Mary Poole has been named state director for the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN). The SC Commission on Disabilities and special needs voted unanimously today in support of her selection.

Ms. Poole will direct the SC state agency that plans, develops, oversees, and funds services for South Carolinians with severe, lifelong disabilities of intellectual disability, autism, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury and conditions related to each of these four disabilities. The state director is the agency’s chief executive. Appointed by the SC Commission on Disabilities and special needs, the state director has jurisdiction over five regional residential centers and all services provided through contracts with local disabilities and special needs boards and other service providers.

Ms. Poole has been working in the field of intellectual disabilities for over 25 years. She started her professional career as a third-shift weekend direct care staff at an intermediate care facility in the upstate of South Carolina. She has been a service coordination supervisor, a residential director, and a day program director at various agencies in South Carolina. Ms. Poole is the current executive director of Maxabilities of York County. She has a bachelor of science degree in sociology and a master of arts degree in business management. Ms. Poole served on the governor’s adoption and foster care task force, the SC Department of Health and Human Services' final rule transition team, and is one of the founding members and current chair of the SC disabilities service providers coalition. Ms. Poole and her husband are the proud parents of 10 children.