State Plan

See the goals and objectives of our statewide strategic plan.

Goal 1: Advancing Opportunities for Leadership & Advocacy

The Council will advance opportunities for more people with developmental disabilities (DD), their families, and other professionals to become strong self-advocates, disability advocates, peer trainers, and community leaders.

Objective 1.1: Support for Self-Advocates

Increase capacity of self-advocates (people with DD) to organize at the state and local levels to share information and resources; develop policy skills; train other self-advocates; participate in cross-disability initiatives; and support independence and engagement within communities on issues that are important to them and their families.

Objective 1.1 supports activities led by self-advocates and could involve work in areas such as leadership training, peer-support, reading skills, social interaction, financial literacy, and public policy.

Objective 1.2: Support for Family Members and Professionals

Provide opportunities for family members and professionals to receive information, connect with resources, and develop policy skills to engage in state and local issues that are important to their families and individuals with DD they serve.

Objective 1.2 focuses on engaging family members and professionals who work with people with DD to build individual skills, educate communities, and network to advance inclusive public policy. 

Goal 2: Leading Partnerships for Inclusion & Support

The Council will lead in partnership with self-advocates, family members, and other stakeholders to improve community-based systems to be more fully inclusive and supportive of Texans with DD and their families.

Objective 2.1: Protection of Personal and Civil Rights

Increase access to information, education, training, and engage in policy initiatives to increase protections for the personal and civil rights of Texans with DD to live safely and independently, including during natural and public health emergencies.

Objective 2.1 includes activities that support the prevention and response to sexual assault; preparation for natural disasters and public health emergencies; education on alternatives to guardianship; and ongoing promotion of the human rights of people with DD.

Objective 2.2: Access to Education and Employment Services

Increase access to services, improve quality of supports, and support other assistance that promotes healthy growth and development across all ages — in schools and in the transition to post-graduation life — including innovative opportunities and best practices to obtain competitive integrated employment.

Objective 2.2 includes activities to explore best practices in early childhood intervention and special education including online learning, peer-support, and expanding knowledge of students’ legal rights within schools. Activities also focus on support for graduation from colleges and universities with degrees and having more opportunities for people to gain job experience through internships and apprenticeships.

Objective 2.3: Addressing Employment Disparities

Increase opportunities for employment for early-career adult Texans with DD of Hispanic origin who live in the deep south area of Texas through outreach, training, and inter-agency communication post-transition.

Objective 2.3 includes activities to build support for Hispanic Texans with DD who want to find competitive, integrated jobs. Activities address language barriers for Spanish-speaking families as well as efforts to reduce workplace bullying. Activities also expand culturally appropriate information about working while maintaining Medicaid benefits.

Objective 2.4: Expansion of Health Care and Wellness

Expand opportunities for Texans with DD to engage in healthy behaviors and access DD-informed health care services and supports.

Objective 2.4 includes activities that focus on education about sexual health and healthy relationships. Activities also support building community provider networks and developing mental health training for providers who work with people with all types of disabilities.

Objective 2.5: Formal and Informal Community Supports

Increase supports for informal and formal caregivers and engage in training and policy initiatives to improve residential supports and transportation that are essential to quality of life and integration into the community.

Objective 2.5 includes activities to strengthen support for community attendants, as well as siblings, aging caregivers, and other family members of people with DD. Activities also focus on reducing barriers to accessing quality housing and accessible transportation essential to inclusion in community life.

Objective 2.6: Outreach and Community Engagement

Increase outreach and information to connect with Texans with DD and others and lead policy initiatives that address regional-specific needs that emerge.

Objective 2.6 focuses on education and advocacy opportunities to increase community inclusion that consider the unique regional characteristics in our state. Activities also support reducing language barriers and building the organizational capacity of cultural minority groups.  

Objective 2.7: Collaboration with DD Partners

Partner with our DD Network to develop joint policy initiatives to protect human rights and improve access to services, supports, and other assistance that includes protection from abuse and neglect, school discipline, safety in residential settings, and expanding access to mental health services and supports.

Objective 2.7 includes activities that seek to inform the state’s policy and rule-making process by providing analysis and public comment on important disability issues.

*These goals and objectives are proposed pending final approval from the ACL.

State Plan Requirements

The DD Act requires that the state plan be developed through data-driven strategic planning. The plan’s goals and objectives must originate from the unmet needs of people with DD and their families.

The plan must: 

  • focus on advocacy, capacity building, and systems change;
  • reflect the diversity of the state; and
  • address the needs of unserved and underserved populations.
     

The DD Act defines unserved and underserved populations as those with people from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, disadvantaged people, people who speak limited English, people from underserved geographic areas (rural or urban), and specific groups of people within the DD population.

The plan must include annual activities developed to meet the following outcomes:

  • Establish or strengthen a program for the direct funding of a state self-advocacy organization led by people with DD
  • Support opportunities for people with DD who are seen as leaders to provide leadership training to people with DD who may become leaders in the future
  • Support and expand the participation of people with DD in cross-disability and culturally diverse leadership coalitions
     

Each year, TCDD submits a report to the federal government that indicates the degree to which the goals and objectives of the state plan have been met. The report includes summaries of activities and empirical data on how many people benefited from those activities.

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