The Relationship of
State and Territory Councils on Developmental Disabilities
to the
 Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD)
 
 
The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) is the federal 
administering agency for the DD Act programs. As such, ADD is 
charged with funding and oversight of State and Territory Councils on 
Developmental Disabilities, Protection & Advocacy Programs, and 
University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities 
Education, Research and Service. Thus, Councils on Developmental 
Disabilities are grantees of ADD – and are accountable to ADD.
 
ADD develops program regulations and provides technical assistance 
and guidance to state programs. Central office and regional office 
staff are assigned to assist programs is each of the federal regions; 
these staff members are available and helpful. Should the 
Developmental Disabilities Council encounter problems or need 
assistance, they can contact the ADD personnel assigned to their 
region for information and technical assistance. Annually, ADD 
sponsors a Technical Assistance Institute for State Councils on 
Developmental Disabilities. Occasionally, an ADD Commissioner’s 
Forum is convened to look at critical issues in the field along with 
some promising practices.
 
Oftentimes, the Commissioner of ADD will query the field about 
activities and best practices that can be used to inform the field or 
respond to various inquiries. At times, ADD may convene a small 
group of representatives from the State Council on Developmental 
Disabilities to advise ADD in a specified area of concern. 
 
All mandated state plans and fiscal and programmatic reports are 
submitted to and approved by ADD. This information is used to 
develop legislatively prescribed reports to Congress. Periodically, 
ADD conducts monitoring site visits using the Monitoring and 
Technical Assistance Review System (MTARS) to assure compliance 
and accountability.