State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (Councils) are federally funded, self-governing organizations charged with identifying the most pressing needs of people with developmental disabilities in their state or territory. Councils are committed to advancing public policy and systems change that help these individuals gain more control over their lives.
The 56 Councils across the United States and its territories work to address identified needs by conducting advocacy, systems change, and capacity building efforts that promote self-determination, integration, and inclusion. Key activities include conducting outreach, providing training and technical assistance, removing barriers, developing coalitions, encouraging citizen participation, and keeping policymakers informed about disability issues.
Diverse Council Membership
Council members are appointed by a state or territory’s governor; by law, at least 60% of a Council’s membership must consist of individuals with developmental disabilities or their family members. Advocates and state agency representatives also serve as members. This diversity enables Councils to better analyze and improve systems and services within a state and ensure that the voices of people with developmental disabilities and their families are heard.
Empowerment through Self-Advocacy
Councils focus on empowering individuals through activities that teach self-advocacy skills and support self-determination. By empowering individuals and their families both to advocate for themselves and to seek long-term solutions through systems change, Councils are creating an environment of self-sufficiency, self-determination, inclusion, and acceptance. Councils also play a critical role in quality assurance and as innovators in the development of person-centered systems.
State-Level Planning and Goal Implementation
To serve their communities, Councils design five-year state plans that address new ways of improving service delivery. To implement the state plans, Councils work with different groups in many ways, including educating communities to welcome people with developmental disabilities; funding projects to show new ways that people with disabilities can work, play, and learn; and seeking information from the public as well as state and national sources.
- Outcome Data Tables
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Report Title
Year
Individuals And Family Advocacy - This table outlines the impact of DD Council supported activities towards individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. 2020-2021 (Excel)
2021-2022 (Excel)
2022-2023 (Excel)
Systems Change - This table outlines the impact of DD Council activities resulting in systems change to support positive outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. 2020-2021 (Excel)
2021-2022 (Excel)
2022-2023 (Excel)
- Examples of Councils’ Activities
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Housing Accessibility
In partnership with the state’s Developmental Disabilities Administration, the Washington State DD Council piloted the use of smart home technologies, such as automatic lights, Wi-Fi enabled appliances and utilities, digital voice assistants (like Amazon’s Alexa) and devices operated by them, and security systems to support independent living. Through the pilot, people with I/DD received smart devices – and training on their use – to improve the accessibility of their homes, allow them to do things without assistance, connect to people outside the home, and more. Based on successes and promising findings from this pilot, the DD Council is exploring prospects to expand the project during the next planning cycle—to get more smart technology into more homes.
Addressing Health Disparities
People with I/DD experience significant health disparities, partly because health care providers often do not know how to tailor their interactions to meet their needs. The Vermont DD Council created a training course to help health care professionals improve their communication with people with I/DD. The project has trained 240 health care professionals to date, providing strategies they are now applying to improve the care they provide.
Expanding the Direct Care Workforce
Due to a national shortage of direct care professionals, many people with disabilities are unable to get the support they need to live safely and participate in the community. DD councils across the country are providing technical assistance and serving as crucial sources of information to support policymakers who are working to address this public health crisis. For example, the North Carolina DD Council (NCCDD) funded and conducted a study in partnership with providers and their state agency to determine average wages direct care workers for the Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Waiver. The rate study showed that the average hourly rate in North Carolina was $12.12 in Spring 2022. Stakeholders and state leaders agreed that the rate needed to be at least $18.00 an hour in order to attract and retain staff. The final budget that became law increased funding by $60 million to increase wages for direct care professionals.
Increasing Access to Dispute Resolution Services
Conflict resolution services, including both mediation services and coaching to develop self-advocacy skills, can be especially valuable to people with I/DD and their families. For example, these services often are critical to ensuring that students with disabilities receive special education services. However, access to these services – and service effectiveness – can be limited if conflict resolution professionals do not understand the needs of clients with I/DD. With funding from the New York DD Council, the state’s Community Dispute Resolution Centers trained more than 170 of their staff and volunteers to improve their ability to serve people with I/DD. The initiative also developed and shared materials that have been used by Alternative Dispute Resolution practitioners in other states and communities, including community mediation programs around the country and the New York State Unified Court System staff who oversee the state’s networks of community mediation centers.
