ICDD’s 2027-2031 Five-Year State Plan: Final Draft

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) is excited to share its 2027-2031 Five-Year State Plan. This draft plan was approved by the ICDD Council on May 28, 2026.  ICDD will submit this plan to the Administration on Community Living in August of 2026.

Every Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) is required by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) to create a Five-Year State Plan. This plan helps guide how ICDD will use its resources, leadership, and systems change work to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families across Illinois over the next five years.

ICDD built this plan over the last year with input from self-advocates, families, providers, community partners, state agencies, and Council members. The process of building the Five-Year State Plan included a 45-Day Public Comment Period.  ICDD was happy to receive many comments from the community during this 45-Day period. 

Most feedback supported the direction and intent of the draft goals and objectives. An analysis of the feedback determined:

• The most consistent themes focused on rural inclusion, measurable outcomes, funding concerns, implementation clarity, and stronger examples of how objectives will translate into practice.

• Most recommendations can be addressed through implementation strategies, future work plans, technical assistance materials, annual reporting, or small wording refinements.

As a next step, the ICDD Council approved State Plan will be submitted to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) on August 15, 2026, for federal review and approval.  ICDD will also share information with our broader network to ensure they are informed about the approved final draft plan, the public input process, and next steps for implementation.

Below is the text of the final draft plan. 

2027-2032 FIVE-YEAR STATE PLAN -- FINAL DRAFT

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities' (ICDD) 2027-2031 Five-Year State Plan is built around two priorities: strengthening individual and family advocacy and advancing systems change to improve opportunities, access, and outcomes for people with developmental disabilities and their families across Illinois. This draft plan was approved by CDD on May 28, 2026, and will be submitted to the Administration for Community Living for federal review and approval on August 15, 2026.

GOAL 1: INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY ADVOCACY: By September 30, 2031, individuals with developmental disabilities, families, and allies across Illinois strengthen self-advocacy and leadership skills and shape cross-disability, culturally responsive, and systems change efforts through lived experience.

Objective 1.1 (Self-Advocacy Leadership Network): By September 30, 2031, 1,000 self-advocates with developmental disabilities will strengthen leadership skills through a statewide self-advocacy network and meaningfully contribute to cross-disability and culturally responsive advocacy initiatives.

Objective 1.2 (Leadership Development): By September 30, 2031, ICDD will support at least 10,000 individuals with developmental disabilities, family members, and allies to strengthen leadership and self-advocacy skills through training, peer learning opportunities, leadership activities, and community engagement that prepares individuals to serve as leaders, peer mentors, and trainers in their communities.

Objective 1.3 (Outreach & Engagement): By September 30, 2031, ICDD will expand statewide outreach and engagement, including underserved and rural communities, with at least 1,500 individuals with developmental disabilities to strengthen self-advocacy and elevate lived experience in shaping systems change priorities.

GOAL 2: SYSTEMS CHANGE: By September 30, 2031, support systems will be strengthened to improve employment, community living, behavioral health, service access, and responsiveness to emerging needs for individuals with developmental disabilities and families in Illinois.

Objective 2.1 (Employment First):   By September 30, 2031, ICDD will promote participation of people with developmental disabilities in Employment First activities, increase stakeholder capacity, and advocate for at least two policy changes to increase competitive integrated employment.

Objective 2.2 (Community Living and Housing): By September 30, 2031, ICDD will collaborate with state agencies, providers, and community partners to expand the range of community housing models for people with developmental disabilities by supporting at least three statewide initiatives that improve access to Host Homes, Shared Living, small CILA options, community-based living supports, or independent living with person-centered supports.

Objective 2.3 (Behavioral Health & Crisis Response): By September 30, 2031, ICDD will partner with individuals with developmental disabilities, families, advocates, content experts, and at least three state agencies to identify barriers in the behavioral health, dual diagnosis, and crisis response system, with a focus on improving coordination across systems, and implement at least two regional or statewide interventions that improve access, reduce avoidable emergency room admissions, and strengthen crisis stabilization pathways.

Objective 2.4 (Systems Innovation & Access): By September 30, 2031, through strategic partnerships, ICDD will implement at least five innovative initiatives that improve service access, strengthen community living, and enhance coordination across responsive systems, particularly in underserved and rural communities, for individuals with developmental disabilities and families.

Objective 2.5 (Emerging Needs): By September 30, 2031, ICDD will address any unanticipated emerging needs (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics, etc.) for individuals with developmental disabilities and families.