The Nebraska Council was established in 1971 by Executive Order of Governor J.J. Exxon. It was located within the Department of Health until 1997 when Nebraska re-organized their agencies and created a Department of Health and Human Services. The Council was moved to this new agency and placed under the Director’s Office.

 

 

MISSION STATEMENT

 

The Council engages in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that assure individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design and have access to needed community services, individualized support, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life.

 

NUMBER of PEOPLE with DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES in NEBRASKA: 

 

Estimated number of people with developmental disabilities within the state: 28,41

 

 

NUMBER of COUNCIL MEMBERS

 

 23 Council Members -- 14 consumer members, 9 agency representatives (Legislature, Health and Human Services (DD Services), HHS (Medicaid, Title XX, Title V), Munroe-Meyer, Rehabilitation Services, Health and Human Services (Aging Services), Nebraska Advocacy Services, Department of Education, University of Nebraska)

 

               

NUMBER of STAFF : 3

 

STANDING COMMITTEES

Executive Committee, Planning Committee, Grant Review Committee, Regional Council Coordinating Committee, and Legislative and Advocacy Committee

 

FREQUENCY of MEETINGS:  Quarterly

 

DESIGNATED STATE AGENCY/ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY:

Department of Health and Human Services

 

2005 FEDERAL ALLOTMENT:  $458,614

 

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CURRENT COUNCIL PROJECTS

• Employment
• Supported Employment – ServiceLinc

• Education & Early Intervention
• Outreach and Training to Minority Families – PTI-Nebraska
• Literacy for Children with Severe Disabilities – ESU #3
• Special Olympics

• Transportation
• Transportation: Exploring Solutions – Munroe-Meyer Institute

• Quality Assurance
• State Advisor Project – People First of Nebraska
• Increasing Retirement Options for Aging Persons with DD – SENDS-Region V
• Community Supports Pilot – Developmental Disability System
• Communication Work Group – ServiceLinc
• Decrease of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Persons with Developmental Disability – The Arc of Nebraska

• Formal & Informal Community Supports
• Staff Retreat – Region V Services
• Project Guardian Angel – Autism Society of Nebraska
• Life Skills Program – Education Service Unit #9
• Summer Recreational Program – Education Service Unit #8

Results of representative past projects:

Supported a network of six regional councils, composed of volunteers including advocates, persons with disabilities and their families and service providers. These councils reached 30,000 members of the general public with education and awareness initiatives in their local communities. They supported 1100 people to learn skills needed to improve the quality of service programs including 600 self-advocates.

Funded the Department of Education to develop a technical assistance document, “Graduation Considerations for Students with Disabilities”. This publication is being disseminated to schools, parents, and students to provide guidance for Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams when developing graduation plans.

Served on the Objective Assessment Process work group established by statute to look at Nebraska’s current process and recommend needed changes to insure an adequate and equitable distribution of resources for persons in the Developmental Disabilities Service System.

Completed a three-year project with ServiceLinc in Lincoln that focused on supported employment. During those three years, they raised the skill level of over 1000 people to provide employment supports. They also identified barriers to employment including the State’s current funding structure.

Funded ESU #9 in Hastings to develop and implement a peer buddy support system for high school students. Over 20 students from the Alternative Education program and the Special Education program are participating in this joint program.

Worked with a number of agencies and the Nebraska Cooperative Extension to develop and pilot training for newly appointed guardians. The training is available in eight judicial districts and, if successful, will be expanded to all twelve.

Reviewed and provided information on various legislative and regulatory initiatives that impacted the lives of persons with developmental disabilities and their families.  This includes distributing 1061 copies of the Council’s “Newsline”, an informational publication on legislative activities.

Continued to support People First of Nebraska, a self-advocacy organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Council funds help pay the salary of their state advisor who assists their Board and local chapters. There were 438 members attending their annual convention participating in workshops and social activities.

Funded ESU #3 in the Omaha metro area to conduct a training for 61 educators and parents in Omaha and North Platte on teaching literacy for students with severe and multiple disabilities.

Participated on the Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council as they continue to plan and advocate for needed services for Nebraskans who have experienced a brain injury.

Provided funds to Special Olympics Nebraska to purchase and disseminate curriculum kits promoting inclusion to schools in Nebraska. They are hoping to reach over 20,000 students in 2005.

Worked with the Department of Health and Human Services, advocates, and legislative staff to develop a risk screen for people who may present safety concerns for others.

Supported ESU #8 in Neligh to operate an integrated community recreational program for 24 students. Students in this rural area were given information and skills so they could continue to participate in these community activities once grant funds ended.

Completed a multi-year project with PTI-Nebraska to make their services more accessible to ethnic and racial minority families with children with disabilities. They identified 185 minority families among the participants at their workshops and presentations this past year. In addition, they were able to translate a number of their materials into requested languages.

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EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFICANT LONG TERM ACHIEVEMENTS

In the 1980’s the DD Council funded a multi-year grant with the Department of Education to begin to implement some transition practices for students with disabilities who would be exiting high school. With this grant, they began to build a statewide infrastructure among the schools and educational service units to provide expertise and consultation on best practices. Following the Council’s grant, the Department of Education was able to get a federal grant to support more intensive work in this area. Eventually, they hired an individual to oversee the efforts around the state and coordinate the transition specialists around the state. So with the beginnings of a grant from the Nebraska Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, a statewide system of transition specialists have become a reality.

The Council and The Arc of Nebraska began a partnership in 1998 to try to address the waiting list for services. They felt that it wasn’t just a matter of getting additional funds appropriated but also an opportunity to look at the entire system and see what changes were needed to maximize resources. Forums were held around the state and a report was generated that included recommendations. Health and Human Services implemented some of these recommendations and some continue to be discussed. As a result of the findings, the Council and Arc partnered with other advocacy agencies including Munroe-Meyer and Nebraska Advocacy Services to receive some of the Tobacco Settlement money to begin to address the waiting list. This was accomplished as a result of the active leadership of a state senator, who is a Council member.

For more information, please click on this link for the Council’s 2004 Annual Report:

http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/ddplanning/annualreport.htm

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