Improving Accessibility
DD councils have successfully advocated for action to address issues that prevent people with I/DD from participating in their communities. For example, thanks to the advocacy of their DD council and other disability groups, the state of Tennessee is making public bathrooms more accessible for the 200,000 Tennesseans, and thousands of tourists, who need adult changing tables. These tables, also referred to as “universal changing tables,” offer a clean surface that allows people with disabilities to take care of bathroom needs with the help of a caregiver. Without them, people with disabilities are forced to lie on bathroom floors, attend to these needs in their vehicles and other non-private settings, or wait until they return home. Despite their critical importance, adult changing tables are rare, and lack of access to bathroom facilities causes many people with disabilities to simply stay home, forgoing participation in their communities. Thanks to the advocacy of the Tennessee DD Council and other disability stakeholders, height-adjustable changing tables for adults are now being installed in state facilities throughout Tennessee. In 2019, there were zero adult changing tables in state facilities. In 2023, there were 50 tables installed across the state with at least 200 more planned by 2030. This includes tables at every state park, welcome center, and rest area.
Financial Literacy
DD councils are supporting a variety of initiatives to help people with I/DD and their families increase their financial literacy, which directly contributes to successful community living. For example, the Illinois DD council funded a three-year initiative in partnership with the National Disability Institute to train 150 trainers to educate people with I/DD and their family members on how to manage money, create a spending plan, open an ABLE account, reduce debt, and use credit wisely. The program has trained more than 11,000 people with disabilities, including nearly 6,000 people with I/DD.
Self-Advocacy
With assistance from the Maryland DD Council, People on the Go of Maryland, a statewide self-advocacy group led by people with I/DD, provided critical insight and shared their personal experiences to educate lawmakers as they worked on legislation recognizing supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship. The bill became law in 2022.
- Information and Technical Assistance Center for Councils (iTACC)
ITACC (Information and Technical Assistance for Councils on Developmental Disabilities) is a federally funded technical assistance project. Section 129(b) of PL 106–402 provides that funding be made available to provide technical assistance to entities funded under the DD Act (PL 106–402). ITACC is the entity providing technical assistance to Councils on Developmental Disabilities. The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) received the award to provide these services.
Cultural Competence Plan
ITACC, working with NACDD, is to provide all training and technical assistance in a culturally competent manner approved by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD).
- State Councils on Developmental Disabilities: Program Contacts
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Alabama
Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities
RSA Union Building
100 North Union Street, Suite 682
P.O. Box 301410
Montgomery, AL 36130-1410Toll-Free: 800-232-2158
E-Mail: darryle.powell@mh.alabama.gov
Web: www.acdd.org
Alaska
Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education
Robert B. Atwood Building
550 W 7th Ave, Suite 1220,
Anchorage, AK 99501Phone: (907) 269-8990 | Toll-Free: 1-888-269-8990
E-Mail: GCDSE@alaska.gov
Web: dhss.alaska.gov/gcdse/Pages/default.aspx
Arizona
Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
3839 North 3rd Street, Suite 306
Phoenix, AZ 85012Phone: (602) 542-8970 | Toll-Free: (877) 665-3176
E-Mail: addpc@azdes.gov
Web: https://addpc.az.gov
Arkansas
Arkansas Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
1515 West 7th Street,
Suite 320-330
Little Rock, AR 72201Phone (501) 682-2897
E-Mail: ddcstaff@dfa.arkansas.gov
Web: https://gcdd.arkansas.gov/
California
California State Council on Developmental Disabilities
3831 North Freeway Blvd. #125
Sacramento, CA 95834Phone: (916) 263-7919 | Toll-Free: (833) 818-9886
TDD: (916) 324-8420E-Mail: council@scdd.ca.gov
Web: www.scdd.ca.gov
Colorado
Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council
1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 706
Denver, CO 80203-2117Phone: (720) 941-0176
E-Mail: GetInformed@coddc.org
Web: www.coddc.org
Connecticut
Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities
460 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106-1308Toll-Free: (800) 653 - 1134
TTY: (860) 418-6172Web: www.ct.gov/ctcdd/
Delaware
Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council
Margaret M. O’Neill Building, Suite 2
