Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to:

• Culturally competent services, supports, and other assistance
• Opportunities that promote independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion into the community.

To help individuals with developmental disabilities and their families increase:

• Independence
• Productivity
• Integration
• Inclusion

So that they can:

• Exert control and choice over their lives
• Engage in income-producing
• Use the same community resources that are used and available to other citizens

The DD Act provides federal money to the states to fund State Councils on Development Disabilities, University Centers for Excellence, Protection and Advocacy Systems, and Projects of National Significance.

Developmental Disabilities Councils consist of volunteers appointed by governors, over half of whom must be people with developmental disabilities or their family members. They engage in systemic change, capacity building, and advocacy activities that:

• Educate the public;
• Develop and support coalitions;
• Inform federal, state, and local policy makers;
• Demonstrate new approaches to services, supports, and other assistance;
• Outreach to those who might not come to the attention of the Council;
• Assist neighborhoods and communities to respond positively to individuals with DD and their families;
• Foster interagency collaboration and coordination, including related Councils, committees, and programs;
• Eliminate barriers and enhance citizen participation.

Centers for Excellence promote the health and safety of individuals with disabilities by acting as a national pipeline of highly-skilled professionals who are trained specifically to work with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Centers also produce new knowledge in the field of developmental disabilities through research and model program development and evaluation. Centers are recognized as leaders in every major disability related initiative that has emerged over the past 20 years including:

• Early intervention;
• Assistive technology;
• Supported employment;
• Community living;
• Positive behavior management.

In Oregon the Centers are located at the University of Oregon and Oregon Health Sciences University.

The Protection and Advocacy System is a comprehensive network of programs which provide legally-based representation for people with disabilities. Congress created the P&A programs upon learning about the abusive, neglectful, and inhumane living conditions at Willowbrook, a New York State institution for people with developmental disabilities.  Congress recognized that a federally-directed system of legal advice was necessary “to ensure the humane care, treatment, habilitation, and protection of” people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.  In Oregon the P&A agency is the Disability Rights Oregon (DRO).

Projects of National Significance support national and state policy and play a significant role in assuring health, safety, rights, and employment for individuals. Examples of projects include:

• Developing Personal Assistance Services that enable individuals with developmental disabilities to assume responsibility for themselves to attend school and work;
• Training police and other criminal justice personnel to recognize and respond to people with disabilities during conflict;
• Assisting young adults with disabilities to transition from high school to higher education, job training, or employment; and
• A First Jobs project that promotes individuals with developmental disabilities to obtain work experience, increasing their skills for future employment and careers.

Congress funds Projects of National Significance to collect information and measure our nation’s success at ensuring safe, healthy, meaningful lives for our citizens with developmental disabilities. The data provides important guidance for governors and state legislators to evaluate, plan, and implement policy to achieve desired outcomes.