Friday, June 24, 2016
Seeking and welcoming feedback from District residents with developmental disabilities, their families and general public.
Media Contact:
Sudie Johnson (202) 481-3879
The District of Columbia Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) is pleased to be disseminating the new Five Year State Plan with proposed objectives and activities for fiscal years (FY) 2017 through 2021 for a second public comment period. This State Plan incorporates recommendations, comments, and proposed revisions from District residents with developmental disabilities, family members and representatives from District Government agencies during the first 45-day public comment period based on the initial Draft Five Year State Plan provided by the DDC.
The development of a new Five Year State Plan representing the desires and needs of our District residents with developmental disabilities and their families shows the DDC’s long-standing commitment to fulfilling the organization’s responsibility as authorized in the federal legislation, Developmental Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. Furthermore, if approved, the new Five Year State Plan ensures continued funding support from the Administration on Disabilities (AoD) within the United States Department of Health & Human Services to the Government of the District of Columbia.
The New Five Year State Plan for the District is mandated by AoD, and this State Plan is based on extensive community outreach activities conducted over the past several months, including:
A) Development and posting of an online survey tool on the DDC website that is available in English and Spanish.
B) Collection of nearly 200 completed surveys from District residents with developmental disabilities, family members, friends and stakeholders representing all eight wards. Survey results are posted on line.
C) Meetings with District residents and the families involved with the Supporting Families Community of Practice, Parents Advocacy Leaders (PALS) Group, and the Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Consumer Action Advisory Council to solicit input and feedback; and
D) Community forums at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center. Participants identified areas of emphasis for the DDC’s consideration: 1) Self-Determination, Advocacy and Leadership; 2) Employment; 3) Education; 4) Community Living, and; 5) Cross Cutting. Focus groups were conducted in support of these four areas of emphasis. Participants’ ideas, suggestions and activities were recorded and documented on the DDC website.
E) Conducted an initial 45-day public comment period between May 6 and June 21, 2016. Public comments received are currently available for review through the DDC website: http://ddc.dc.gov/.
The New Five Year State Plan is currently available through the DDC website, and the DDC members and staff welcome recommendations and ideas during a second 45-day public comment period. District residents with developmental disabilities, family members and the general public are welcome to submit comments to the DDC until Tuesday, August 9, 2016. Comments will only be accepted from DC residents. The DDC will host a community forum for the public to participate during the second public comment period. You can also share your comments by utilizing any of the following four (4) methods:
- By Phone: Contact Mathew McCollough (202) 727-6744 or Sudie Johnson (202) 481-3879
- By Fax: (202) 727-9484
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: DC Developmental Disabilities Council
441 – 4th Street NW, Suite 729 North
Washington, DC 20001
All public comments received will be posted to the DDC’s website at http://ddc.dc.gov/. The Five Year State Plan (FY 2017 – 2021) will be finalized and submitted to the Federal Government on or before August 15, 2016.
Please contact DDC Executive Director, Mathew McCollough at [email protected] or (202) 727-6744 with inquiries about the DC Developmental Disabilities Council or the mandated Five Year State Plan (FY 2017 – 2021) process.
Attachment(s):
