Kirsten Murphy is the Executive Director of the Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council where she has worked since 2013. She is President, Board of Directors for the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities.

She began her career in non-profit management in the 80’s developing programs for high-risk youth in New York City and Boston. Her interests turned to disability rights and community inclusion when two of her children were diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

Kirsten founded a family support program, ARCH, serving the Upper Valley region of NH and VT, directed the New Hampshire Autism Council, and is credited with securing equitable insurance coverage for NH children who experience the interfering symptoms of autism. She is a 2010 graduate of the Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (LEND) through the University of New Hampshire. Now a resident of Montpelier, VT, she brings over three decades of experience in public policy, systems thinking and advocacy.