From July 8,1991until the present, the Council’s Designated State Agency (DSA) has been the Department of Administrative Services; however, in 2005 the Council’s DSA will again be the Office of the Secretary of State. From December 29, 1982 until July 8, 1991, the Council’s DSA was the Department of Community Affairs. From the Council’s inception until December 31, 1982, the Council came under the Office of the Secretary of State.

The mission of the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council is to ensure that people with developmental disabilities can enjoy the same quality of life as the rest of society. The Council will advocate for change and will educate communities to be responsive and sensitive to the needs, preferences and choices of all people with developmental disabilities and their families which will ensure and enhance their participation in life and society through:

1. Holding agencies accountable
2. Access to culturally competent services
3. Educating the public and policy makers
4. Empowering persons with developmental disabilities and their families
5. Supporting independence, productivity, inclusion, and the integration of persons with disabilities
6. Promoting quality of life and protecting rights and responsibilities

NUMBER of PEOPLE with DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES in DELAWARE:

Estimated to be 12,497.

NUMBER of COUNCIL MEMBERS

36 Council Members: 10 consumers; 13 parents; 4 interested citizens and 9 agency representatives (Division of Developmental Disabilities Services; Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities; Division of Social Services; Division of Public Health; Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; Division of Child Mental Health; Department of Education; Center for Disabilities Studies (UCE) and the Disabilities Law Program (P&A)

NUMBER of STAFF : 4

STANDING COMMITTEES

Executive Committee; Adult Issues Committee; Children and Families Committee and the Rights and Public Policy Committee

FREQUENCY of MEETINGS:

Council meets every other month. Executive Committee meets on the months Council does not meet. The Adult Issues, Children and Families and Rights and Public Policy Committees meet monthly.

DESIGNATED STATE AGENCY/ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY:

From July 8,1991until the present, the Council’s Designated State Agency (DSA) has been the Department of Administrative Services; however, in 2005 the Office of the Secretary of State will become the Council’s DSA.

2005 FEDERAL ALLOTMENT: $458,614

 

return to index

 

 

CURRENT COUNCIL PROJECTS

• Employment
  
  
• Assistive Technology in the Workplace
• Job Survival Skills Training
  
  
  
• Education & Early Intervention
  

• Inclusion Conference
• Universal Design for Learning
• Physicians Awareness Program for Autism
• Delaware New Scripts Program
• Books on TBI for Schools
  
  
• Community Supports
  
  
  • On My Own Workshops
  • Disabilities Ball
  • Can Do Playground
  • First Steps Information Booklet
  • Beyond Stress Program for Teens
  • Self Directed Support Corporations Workshop
  • Conference on Aging and Developmental Disabilities
  • Community Builders Project
    
    
• Cross Cutting

• Partners in Policy Making Program
• Junior Partners in Policy Making Program
• Partners Graduate Update Weekends   

 

 

return to index

 

EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFICANT LONG TERM ACHIEVEMENTS

• 203 Partners in Policy Making graduates
• Establishment by Executive Order of the Commission on Community Based Alternatives as a result of a study Council funded
• Have hosted the largest disabilities related conference in Delaware for over 10 years
• Instrumental in getting a number of pieces of legislation passed protecting the rights of Delawareans with developmental disabilities.

return to index