State Councils on Developmental Disabilities

State Councils on Developmental Disabilities Program Fact Sheet

What are State Councils on Developmental Disabilities?
State Councils on Developmental Disabilities are funded through formula grants authorized under Subtitle B of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act). State Councils are uniquely composed of individuals with developmental disabilities, parents and family members of people with developmental disabilities, representatives of State agencies that administer funds under Federal laws related to individuals with disabilities, and local and nongovernmental agencies. Members of a Council are appointed by a State’s governor. State Councils pursue systems change (e.g., the way human service agencies do business so that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have better or expanded services), advocacy (e.g., educating policy makers about unmet needs of individuals with developmental disabilities), and capacity building (e.g., working with state service agencies to provide training and benefits to direct care workers) to promote independence, self-determination, productivity, integration and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life.

Who administers the State Council grant program?
The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) is the Federal agency responsible for implementation and administration of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act). Organizationally, the Administration on Developmental Disabilities is located within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is part of the Department’s Administration for Children and Families. ADD’s FY2005 funding for the 55 State Councils is $72.469 million.

What are major activities of the State Councils?
Councils utilize strategies such as training, educating policy makers and communities, coalition development, barrier elimination, and demonstration of new approaches to service. These strategies are incorporated into a five-year State Plan that includes, and is based on, a comprehensive review and analysis of services, supports, and other assistance in the State available to individual with developmental disabilities. For example:

• Employment – Councils demonstrate and promote innovative employment methods such as supported employment and self-employment to assist individuals with developmental disabilities to get and keep jobs. Councils were instrumental in demonstrating supported employment programs, where people get and keep jobs through the help of a job coach. Tens of thousand of people have been employed through this method since its inception in the 1980s. Currently, some Councils are working with local business leadership networks, and State and local employment programs to help individuals with developmental disabilities start their own businesses. These innovative programs help to reduce the unemployment rate of individuals with developmental disabilities.
• In FY05, 3,838 individuals with developmental disabilities have jobs of their choice through Council efforts.
• Housing – Councils provide coordination and assistance in home ownership to people with developmental disabilities. Innovative programs such as Home of Your Own (HOYO) bring together real estate agents, mortgage lenders and bankers to secure down payments and low-interest loans thus easing the process of home ownership for individuals with developmental disabilities with modest financial resources.
• In FY05, 2,400 people with developmental disabilities have homes of their choice through Councils’ efforts.
• Education – Councils provide training and technical assistance to school systems to support the inclusion of children with developmental disabilities in their neighborhood schools. Councils also work to change policies that isolate or exclude children with developmental disabilities through systems change efforts such as educating policy makers.
• In FY05, 19,803 students with developmental disabilities have the education and support they need to reach their educational goals through Councils’ efforts.
• Quality Assurance – Councils provide training and support so that individuals with developmental disabilities can advocate for themselves and others, develop leadership skills, participate in their communities, exercise choice and control over their lives, and play a role in the development of public policies that affect them.
• In FY05, 79,139 people benefited from quality assurance efforts of Councils.

How do Council’s work for systems change, advocacy, and capacity building?
Central to the DD Act is the concept of self-determination. Councils work in partnership with individuals with developmental disabilities and family members to encourage the development of a consumer and family centered comprehensive service system. The table below summarizes the number of people with developmental disabilities and family members who were active in systems advocacy in FY05.

UPDATED on 12/01/06

Want more information about the State Council program?
Visit the ADD website or contact ADD Regional or Central Office staff. Contact information is available at ADD Staff.