National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
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National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
@nacdd.bsky.social
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Governors in every state and territory of the US appoint a Council on Developmental Disabilities. NACDD serves as the national voice of those Developmental Disability Councils.

Website: www.nacdd.org
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2/ Featured projects:
- Improving Access to Healthcare through Assistive Technology (AT) Education
- The Arc of Central Alabama’s Psychology Internship Program
- The Sensory Inclusion Certification and Training Partnership

Visit our State Council Impact page to learn more: nacdd.org/were-here-al...
We’re Here All Year: DD Council Impact
Every state has a developmental disabilities council (DD Council) and these organizations receive federal funding to support policy change and programs that promote self-determination, integration,…
nacdd.org
January 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM
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Did you know?

A majority of DD council members (60%) are individuals with developmental #disabilities or family members. This is required by federal law to make sure the work stays focused on real needs.

Swipe through for more interesting Council facts!

DD Councils: We’re Here All Year — for you
Did you know? Council facts from NACDD. We're Here All Year: DD Council Edition. When people with developmental disabilities (DD) work in traditional workplaces, it’s called competitive employment. DD Councils helped grow these kinds of jobs 17% from 2011 to 2018, and getting good jobs is still a very important goal to all of the Councils. 2.8 million people who know what it’s like to live with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) participate in State Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council activities. 53,570 of those are participating in advocacy, which means they are speaking up to create change. 1,232 policies, procedures, statutes, and regulations were created or changed by State Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council efforts in just one year alone. That means they succeeded in changing a lot of important rules! 53,570 of those are participating in advocacy, which means they are speaking up to create change.
January 19, 2026 at 11:21 PM
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2/ So far, they've:

- Trained Future Planning Navigators
- Adapted DC-specific future planning tools
- Supported #caregivers through trainings and conversations
- Brought aging and #disability professionals together through screenings, panels, and networking

Learn more: nacdd.org/bridging-and...
- Trained Future Planning Navigators - Adapted DC-specific future planning tools - Supported caregivers through trainings and conversations - Brought aging and disability professionals together through screenings, panels, and networking
January 16, 2026 at 11:00 PM
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Justice In Aging will also be sharing their new toolkit for #disability advocates

January 14, 4 – 5 PM ET on Zoom

We will provide closed captions on Zoom. If you need other help to join (like a sign language interpreter), please tell us when you register.

Register:
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
January 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM
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4/For 5 years, NACDD has led #BADN across the US. 17 states have worked to bridge services & collaborate across agencies that serve people with #disabilities & Older Americans to enhance independence & opportunities for the disability & aging communities.

Learn more: nacdd.org/bridging-and...
Bridging and Aging Disability Network
In Fiscal Year 2022, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) was awarded a five-year cooperative agreement made available by the Administration for Community Living…
nacdd.org
December 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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3/ The results so far (projects ongoing):
- 55 responses from providers of DD services
- 59 responses from the aging network
- 12 responses from providers of both aging and #disability services, and 5 other entities
- 125 responses from caregivers

Read about the work: nacdd.org/state-profil...
Illinois
The data below provides a snapshot of the state’s population of people with I/DD and older Americans, Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waitlists, and the collective impact of the BADN…
nacdd.org
December 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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2/ Goal: Seamlessly connect individuals w/ intellectual & developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are aging, & aging caregivers, to needed services.

The initial work included surveying the aging and disability population and the support community (family members, providers, etc). Results in next post
Goals: Understand challenges and improve coordination. Focus areas: case management, service referrals, information referrals (across aging and DD systems).
December 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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Swipe & learn all about what DD Councils are, what they do, how they work, & (most importantly) how YOU can get involved!

Visit the #WereHereAllYear gallery for personal stories from people with developmental #disabilities from across the nation.

Gallery link: nacdd.org/2025-dd-awar...
Why do DD Councils Matter? Developmental disabilities (DD) Councils help make sure people with disabilities have a voice in everyday issues that impact them locally and across the state. They work so everyone can live, work, and take part in their community. They support ideas like living at home, having a job in a competitive, integrated environment, being able to go to school, being treated fairly, and being represented when big decisions are made. Where did DD Councils Come From? Developmental disabilities (DD) Councils were created by a federal law called the Developmental Disabilities Act (DD Act). This law says every state and territory must have a council. The goal is to protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities and help them live full lives in their communities. This work has been going on for more than 50 years. How do DD Councils Help Their State? Driven by their Five Year State Plans, developmental disabilities (DD) Councils launch and fund new ideas to solve problems that impact the disability community and create systems change. These can be training programs, creating toolkits, launching new programs, or bringing groups together to work on a shared goal. They also help people with disabilities and their families become leaders and speak up for themselves. Councils also educate and inform key decision makers and lawmakers to show what needs to change. How You Can Get Involved The best way to get involved is to apply to become a Council member! Councils are required by law to have 60% of their membership be people with disabilities and their family members. Aside from applying to be a member, people can attend Council meetings, share ideas, and take part in council projects. Many councils also have newsletters, public forums, advocacy events, and social media pages where people can learn more and get engaged.
December 17, 2025 at 11:30 PM
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2/ Each week, we share a real story from a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) These stories show how people with I/DD live, lead, and speak up in their communities across the U.S.

These are real stories that remind us why disability rights and inclusion matter every day
2025 DD Awareness Month: We Are Here All Year Photo Gallery
In March, NACDD asked you to share your stories of your everyday life. We received over 200 photos and 100 stories of moments that capture what it’s like when people with developmental disabilities…
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December 9, 2025 at 4:52 PM
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/6 NACDD is showcasing the work of BADN partners and their impact. Partners have developed key resources, promising practices, and more to enhance services, resources, and supports for people with #disabilities and Older Americans.

Learn more here: nacdd.org/bridging-and...
Bridging and Aging Disability Network
nacdd.org
December 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
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/5 BADN is a Projects of National Significance #PNS funded through grants by the Administration of Community Living #ACL. They focus on big issues affecting people w/ DD and their families, and opportunities for these individuals to contribute to, and participate in, all facets of community life.
December 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
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/4 For 5 years, NACDD has been leading the BADN project across the country. 17 states have worked to bridge services & collaborate across agencies that serve people with disabilities & Older Americans all to enhance independence & opportunities for the #disability & #aging communities.
December 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM