GOAL

Delawareans with developmental disabilities will have the knowledge, skills, and support they need to lead self-directed lives. This means they control their own lives and live the lives they want.

OBJECTIVES

1. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will support the development of an active self-advocacy group in Delaware.
2. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will support and pay for education, training, and resources that help people with disabilities, their families, and allies to help increase their knowledge and skills.
   
   *Allies are people, groups, and organizations that support people with developmental disabilities and help bring about change.
3. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will support and fund training for professionals that improves their ability to effectively communicate with people who don’t rely on speech to meet their communication needs.

GOAL

Education rules and programs in Delaware will better serve students with developmental disabilities. More children with developmental disabilities will get a better education.

OBJECTIVES

1. 1. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will train and support parents and allies to be effective advocates.
2. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will inform Delawareans with disabilities and their families about important issues and resources, and support them to be a resource to others around the state.
3. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will help the public understand what people with developmental disabilities and mental illness need. It will help identify barriers to services and what needs to change.

GOAL

Delawareans with developmental disabilities will have better access to training and resources about affordable, accessible, integrated housing in the community.

*Accessible housing is housing that everyone can get into and use, including people who use wheelchairs or other equipment. Integrated housing is housing in the community where people with and without disabilities live.

OBJECTIVES

1. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will partner with other organizations to develop an online housing resource library for advocates and self-advocates. Information will be in plain language and focus on legal rights and access to accessible, affordable, integrated housing.
2. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will advocate for and support people with disabilities from diverse backgrounds to be included on all Delaware housing committees.
   
   *Diverse backgrounds are things like different disabilities, races, languages, and ways of living.

GOAL

More Delawareans with disabilities will get the healthcare and other services they need and want in the community.

OBJECTIVES

1. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will work to improve transition services for people with developmental disabilities. Better services will help them get the supports they need at home and in the community instead of places that separate them from everyone else.
   
   *Transition services help people find the services they need when they make a change like moving from school to adult services, moving out of their family’s home, or leaving a facility.
2. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council will provide training and resources to help people with developmental disabilities effectively advocate for their health needs. This work will focus on African Americans and people who usually speak a language other than English.