President

Morna A. Murray, J.D. is an expert in state and federal policy and programs for people with disabilities. She is a senior level executive who has successfully led strategic and innovative organizational change in the non-profit and governmental sectors. 

Morna is currently the Executive Director of Disability Rights Rhode Island (DRRI), the federally mandated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agency for the state of Rhode Island, dedicated to protecting and advocating for the legal rights of individuals with disabilities. She has more than 25 years experience working in public policy and advocacy in the private sector, state government, and the U.S. Senate. Prior to DRRI, Morna served as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services, and a member of Governor Dan Malloy’s cabinet. In that position, she oversaw state services for children and adults with disabilities throughout Connecticut. Prior to that, she was President and CEO of the Connecticut Community Providers Association, advocating and lobbying for disabilities and behavioral health non-profit providers at the state level. 

From 2007-2010, Morna served as Senior Counsel to Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA), leading all healthcare and children’s issues. She was Senator Casey’s lead staff during the development and passage of the Affordable Care Act. She worked with key national and state stakeholders in drafting legislation in the areas of autism, disabilities, early childhood, child care, mental health parity, and multiple other issues. Morna previously served as Director of Youth Development for the Children’s Defense Fund, Washington, D.C. 

Morna currently serves as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Autism Transitions Research Project (ATRP), a research program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, AJ Drexel Autism Institute’s Life Course Outcomes Research Program.  

A graduate of the George Washington University Law School, she is a member of the Connecticut, District of Columbia, and Florida Bars. She has two adult children and three grandchildren. She resides in the Washington, DC area.

Board Secretary

Stephanie has been an  Army Active Guard Reserve (AGR) spouse for the last 6 years. She has one child who was prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Stephanie has advocated for changes in policy regarding diagnosis delivery at a major hospital chain. She has mentored mothers who have a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome and is very active within the Down Syndrome community. Her son has been a part of a longitudinal study regarding early intervention and she is actively engaged in advocacy regarding inclusion in special education setting. Professionally, she is a Psychology Associate and conducts psychological evaluations within private practice. She hopes to use both her professional and personal experience to help military families and to engage in advocacy work