PADDNN has been in existance for 11 years.  For the past 7 years we have had the opportunity and support to provide an annual educational conference for all nurses in Pa.  It has been held at the Eden Resort in Lancaster County for the past several years and is always well attended.  This year our conference was “7 Years of Success through 11 Years of Caring.”  We were honored to have presentations on “Childhood Obesity and the Impact on Adults with I/DD” by Dr. Sharon Falzone, RN; “Personality Disorders” by Dr. Michael DeWulf, PhD; “Sexuality and I/DD and Abuse and I/DD” by Sandy Shertz, RN; “Dysphagia Management and Control” by Debbie Lord, MA, SLP; and “Evidenced Based Nursing in I/DD” by Dr. Cherie Adkins, RN. 

Our wonderful and faithful sponsors allow us to continually provide this event each year.  Thanks to Rite Aid Corporation, Harrisburg and Good Day Pharmacies and Medisked.  This year we had the pleasure of Attorney Joseph Ramano donating a family guide on “Legal Rights of the Catastrophically Ill and Injured,” for each participant and Tina Espin, who is the Outreach Coordinator with the Regional Cancer Center (affiliated with the UPMC in Erie, Pa), who donated breast shower reminder cards for all in attendance.  

In addition to the education there was good food, prizes, beautiful gift filled baskets donated by each of our regional Health Care Quality Units and the opportunity to network with a group of incredible nurses from all over the state.

Our membership has grown to 187 and it is beyond belief that over one-half of those members were able to attend the annual conference.  There is something to be said about the dedication and commitment of the nurses who work in the field of developmental disabilities.  The constant growth of our organization provides us the opportunity to offer great future educational seminars as we continue to increase the number of our resources.  PADDNN is fortunate to have so many gifted members who define the present state of developmental disabilities nursing and who will influence the future.  Officers and contact information:

President                     Thelma Reed, RN, CDDN                

1^st V President           Sandy Corrigan, RN, CDDN                      

2^nd V President            Nita O’Toole, RN, BS                                 

Secretary                     Ronda Dysinger, LPN                                   

Treasurer                     Toby Wolfe, RN, BSN, CDDN