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Mission and Five Year Plan

Our Mission

We help lead change in Illinois so all people with developmental disabilities exercise their right to equal opportunity and freedom.

Five Year Plan

Our investments and initiatives are based on the five-year plan, established by the Council, to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families have a part in the design of and access to culturally competent services, supports and other assistance and opportunities that promote independence, productivity and integration and inclusion into the community.

Below is the Council's current Five Year State Plan.

Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities Five Year State Plan 2022-2026

Individual & Family Advocacy Goal

By September 30, 2026, a minimum of 1000 Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families knowledgeably advocate and take part in decisions that affect their lives, the lives of others, and/or systems.

Objectives

  1. By September 30, 2026, ICDD will strengthen a program for the direct funding of a State self-advocacy organization led by individuals with developmental disabilities; will support opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities who are considered leaders to provide leadership training to individuals with developmental disabilities who may become leaders; and will support and expand participation of individuals with developmental disabilities in cross-disability and culturally diverse leadership coalitions. *ACL REQUIREMENT: Self-Advocacy Project
  2. By September 30, 2026, individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, and other stakeholders will increase their knowledge and access to coordinated, streamlined information about services and supports, and will increase opportunities to advocate for their priorities among accessible and effective service systems.
  3. By September 30, 2026, in collaboration with community partners, ICDD will reduce service access barriers and decrease the disparity in available information for linguistically diverse communities (inclusive of but, not limited to: Spanish & Polish) and increase the cultural competency of the DD service delivery system by providing information in languages other than English to increase inclusion of linguistically diverse individuals with DD and their families in at least 3 aspects of the service delivery system. *ACL REQUIREMENT: Targeted Disparity

Systems Change Goal

By September 30, 2026, support systems will be optimized to increase stakeholder capacity, improve employment systems, community housing options, and post-secondary outcomes for youth in transition (ages 14 - 26). There will be 3 identified issues impacted and support provided to racial or language minority communities in at least 3 disparate geographic locations.

Objectives

  1. By September 30, 2026, ICDD will promote participation of people with developmental disabilities in Employment First activities, increase stakeholder capacity, and advocate for legislative and policy changes to increase competitive integrated employment.
  2. By September 30, 2026, through interagency collaboration, a minimum of one (1) systemic change will be achieved in the area of housing / community living resulting in increased access for people with developmental disabilities to housing of their choice.
  3. By September 30, 2026, ICDD will address any unanticipated emerging needs (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics, etc.) for individuals with developmental disabilities and families. *ACL REQUEST: Emerging Need
  4. By September 30, 2026, ICDD will assist/facilitate three (3) or more individualized, flexible, and/or responsive services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  5. By September 30, 2026, ICDD collaborates with other state agencies, advocacy groups, and/ or researchers to improve state systems for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  6. By September 30, 2026, ICDD, Equip for Equality (EFE) and the Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD) at the University of Illinois Chicago will facilitate at least one policy and/or programmatic initiative to increase successful post-secondary outcomes for transition age youth (ages 14-26) in the area of employment, post-secondary education, and/or post-secondary training, and independent living. *ACL REQUIREMENT: DD Network Collaboration
  7. By September 30, 2026, ICDD will support at least three (3) regionally significant racial or language minority communities in at least three (3) disparate geographic locations in Illinois to enable people with developmental disabilities to access a life like any other by increasing their inclusion in educational systems and related social settings.

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