The Board

Stephanie Smith Lee, Board President, is the National Down Syndrome Congress Policy & Advocacy Co-Director and has over 35 years of public policy expertise, including senior Congressional staff positions. Since her daughter, Laura, was born with Down syndrome in 1982, she has led successful disability advocacy efforts at the local, state, and Federal levels. As the Director of the US Office of Special Education Programs, she was responsible for the implementation of IDEA, the federal special education law. As Co-Chair of the Inclusive Higher Education Committee, she led the successful effort to obtain federal financial aid and authorize model programs for postsecondary students with ID.

Madeleine C. Will, Vice President, is a policy expert and advisor. Madeleine has more than 35 years of experience successfully advocating for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. Since her adult son, Jonathan, was born with Down syndrome, she has led successful disability policy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels. She served as the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under President Reagan. In 2007, Madeleine founded the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination.

Tom Sannicandro, JD, PhD, Treasurer, has been practicing law for over 20 years in the areas of disability and special education law, and estate planning. He was formerly the Director of the Institute for Community Inclusion. Tom served in the Massachusetts legislature for 12 years where he authored a number of groundbreaking laws that empower people with disabilities.

Elise McMillan, JD, Clerk, Elise McMillan, JD, Clerk, is the former Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) in Nashville, Tennessee. A journalist and attorney, she began her work in the disability field 35 years ago after the birth of her son with Down Syndrome. At the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, she led programs in employment, inclusive higher education and projects that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and their communities. Her interest in inclusive higher education began when her son wanted to attend college just like his brother and sister. She was one of the founding members of the Tennessee Inclusive Higher Education Alliance and the first faculty director of Next Steps at Vanderbilt. She has held leadership roles in numerous national, state, and community disability organizations, including The Arc US.