About DDC

The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council has been working to improve the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities since 1971.

This means:

• Delawareans with and without disabilities live, learn, work, and have fun together.
• Everyone has the same opportunities in life.
• People have power and control over their own lives.

Read about our most recent activities and outcomes in our Annual Report.

Who We Are

Reference: Who We Are - Easy Read | Committees | Bylaws | Bylaws Easy Read

The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council has been working to improve the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities since 1971.

We are a state agency, but we are independent. That means we make all our own decisions. People with developmental disabilities and family members of people with developmental disabilities lead our work alongside other Council members.

Every 5 years, the Council develops a plan called the State Plan. The Council’s State Plan includes our most important goals and how we will accomplish them. A federal law guides our work. It is called the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, better known as the DD Act. The Council’s money to do the work described in the State Plan comes from the federal government.

What We Believe

The Delaware DDC believes:

• Everyone should be included.
• Everyone should be able to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
• People’s needs, and their family’s needs, should be met.
• Supports should be person-centered, and
• Everyone should have equal opportunities.

Person-centered means supports are based on what each person needs and wants. People get the supports they need in the way they want them.

We refer to our commitment to this is A.E.I.O and U. Our strong foundation of Advocacy leads the way as we Educate and Inform and conduct Outreach. By Unifying us all, we can have a society where everyone is valued and belongs.

What We Do

We Lead: we help lead the way with new ideas to better the lives of people with developmental disabilities.

We Partner: we bring together people with developmental disabilities, their family members, community organizations, and others. We work together to find answers to problems and take action to bring about positive change.

We Advocate: we advocate for people with developmental disabilities so they have the same opportunities in life that other community members have. We advocate for people to be included and supported the way they want to be.

We Inform: we provide information and resources so people with disabilities and their families can understand their rights, increase their independence, and find the services and supports they need.

We Empower: we pay for training for people with developmental disabilities and their family members. In this training, they learn to advocate for themselves and others.

We Educate: we help the community understand things that can get in the way of people with developmental disabilities living the lives they want. We educate the community about the need for supports and services at home and in the community. We educate leaders in state government. We work with them to make laws, policies, programs and services better for people with disabilities.

We Make A Difference

The Council works with people with developmental disabilities and their families, state agencies, and other organizations to bring about the change that helps people with developmental disabilities. Here are some examples:

• Delawareans with developmental disabilities have gained the information and skills they need to advocate for themselves and others. As a result, more of their voices are heard.
• Family members of people with developmental disabilities have become advocates. They are using what they learned to help bring about change in policies, programs, and services.
• More people with developmental disabilities, their families, and organizations that support them have information and resources needed to understand and improve their health and wellness.
• More adults with developmental disabilities and their families understand healthy, safe relationships, including sexuality. More people with disabilities who are interested in becoming parents have the information they need to make decisions for themselves.
• People with developmental disabilities, their families, and people who support them had information and support needed to deal with the Covid pandemic and advocate for their needs.
• Delawareans have a better understanding of inclusion of people with disabilities in the community. This supports equality and opportunities for all.
• More Delawareans with developmental disabilities and their families are receiving the support they need in their homes and communities.