410 Federal Street, 2nd Floor
Dover, DE 19901Phone: (302) 739-3333
Web: ddc.delaware.gov
District of Columbia
D.C. Developmental Disabilities Council
One Judiciary Square
441 4th St., NW, Suite 729 North
Washington, DC 20001Phone: (202) 724-8612
TTY: 711E-Mail: ddc@dc.gov
Web: https://ddc.dc.gov
Florida
Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
124 Marriott Drive, Suite 203
Tallahassee, FL 32301-2981Phone: (850) 488-4180 | Toll-Free: (800) 580-7801
TDD Toll-Free: 888-488-8633E-Mail: fddc@fddc.org
Web: www.fddc.org
Georgia
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
2 Peachtree Street, NW, #26-246
Atlanta, GA 30303Phone: (404) 657-2126 | Toll-Free: (888) 275-4233
TDD: (404) 657-2133E-Mail: info@gcdd.org
Web: www.gcdd.org
Hawaii
Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities
1010 Richards Street, Room 122
Honolulu, HI 96813Phone: (808) 586-8100
Idaho
Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities
Joe R. Williams Building
700 W. State Ste, 119
Boise, ID 83702-5868Phone: 208-334-2178 | Toll-Free: 1-800-544-2433
E-Mail: info@icdd.idaho.gov
Web: www.icdd.idaho.gov
Illinois
Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities Chicago Office
160 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1000C
Chicago, Illinois 60601Phone: 312-814-2080
TTY: 888-261-2717Web: icdd.illinois.gov
Indiana
Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
Indiana Government Center South, Room E145
402 W. Washington Street,
Indianapolis, IN 46204Phone: (317) 232-7770
E-Mail: council@gcpd.in.gov
Web: www.in.gov/gpcpd/
Iowa
Iowa DD Council
700 2nd Avenue, Suite 101
Des Moines, IA 50309Toll-Free: (800) 452-1936
E-Mail: contactus@iowaddcouncil.org
Kansas
Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities
Docking State Office Building
900 S.W. Jackson, Room 569
Topeka, KS 66612-1570Phone: (785) 296-2608 | Toll-Free: (877) 431-4604
E-Mail: kcdd@kcdd.org
Web: www.kcdd.org
Kentucky
Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601Phone: (502) 564-7841
E-Mail: ccdd@ky.gov
Web: https://ccdd.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx
Louisiana
Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
5615 Corporate Blvd. Suite 500B
P.O. Box 3455
Baton Rouge, LA 70801Phone: (225) 342-6804 | Toll-Free: (800) 450-8108
E-Mail: Amy.Deaville@la.gov
Web: www.laddc.org
Maine
Maine Developmental Disabilities Council
Mailing Address: 139 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0139
Physical Address: 526 Western Ave. Unit 2, Augusta, ME 04330Phone: (207) 480-1478 | Toll-Free: (833) 713-2618
Web: www.maineddc.org
Maryland
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
217 E. Redwood Street, Suite 1300
Baltimore, MD 21202Phone: (410) 767-3670 | Toll-Free: (800) 305-6441
E-Mail: info@md-council.org
Web: www.md-council.org
Massachusetts
Massachusetts DD Council
108 Myrtle Street, Suite 202
Quincy, MA 02171-1791Phone: (617) 770-7676
Web: www.mass.gov/mddc
Michigan
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
Suite 218, PO Box 30037
Lansing, MI 48909Phone: (517) 335-3158
TDD - (517) 335-3171E-Mail: mdhhs-dd-council@michigan.gov
Web: www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/mentalhealth/developmentaldisability
Minnesota
Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
370 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155Phone: (651) 296-4018 | Toll-Free: 877-348-0505
MN Relay Service: (800) 627-3529 OR 711E-Mail: admin.dd.info@state.mn.us
Web: mn.gov/mnddc/
Mississippi
Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities
239 North Lamar Street, Suite 1101
Robert E. Lee Building
Jackson, MS 39201Phone: (601) 359-6238
Web: www.mscdd.org
Missouri
Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council
1706 E. Elm Street
P.O. Box 687
Jefferson City, MO 65102Phone: (573) 751-8611 | Toll-Free: (800) 500-7878
E-Mail: moddc@moddcouncil.org
Web: www.moddcouncil.org
Montana
Montana Council on Developmental Disabilities
7 West 6th Ave, Suite 507
Helena, MT 59601-9767Phone: (406) 443-4332
Web: www.mtcdd.org
Nebraska
Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities
301 Centennial Mall, South
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, NE 68509-5026Phone: (402) 471-2330
TDD (800) 833-7352E-Mail: dhhs.ddcouncil@nebraska.gov
Web: https://dhhs.ne.gov/pages/DD-Planning-Council.aspx
Nevada
Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
896 W. Nye Lane,
Carson City, NV 89703Phone: (775) 684-8619
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities
21/2 Beacon Street, Suite 10
Concord, NH 03301-4447Phone: (603) 271-3236
TDD Access: Relay NH: (800) 735-2964E-Mail: info@nhcdd.us
Web: www.nhcdd.nh.gov/
New Jersey
New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities
20 West State Street Mary Roebling Building, 6th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608Phone: (609) 292-3745 | Toll-free 1 (800) 792-8858
TDD: (609) 777-3238E-Mail: njcdd@njcdd.org
