In this episode, we talk with Sheila Wunning, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities at the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Sheila has worked in the field of developmental disabilities since 1996, with experience spanning community-based services, targeted case management, behavioral health supports, and state-operated programs. Before entering the developmental disability field, she worked within the criminal justice system and saw firsthand how individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs often became trapped in cycles of incarceration without appropriate supports in place. Her career has included leadership roles at Options for Justice, the St. Louis Office for DD Resources, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health, where she became Division Director in 2025.

In this conversation, we explore recent federal and state Medicaid conversations, how Missouri’s developmental disability system is structured, and what these changes could mean for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), families, providers, and communities. Sheila also shares insights from her experience across systems and discusses the importance of home- and community-based services, early intervention, and cross-system collaboration.

Takeaways:

• Missouri’s Division of Developmental Disabilities supports approximately 44,000 individuals through a combination of home- and community-based services, targeted case management, crisis supports, and state-operated programs.

• Medicaid plays a critical role in funding services and supports for individuals with IDD, including home- and community-based services that help people live independently in their communities.

• Common misconceptions about Medicaid often overlook the complexity of disability services and the importance of long-term supports for individuals and families.

• Community-based services can help prevent unnecessary hospitalization, institutionalization, and involvement with the criminal justice system.

• Individuals with IDD and co-occurring behavioral health needs often face gaps in services that require stronger collaboration across disability, behavioral health, healthcare, and justice systems.

• Early intervention, crisis stabilization, and proactive supports can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life for individuals with complex needs.

• Innovation within Missouri’s developmental disability system includes expanded crisis response efforts, psychiatric stabilization supports, and partnerships across agencies and providers.

Resources in this episode:
Missouri Department of Mental Health – Division of Developmental Disabilities Website: https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities
Learn more about Missouri’s Home and Community Based Services: https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/service-providers/hcbs-info
Missouri Department of Mental Health Website: https://dmh.mo.gov/

DDD Weekly Newsletter Blast - Link to subscribe: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/IZJqgUz

Acronym Guide:
HCBS: Home- and Community-Based Services
IDD: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
ICF/IID: Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
DD: Developmental Disabilities
DMH: Department of Mental Health
TCM: Targeted Case Management
HUD: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Interview Transcript: ihd.umkc.edu/products

For more information about UMKC-Institute for Human Development, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ihd.umkc.edu

Our guest today is Mark Wheatley, Assistant Commissioner of Special Education at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Mark began his career as a physical education teacher and elementary principal before transitioning into special education, where he served as an adaptive PE teacher and administrator in Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled. He brings a systems-level perspective shaped by both classroom and statewide leadership experience.

In this conversation, we explore how special education policy translates into practice, what current federal conversations mean (and don’t mean) for Missouri, and how the state is rethinking long-standing systems to better support students with disabilities—particularly through a shift toward more inclusive practices.

Takeaways:

• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) continues to anchor special education services, guaranteeing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities.

• Federal changes may create uncertainty, but state responsibilities and expectations for serving students remain consistent.

• Inclusion requires more than placement—it depends on strong collaboration between general and special educators.

• Missouri’s “MSSD Reimagined” effort reflects a broader shift away from separate settings toward more inclusive, community-based education.

• Decisions about services and placement are made by IEP teams, with families playing a central role.

• Clear communication and accessible information are critical for helping families navigate complex systems and ongoing changes

Resources in this episode:

• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Website: https://dese.mo.gov/

• For more information on the IDEA: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/

• For more information on Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled (MSSD): https://dese.mo.gov/special-education/missouri-schools-severely-disabled

Acronym Guide:

LEA: Local Education Agency

IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

ESN: Extensive Support Needs

MSSD: Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled

UCEDD: University Center for Excellence Developmental Disabilities

LEND: Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Interview Transcript: ihd.umkc.edu/products

For more information about UMKC-Institute for Human Development, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ihd.umkc.edu

In this conversation, we speak with Robyn Linscott, Director of Education & Family Policy at The Arc of the United States. Drawing on her experience as a special education teacher, Capitol Hill staffer, and advocate, Robyn offers a national perspective on how federal policy shapes special education across the country. She explains the role of the federal government in funding, enforcement, and oversight through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and breaks down what recent federal changes—particularly within the U.S. Department of Education—could mean for students with disabilities, families, and educators. The conversation explores the disconnect between policy and classroom realities, the strain on school systems due to chronic underfunding, and the uncertainty created by shifting federal priorities. Robyn emphasizes the importance of maintaining federal protections while encouraging advocacy at every level to ensure students with disabilities continue to receive the supports they need.

Takeaways:

• The federal government’s role in special education centers on funding, enforcement, and oversight—not day-to-day school operations.
• IDEA guarantees students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education, but it has never been fully funded as originally intended.
• Underfunding creates significant pressure on school districts, educators, and service providers.
• There is often a disconnect between policymakers and classroom realities, highlighting the need for lived experience in policy spaces.
• Changes within the U.S. Department of Education—especially around staffing and enforcement—can create uncertainty and instability at the local level.
• Enforcement mechanisms, like federal oversight and the Office for Civil Rights, are critical for protecting student rights.
• School systems are often forced to meet minimum legal requirements rather than optimal supports due to limited resources.
• Advocacy at all levels—from federal policy to local school boards—plays a key role in protecting and strengthening special education systems.

Resources in this episode:

• The Arc of the United States: https://thearc.org/
• The Arc Advocacy Center (Take Action): https://thearc.org/take-action/
• IDEA Overview: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
• OSEP State Determinations: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/spp-apr/

Acronym Guide:

UCEDD: University Center for Excellence Developmental Disabilities

LEND: Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IEP: Individualized Education Program

OSEP: Office of Special Education Programs

OCR: Office for Civil Rights

Interview Transcript: ihd.umkc.edu/products

For more information about UMKC-Institute for Human Development, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ihd.umkc.edu