Mission Statement
To improve and increase services to and assure that individuals with developmental disabilities have opportunities to make their own choices, contribute to society, have supports to live independently, and are free of abuse, neglect, financial and sexual exploitation and violations of their legal and human rights.
ADD’s Full Mission Statement & Fact Sheet
The Developmental Disabilities Act
The Developmental Disabilities Act requires ADD to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports they need and participate in the planning and designing of those services. The DD Act established eight areas of emphasis for ADD programs; Employment, Education, Child Care, Health, Housing, Transportation, Recreation, and Quality Assurance. ADD meets the requirements of the DD Act through the work of its four programs:
- State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD)
Each state has a Developmental Disabilities Council that functions to increase the independence, productivity, inclusion, and community integration of people with developmental disabilities. DDC activities demonstrate new ideas for enhancing people's lives through training activities, through community education and support, by making information available to policy-makers, and by eliminating barriers.
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Protection and Advocacy Agencies (P&A)
Each state has a Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System to empower, protect, and advocate on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities. The P&As are independent of service-providing agencies and offer information and referral services for legal, administrative, and other remedies to resolve problems for individuals and groups of clients. P&As enhance the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities by investigating incidents of abuse and neglect and discrimination based on disability. The P&As also provide an annual opportunity for the public to comment on the objectives, priorities, and activities of the system. This gives clients and others in the community an opportunity to voice their concerns and needs to the P&A.
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University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Services (UCEDD)
UCEDD is a grant program providing support to a national network of University Centers to support interdisciplinary training, exemplary services, technical assistance, and information/ dissemination activities. University Centers positively affect the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families by increasing their independence, productivity, and integration into communities. University Centers have four broad tasks: conduct interdisciplinary training, promote community service programs, provide technical assistance at all levels (from local service delivery to community and state governments), and conduct research and dissemination activities.
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Projects of National Significance (PNS)
The PNS program awards grants and contracts that promote and increase the independence, productivity, inclusion and integration into the community of persons with developmental disabilities. These projects focus on the most pressing issues for people with developmental disabilities across the country. These projects may involve research, technical assistance, projects which improving supportive living and quality of life opportunities, projects to educate policymakers, and efforts to create interagency Federal collaboration.
Projects Of National Significance
- Family Advocacy and Support Training Project (FAST)
This project will develop culturally responsive, replicable training materials and provide training to families of children with development disabilities in all fifty states and territories. A primary emphasis is on reaching culturally and racially diverse families from all geographic regions. PACER’s Family Advocacy and Support Training (FAST) Project will develop a coordinated series of training modules on: 1) family leadership and systems change; and 2) the family support needs of youth transitioning to adulthood.
Organization:
PACER Center, Inc.
8161 Normandale Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55437
Contact:
Paula F. Goldberg, Executive Director & Shauna McDonald, Director of Community Resource Development
Phone: (952) 838-9000
FAX (952) 838-0199
Email Address: pgoldberg@pacer.org &smcdonald@pacer.org - Family Web 2.0
This project will use its existing 26 offices in nine states to support families of children with disabilities to evaluate, promote, and provide national leadership training though a Family Web 2.0 project. Families will teach each other how to evaluate and operate training programs and how to engage in positive policy development to ensure ongoing support services, Family Web 2.0 means moving toward citizen –centric information, education and resources that are truly usable and accessible.
Organization:
Community Options, Inc.
16 Farber Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Contact:
Robert P. Stack, President
Phone: (609) 951-9900
FAX (609) 951-9112
Email Address: Robert.stack@comop.org - Easter Seals Family Support Training Initiative
This project will implement national training modules for families of children with disabilities of any age and individuals with disabilities and to advance family support leadership and outcomes. Project objectives include, working collaboratively with existing AED State Action teams and other disability system partners, implementing a state of the art Family Navigation Academy, implementing monthly training modules and technical assistance, and evaluating the outcomes on leadership and policy development.
Organization:
Easter Seals, Inc.
1425 K Street, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
Contact:
Ann Cameron Caldwell, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President
Phone: (202) 347-3066
Email Address: acaldwell@easterseals.com - Leadership Training for Partnership & Action: A Self Advocate and Family Alliance
We understand that families of people with developmental disabilities have a strong and important role in preparing their children for adulthood. Yet, we believe that the family member with the disability is the core priority, and that people with disabilities are capable of living self-directed and empowered lives. The driving emphasis of this effort is to build an alliance between individuals with disabilities and their family members, and then form the perspective of youth and young adults with developmental disabilities.
Organization:
National Youth Leadership Network, Inc.
P O Box 5908
Bethesda, MD 20824
Contact:
Betsy Valnes, Executive Director
Phone: (866) 480-6565 Ext 1
Email Address: bvalnes@tie.net - Infusing Cultural Competencies in Training Activities for Families with Children with Disabilities in Advocacy and Policy Making
TASH will develop a family support training program for family members of a child with a disability that infuses culturally competent practices is translated into at least two languages and is presented in 12 states and two territories. This project will provide training for all interested families with intentional focus on engaging families of color who have a child with a disability. As we know from experience and research families of color which include children with significant disabilities, such families are much less likely to tap available services and supports, making them even more vulnerable to abuse, neglect and segregation.
Organization:
The Association for the Severely Handicapped (TASH)
1025 Vermont Ave, NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
Contact:
Barbara R. Trader, Executive Director
Phone: (202) 540-9013
Email Address: btrader@tash.org