Every state has a developmental disabilities council (DD Council) and these organizations receive federal funding to support policy change and programs that promote self-determination, integration, and inclusion for all people in the United States with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Below are stories from DD Councils on projects and programs underway to advance community living for people with DD. Stories will continue to be added!
To find your local state DD Council, visit https://nacdd.org/councils/
Alabama
Alabama Advances Support for People with Developmental Disabilities Through Groundbreaking Initiatives
The Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) is working with several partners to make life better for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Together, they are launching projects that improve healthcare, mental health services, and school experiences for people with IDD across the state.
One project, called “Improving Access to Healthcare through Assistive Technology (AT) Education), is led by ACDD, United Ability, and the Alabama Department of Mental Health. This project will teach healthcare workers and families how to use assistive technology to support people with IDD. The goal is to help more people with IDD get the care they need in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other health settings.
Another project, “The Arc of Central Alabama’s Psychology Internship Program,” is the first of its kind in the state. ACDD and The Arc of Central Alabama are working together to create a training program for psychology students who want to work with people with IDD. This will help increase the number of mental health professionals who understand the unique needs of this community and improve access to care.
ACDD is also working with KultureCity on a school-based project called “The Sensory Inclusion Certification and Training Partnership.” This program will train teachers and school staff across Alabama to better support students who are sensitive to sounds, lights, or other sensory input. The training will help schools create calmer, more inclusive classrooms so that all students, including those who are neurodivergent, can learn and feel comfortable.
These three projects all have one goal: to make Alabama a more inclusive place for people with developmental disabilities. By improving healthcare, mental health support, and school environments, ACDD is helping people with IDD live healthier, happier, and more supported lives.
Nevada
Nevada DD Council Wins Four Emmy Awards for “Our World in Our Words
The Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities brought home four Emmy Awards for its documentary, Our World in Our Words.
The documentary won the following awards:
Audio Recording, Mixing, and Design
Editor – Long Form Content
Photographer – Long Form Content
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
“This project was created with heart, honesty, and the voices of those who are too often left out of the story. Winning in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion category is especially meaningful. It reinforces our commitment to representation and authentic storytelling,” said Catherine Nielsen, Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Executive Director.
This powerful film was brought to life by the incredible voices of Dora Martinez, Alexis Jones, Cindi Swanson, and Santa Perez, who bravely and beautifully shared their lived experiences. Their authenticity, strength, and advocacy are at the heart of this project.
Watch Our World in Our Words here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73U2OnhSehs
New York
New York Builds a Community of Advocates with Annual Workshop
New York’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) is strengthening a statewide community of people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families who can speak up and create change. Through programs like the annual Advocacy Institute, the Council equips participants with the skills and connections to become confident and effective self-advocates.
The Advocacy Institute, hosted in partnership with the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation and The Arc New York, is a full-day interactive workshop that combines expert guidance with hands-on exercises. Participants who are new to advocacy learn how to share their stories with decision-makers, all while building relationships with other self-advocates across New York.
This year, over 30 people joined the workshop, and the feedback highlighted its impact. One attendee wrote in a handwritten letter, “Thank you for the blessing of meeting wonderful participants who embody the love, sacrifice, joy, perseverance, resilience, wisdom, and yes, more love to journey in the path of ‘abilities’…. We honestly look forward to this continued journey knowing that more progress will be made.”
The workshop focused on practical topics that included public speaking, finding the right type of advocacy, and making systemic change. Small group activities gave participants the chance to practice strategies and build confidence in real time.
By training DD community members to be advocacy leaders, the Council ensures that their voices are leading the way in shaping a more inclusive future.
South Carolina
Advocacy Projects Empower People with Developmental Disabilities to Lead Change
The South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council (SCDDC) equips people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with the tools to lead change in their communities. By funding leadership and self-advocacy programs, SCDDC builds statewide capacity and empowers individuals to transform the systems that affect their lives.
One of those programs is Individuals Motivating People to Achieve Change Together (IMPACT) SC. This self-advocacy group supports people with IDD to set and reach personal goals while becoming active advocacy leaders. IMPACT collaborates with local self-advocacy groups and hosts leadership training classes, giving participants the skills and confidence to share their stories and drive meaningful change.
Another program is Equip, a youth and young-adult self-advocacy initiative implemented by Able SC, South Carolina’s largest Center for Independent Living. Equip builds leadership and advocacy skills, provides peer support, and prepares young people with IDD to transition into independent adult lives.
One Equip graduate has gone on to become a fierce advocate in the disability space. Kim Brock, a homeschooling mother of two, SCDDC Council member, and disability advocate, attended the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Conference in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). There, she met with representatives and shared her story on a national stage to advocate for community-based supports.
Brock said, “It has been an absolute privilege to attend the NCIL conference in Washington, D.C., to be at the forefront of discussions with our legislators, and to have the honor of being one of the speakers at the Rally.”
Washington State
The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) played an important role in strengthening services, advocacy, and community connections for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across Washington. During 2024 and leading into 2025, the Council focused on practical efforts that supported individuals and families while also shaping long-term systems change.
A major part of the Council’s impact came through the Informing Families (IF) Program, which helped families better understand and navigate disability-related services. In FY 2024, approximately 800 families and individuals received one-on-one support, while more than 8,000 community members were reached statewide. The program fulfilled 159 orders for free resource materials and supported families across 30 counties through a network of 12 coordinators. These efforts helped reduce confusion and barriers for families seeking timely, reliable information. New initiatives, including the addition of a coordinator in northeastern Washington and a cultural and linguistic resource-gathering project, expanded the program’s reach to communities that had previously been underserved .
The Council also supported leadership development and civic engagement through the Advocacy Partnership Project. This project trained people with developmental disabilities to advocate for themselves and their communities. In 2024, 723 people participated in virtual Advocacy Days, creating meaningful opportunities to engage directly with the legislative process. Among participants, 21 percent met with legislators, 51 percent wrote messages to their elected officials, and 48 percent attended a legislative hearing. These activities helped ensure that people with lived experience had a stronger voice in policy discussions that affected their daily lives .
Research and policy work remained another key area of impact. The Council funded the IDD and Behavioral Health Research Project, which examined the challenges faced by people with co-occurring intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. The resulting 2024 report identified significant service gaps, including limited access to community-based supports and discrimination within systems. Findings showed that individuals were three times more likely to experience institutionalization when appropriate community supports were unavailable. Only 16 percent of people surveyed said services were very easy to access, and one out of three expressed dissatisfaction with the services they received. By sharing these findings and recommendations, the Council helped inform improvements in provider training, service coordination, and system planning .
The annual Community Summit also contributed to the Council’s impact by bringing together people from across the state. The event created space to explore the history of developmental disability programs, align services with community needs, center the voices of people with IDD, and connect families who were not yet involved in advocacy efforts.
Overall, the Washington State DDC’s work during this period reflected a steady, people-focused approach. By combining direct family support, advocacy training, research, and community engagement, the Council helped move systems toward greater inclusion, independence, and equity for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
