graphic banner showing ABCD provides policy analysis, information, education and advocacy

Value of Membership

ABCD Services to Member Organizations

  1. Up-to-date information on national and state legislative and executive disability related initiatives.
  2. Policy analyses on national and state trends that impact people with developmental disabilities.
  3. Representation at the policy table during legislative and administrative policy development and initiation.
  4. Forums for collegial exchange of trends, information and joint administrative support.
  5. Information and resources to communicate with other community organizations regarding disability and accessibility issues.
  6. Opportunities for increased community awareness about people with multiple disabilities and their needs.
  7. The development and support of innovative responses to the needs of people with disabilities.

Process for Membership

ABCD’s membership is open to non-profit organizations that support ABCD’s mission statement.

The executive of a potential member agency will express interest in membership. The Executive Director and/or members of the potential member agency’s Board will meet with ABCD’s Executive Director to review the benefits and responsibilities of membership.

ABCD has two levels of Membership: Full Member and Associate Member

The Board created the level of Associate Member to increase membership and to have an expanded base of relationships with public policy officials, especially legislators. Associate members will receive all of the information provided to other members. Associate members are listed as members of ABCD in any disseminated information to the legislators and the executive branch. They have the same duties as members including providing input and information on a routine and emergent basis. The Associate members also serve on committees convened by ABCD. Associate members have no right to vote on any matter required by law, the certificate of incorporation or the by-laws. Associate members are not included in setting ABCD's policy agency. policy agenda.

Agencies are invited to join ABCD as a full or associate member.

Dues for a full member are 0.24% of an agency's total operating budget (with a cap of $35,000). Dues for associate members are set at 0.06% of an agency's total operating budget (with a cap of $8,000).

Application Process

The potential member agency must indicate that it will support ABCD’s activities, including its willingness to attend ABCD meetings, providing requested information, serving on ABCD committees, and representing ABCD at meetings with State government and other entities.

A potential member agency must be sponsored by membership by at least one current ABCD member agency. The sponsor must be familiar with the work, mission and philosophy of the potential member.

The potential member agency will fill out a membership application to document programmatic activity, mission and its support of ABCD’s mission.

A new member must be approved for membership by two-thirds of ABCD’s full members.