Current Projects

Addressing Language Barriers

Qua Marketing

This project is learning why families that usually speak a language other than English often:

• Cannot get the supports and services they need at home and in the community
• Have a harder time getting the healthcare they need and are not as healthy as other groups of people

The project is getting information from people with disabilities and their families that speak other languages. It is also getting input from organizations that support them. The project will develop training and resources to help people get better healthcare and stay healthier throughout their lives. The training and resources will be shared with Delaware healthcare providers to help them provide excellent care for all patients.

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Housing

Qua Marketing

The Council is working with Qua Marketing to develop and conduct a survey, interviews, and focus groups to gather information and input about housing. The information will help the Council develop training about affordable, accessible, integrated housing for people with disabilities in Delaware housing barriers for individuals with disabilities in Delaware. This means:

• People with disabilities have enough money to pay their rent or mortgage (it is affordable)
• People can get into and move around the house or apartment using wheelchairs, walkers, and other equipment (it is accessible)
• The housing is in the community rather than separated from where other people live (it is integrated)

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LIFE Conference

Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council & Partners

The LIFE Conference supports full community inclusion by focusing on Legislation, Independence, Families, and Education. The conference educates participants and gives them resources to become better advocates for themselves and others.

Visit the 2026 Life Conference Website to Learn more and Register!

LIFE Conference Participants:

• Get up-to-date information about issues that are important to Delawareans with disabilities and their families
• Connect with providers and advocates in the disability community
• Learn, network, and share information

The Council provides most of the money for the conference. We partner with people with disabilities and their families, Disability Rights Delaware, Center for Disabilities Studies/University of Delaware, state agencies, and other advocacy organizations who support individuals with disabilities.

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Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Co-Occurring Serious and Persistent Mental Illness

Qua Marketing and Bowstring Productions

This project helped the Council create a new documentary about people who have both intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) and serious mental illness. The documentary was filmed in December 2023. It tells the stories of five Delawareans. They share their backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The documentary highlights the barriers individuals with I/DD and other disabilities such as depression, anxiety, mental health diagnosis, etc. are viewed and treated especially within the healthcare community. These individuals shared their life stories and what they wish would change to ensure other people don’t have the same experiences that they have. This documentary will help educate not only the community as a whole but policymakers as what they can do to help make legislative change to help provide better services and improve people’s lives.

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Partners in Policymaking

Sage Strategy and Communication

Partners in Policymaking (Partners) is a leadership training program for:

• Parents raising young or school-aged children with developmental disabilities
• Young adults with developmental disabilities

Partners teaches people to advocate for themselves and others. During 8 sessions, they learn information and skills to improve public policy, programs, and services. They teach policymakers a new way of thinking about people with disabilities. Over 5000 people have participated in Partners programs in 40 states. The Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council has trained over 200 Delawareans.

“I learned how to educate policymakers about the struggles and needs of people living with disabilities. I am so excited for each of us to go do amazing things!” – Partners graduate

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Supported Decision-Making Summit

Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism, Center for Disabilities Studies, DE DD Council, and Jonathan Martinis, Esq.

This statewide event took place at the University of Delaware in March 2024. Supported decision-making helps people make decisions so they can stay in charge of their own lives. My Life, My Decisions: A Supported Decision-Making Summit will include a panel discussion and a mentoring activity. The summit helped Delawareans with disabilities and their families learn about supported decision-making and develop plans to use it in their lives.

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