CDD’s Tom Camacho steps down from post

CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities executive director Thomas J. Camacho has resigned from his post effective Jan. 7, ending nearly 12 years with the council and 13 years with the CNMI government.

Camacho, who has been with the council since 1997, tendered his resignation to council chair Mariano K. Camacho, citing his family and a job offer in California as reasons for his decision to step down.

In his resignation letter dated Dec. 24, 2004, Camacho informed chair Camacho that the 11 years and 10 months that he has been with the council have been “an incredible learning experience for me.”

“I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my involvement with each of you, the projects/programs and staffs of the CNMI CDD. Personally and professionally, my experiences have been invaluable and rewarding and have prepared me for future career demands,” reads part of Camacho’s letter.

Chair Camacho said the CNMI and the council, most especially those with developmental disabilities and their families, will lose a great disability advocate in Camacho.

“Tom will be missed very much. I respect and support his decision to leave the council,” said chair Camacho. “One thing I would say about Tom is that he has the heart and what it takes to be a true and strong advocate for people with disabilities, not only because he is very knowledgeable about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, but his understanding of the principle, spirit and intent of the U.S. Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. He introduced new programs and brought in millions of federal dollars to the CNMI to support people with developmental and other disabilities and their families.”

The council first recruited Camacho in March 1993 as the ADA Coordination project coordinator. He was solely responsible to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A year later he was promoted to the position of Program Officer responsible for numerous activity coordination and implementation mandated in the State Plan Goals, Objectives and Activities of the Council DD program. He continued to provide ADA technical assistance to public and private entities and the entire community.

Since his appointment in 1997, Camacho inherited three programs—the DD State Basic Program, ADA Coordination Project and the Assistive Technology Project—with a $350,000 annual budget staffed by five persons to include secretarial, administrative and professional.

Camacho was responsible for newly established programs/projects to include nationally recognized self-advocacy leadership training known today as the Ed Roberts Partners in Policy Islandstyle Academy, the CNMI Choice Program, the Family Support Project, and the Alternative Financing Program.