The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) has approved the goals and objectives for its 2022-2026 State Plan. The plan outlines the Council’s work over the next five years in funding innovative projects and engaging in public policy to help communities across Texas build their capacity to support and include people with developmental disabilities (DD) in all areas of life.
Council members reviewed and approved the goals and objectives of the 2022-2026 State Plan following a 45-day public comment period and an outreach campaign called TCDD Listens, which included several ways for people to share input.
Through TCDD Listens, more than 500 self-advocates, family members, service providers, and others participated in online Community Conversations in June and July of 2020 to share their experiences and ideas. Also, more than 200 self-advocates and family members provided input in a statewide survey to help the Council identify unmet service and support needs in Texas.
2022-2026 State Plan
Goal 1: The Council will advance opportunities for more people with DD, their families, and other professionals to become strong self-advocates, peer trainers, and community leaders.
Objective 1: Increase capacity of self-advocates 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 2: 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.
Goal 2: The Council will lead in partnership with family members, self-advocates, and other stakeholders to improve community-based systems to be more fully inclusive and supportive of Texans with DD and their families.
Objective 1: Increase access to information, training, and education, and engage in policy initiatives to increase protections for the personal and civil rights of Texans with DD to live safe and independently, including during natural and public health emergencies.
Objective 2: Increase access to services, supports, and other assistance that promote healthy growth and development across all ages — for example, in school and during the transition to post-graduation life — including innovative opportunities and best practices to obtain competitive integrated employment.
Objective 3: 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 interagency communication post-transition.
Objective 4: Expand opportunities for Texans with DD to engage in healthy behaviors and access DD-informed health care services and supports.
Objective 5: 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 6: Increase outreach and information to connect with Texans with DD and others, and lead policy initiatives that address regional-specific needs that emerge.
Objective 7: Partner with our DD Network to develop joint policy initiatives to protect human rights and improve access to services, supports, and other assistance that include but are not limited to: protection from abuse and neglect, school discipline, safety in residential settings, and expanding access to mental health services and supports.
