Prior to being sworn in as a member of the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC), Heather Pugh visited the capitol and advocated for individuals with disabilities in the county and the state of Missouri. With sheltered workshops closing around the country, Missouri continues to lead and Pugh continues to advocate. Sheltered workshops are an option for adults with disabilities to work, make money and create bonds with friends and coworkers under supervision. The workshops consider that 90% of the adults have a severe intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) diagnosis, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report; and work around accommodating their needs. Beginning in 2015 and through 2023, the following states have closed their sheltered workshops: New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Alaska, Oregon, Maine, Texas, Washington, Hawaii, Colorado, Minnesota, Delaware, California, Rhode Island, Tennessee, South Carolina, Illinois, and Virginia. New York,…