Web: https://njcdd.org/
New Mexico
New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Council
625 Silver Avenue SW
Suite 100
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102Phone: 505-541-4519
Web: www.nmddpc.com
New York
New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
99 Washington Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 1230
Albany, NY 12210Phone: (518) 486-7505
E-Mail: information@ddpc.ny.gov
Web: ddpc.ny.gov
North Carolina
North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
3109 Poplarwood Court, Suite 105
Raleigh, NC 27604Phone/TTY: (984) 920-8200| Toll-Free: (800) 357-6916
E-Mail: Info@nccdd.org
Web: www.nccdd.org
North Dakota
North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities
600 E Boulevard Ave,
Bismarck, ND 58505Phone: (701) 328-4847
E-Mail: jhorntvedt@nd.gov
Web: https://www.nd.gov/scdd/Ohio
Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council
1810 Sullivant Ave
Columbus, OH 43222Phone: (614) 466-5205 | Toll-Free: (800) 766-7426
E-Mail: ddcinfo@dodd.ohio.govWeb: www.ddc.ohio.gov
Oklahoma
Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma
P.O. Box 25352
Oklahoma City, OK 73125 - 9975Phone: (405) 521-4984
E-Mail: staff@okddc.ok.gov
Web: www.okddc.ok.gov
Oregon
Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
2475 SE Ladd Ave #231
Portland, OR 97214Phone: (971) 204-8824
E-Mail: info@ocdd.org
Web: www.ocdd.org
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council
2330 Vartan Way, Suite 130,
Harrisburg, PA 17110Phone: (717) 787-6057 | Toll-Free: (877) 685-4452
TTY: (717) 705-0819Web: www.paddc.org
Rhode Island
Rhode Island DD Council
400 Bald Hill Rd, Suite 515
Warwick, RI 02886Phone: (401) 737-1238
E-Mail: riddc@riddc.org
Web: www.riddc.org
South Carolina
South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council
1205 Pendleton St, Suite 372
Columbia, SC 29201-3731Phone: (803) 734-0465
TYY: (803) 734-1147Web: http://scddc.sc.gov/
South Dakota
South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities
2520 E Franklin St, Suite 4
Pierre, SD 57501Phone: (605) 773-6369 | In-State Toll Free: (800) 265-9684
E-Mail: infoddc@state.sd.us
Web: https://dhs.sd.gov/cdd.aspx
Tennessee
Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities
500 James Robertson Pkwy
Davy Crockett Tower, First Floor
Nashville, TN 37243Phone: (615) 532-6615
E-Mail: tnddc@tn.gov
Web: www.tn.gov/cdd
Texas
Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
6201 East Oltorf, Suite 600
Austin, TX 78741-7509Phone: (512) 437-5432 | Toll-Free: (800) 262-0334
E-Mail: tcdd@tcdd.texas.gov
Utah
Utah Developmental Disabilities Council
5296 S Commerce Drive Ste. 305
Murray, UT 84107Phone: (801) 245-7350
E-Mail: UDDC@utah.gov
Vermont
Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council
100 State Street, Suite 342
Montpelier, VT 05633-0206Phone: (802) 828-1310
E-mail: vtddc@vermont.gov
Web: www.ddc.vermont.gov
Virginia
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
1100 Bank Street, 7th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219Phone: (804) 786-0016
E-Mail: info@vbpd.virginia.gov
Web: www.vaboard.org
Washington
Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council
2600 Martin Way E., Suite F
Olympia, WA 98506Phone: (360) 586-3560 | Toll-Free: (800) 634-4473
Web: www.ddc.wa.gov
West Virginia
West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council
110 Stockton Street
Charleston, WV 25312-2521Phone: (304) 558-0416
E-Mail: dhhrwvddc@wv.gov
Web: www.ddc.wv.gov
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
101 East Wilson Street, Room 219
Madison, WI 53703-2796Phone: (608) 266-7826
E-Mail: Jeremy.Gundlach@wisconsin.gov
Web: www.wi-bpdd.org
Wyoming
Wyoming Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
Capitol Hill Building
320 W. 25th St. Suite 119
Cheyenne, WY 82002Phone: (307) 777-7230 | Toll-Free: (800) 438-5791
E-Mail: wgcdd@wyo.gov
U.S. Territories
American Samoa
American Samoa Developmental Disabilities Council
P.O. Box 194
Pago Pago, AS 96799Phone: (684) 633-2696
E-Mail: council@samoatelco.com
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities
Building No. 1312, Capitol Hill
P.O. Box 502565
US Northern Mariana Islands
Saipan, MP 96950-2565Phone: (670) 664-7000/3/5
TTY: (670) 664-7002E-Mail: cnmicouncilondd@gmail.com
Guam
Guam Developmental Disabilities Council
University Castle Mall, Room 2
130 University Drive,
Mangilao, GU 96913Phone: (671) 735-9127
E-Mail: guamddc@gddc.guam.gov
Puerto Rico
State Council on Developmental Disabilities
Physical Address: Edif. VIG Tower
Ave. Ponce de León 1225
Parada 18
Suite B 104 GF 3
San Juan PR 00907Phone: (787) 722-0595
E-Mail: liz.candelario@ddec.pr.gov
Web: cedd.pr.gov
Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands Developmental Disabilities Council
St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island
5070 Norre Gade, Ste 6
St. Thomas, VI 00802Phone: (340) 719-0076
E-Mail: info@viddc.org
Web: www.viddc.org