31, 2018) – Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Walker announced the appointment of Marie Nonnenmacher, a former deputy director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS), to lead the division. She will begin her duties Feb. 5.

“I am thrilled that Marie is rejoining our Department as director of DDDS,” Secretary Walker said. “Her strong experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families will serve her well in this new role, as will her more than 35 years of public service across many departments in state government. With her Medicaid, budgeting and financial background, she understands how we can leverage federal and state resources to best support the more than 4,000 Delawareans we serve in the Division.”

Nonnenmacher served as deputy director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services from November 2012 until her retirement in August 2017. During her tenure, her accomplishments included producing the 2014-2019 renewal of the DDDS federal Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver that received federal approval in less than 90 days. She also amended the DDDS HCBS Medicaid waiver to double the number of recipients and all individuals living in the family home enrolled for waiver benefits. And working with colleagues across DHSS, she developed a cross-disability employment program for young people age 14-25 called Pathways to Employment, funded by Medicaid.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues at DDDS and other stakeholders to continue the course of work on which the division embarked several years ago,” Nonnenmacher said. “That work focused on recognizing and supporting the needs of self-advocates and families with loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in the family home. There is much more to be done, however, and I am happy to be able to play a role in the next phase of this important work.”

At DHSS, Nonnenmacher formerly served as Chief of Financial Management for the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance. Prior to that, she worked as Cost Recovery Administrator for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families; Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst with the Delaware State Budget Office; and Management Analyst with the Department of Labor.

Nonnenmacher has a master’s of public administration from the College of Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Delaware in public financial management, program evaluation and policy analysis. She has a bachelor of arts from UD in political science and economics.

Previously, Secretary Walker had announced the appointment of Damaris Piliro to lead DDDS, but she had to withdraw for personal reasons.

-30-

The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.


Lt. Governor Unveils Website for Teachers

Professional Development Videos Provide Information on Working with Children with Special Needs

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn unveiled a new website – www.frontoftheclassDE.com – full of videos created by teachers, for teachers, that focus on educating children with special needs.

Watch Lt. Governor Denn share his idea for this project here: http://de.gov/frontofclass

Some of the organizations that will promote the website and share with their members are the Delaware Autism Program, Delaware Parent Teacher Association, Delaware State Board of Education, Delaware State Education Association, and the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens.

A full list of acknowledgements for all of those that generously volunteered their time for this project in on the website, but the Lt. Governor wants to extend special thanks to Dr. Vince Winterling and the Delaware Autism Program, Dr. Laura Dewey of Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital, Dom Squittiere and Corey Bowen of Red Clay Consolidated School District, The Centreville Layton School and The Pilot School. Additionally, thanks to Catherine Miller and Ann Calamia of HNH Multimedia Productions for their work in bringing this year-long project to life.