The North Dakota State Council on DD was established by state statute in 1979 under chapter 25-01-01.1 of the North Dakota Century Code. In addition to naming the North Dakota Department of Human Services as the Council’s designated state agency for administrative support purposes, this statute also identifies the Council’s responsibilities. Council meetings are held quarterly.

 MISSION STATEMENT

The Council advocates for policy changes that promote choice, independence, productivity and inclusion for all North Dakotans with developmental disabilities. The Council supports projects and activities that maximize opportunities in these areas for consumers and families.

NUMBER of COUNCIL MEMBERS

The Council consists of 19 members appointed by the Governor for terms ranging from 2-6 years. At least 60 percent of the members are persons with DD or the parents, guardians or immediate relatives of such persons. Along with 12 such consumer representatives, state agency representation includes the State Developmental Center, Job Service, Human Services, Health Department, Public Instruction, University Center for Excellence in DD and Protection and Advocacy.

              

NUMBER of STAFF :

The Council employs a fulltime executive director.

 

 

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CURRENT COUNCIL PROJECTS:

Education/Early Intervention

·         Parent to Parent Project
Provider:  Family Voices of North Dakota
Information and emotional support will be provided to families with children having all kinds of disabilities and special healthcare needs.

·         After School Program
Provider:  Open Door Center
This project provides a supervised after school program in an appropriate setting for adolescents with disabilities who are12 years of age and older and remain in need of after school care.

·         Teen Enrichment Program
Provider:  Missouri Valley Family YMCA
This project provides a supervised after school program in an appropriate setting for adolescents with disabilities who are12-17 years of age and remain in need of after school care.

Community Supports

·         Disaster Preparedness

Provider:  North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities

This is a collaboration project involving the 3 DD Act programs in North Dakota and will assure that disaster preparedness planning includes provisions for persons with disabilities, their families and service providers.

·         NDACF Conference
Provider:  North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities

      This funding partially supports the 23^rd Annual Conference of the North Dakota Association of Community Facilities (NDACF) scheduled for April 29-May 1, 2009 and subsidizes a consumer participation component for the conference.

·         Individual Justice Planning

Provider:  ND Protection and Advocacy Project

Regional training sessions for advocates, attorneys, judges, service provider personnel, corrections personnel and human services professionals will be conducted on individual justice planning for DD individuals who become involved with the criminal justice system.

Employment

·          School to Work Transition

 Provider:  Pride, Inc.

 This project will provide opportunities for 25 special education students, ages 16-21, to learn appropriate work and social behaviors through interactions with co-workers  in a work setting.

Quality Assurance

·         Partners in Policymaking

Provider: Arc of Bismarck

Partners in Policymaking is a self-advocacy model used by more than 40 states which provides leadership training for consumers with developmental disabilities, parents and family members to become knowledgeable about DD issues and to further their competency in becoming effective advocates for themselves.  In FY 2009, the program is expected to train 25 people.

·         Mythbusters/Public Perceptions

Provider:  North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities

This collaboration project involving the 3 DD Act programs in North Dakota is designed to improve quality of life for persons with DD by overcoming negative public attitudes toward them.

·         Advocacy Consortium

Provider:   ND Disabilities Advocacy Consortium

This grant supports continued development and maintenance of a statewide Disability Advocacy Consortium in North Dakota which will inform and educate policymakers on disabilities issues.

·         Self-Advocacy Solutions

Provider:  Listen, Inc.

This project assists local self-advocacy groups across North Dakota to become more effective in achieving systems change.  The project will continue to identify and address consumer self-advocacy training needs.

 

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EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFICANT LONG TERM ACHIEVEMENTS

Most Council-funded initiatives are intended to result in quality of life enhancements and improved service systems for people with DD. Below are listed a few of the Council’s more notable achievements:

• Assistive technology loan libraries including access to adaptive equipment services statewide.

• Corporate guardianship services for people with DD who have no family member or friend willing to serve as their legal guardian.

• Development start-up for accessible public transportation in Bismarck-Mandan.

• Ongoing leadership training for people with DD and their family members to further their ability to be effective advocates for themselves.

• Ongoing training for DD service system professionals on best practices for delivery of community-based supports.

FY 2007 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The North Dakota SCDD reported the following highlights in FY 2007:

116 people were trained in inclusive education. 

99 parents/guardians were trained in their child’s educational rights.

109 people were trained in employment. 

            1,155 people were trained in formal/informal community supports.  

            22 buildings/public accommodations became accessible. 

376  people received training in quality assurance. 

55 self-advocates and family members were active in systems advocacy about quality assurance.

534 people were trained in leadership, self-advocacy, and self determination.  

1,230 public policymakers were educated about issues related to Council initiatives.   

An estimated 62,294 members of the general public were reached by Council public  

education, awareness  and media initiatives. 

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