State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD Councils)

How DD Councils Advance the Vision of the DD Act

State DD Councils use federal funding to:

• Expand access to employment, healthcare, housing, education, and other opportunities for people with I/DD.
• Connect people with I/DD to the resources they need to thrive at home, at work, and in their communities.
• Strengthen the voices of people with I/DD and their families to shape their lives with greater choice and independence.
• Educate decision-makers using research and lived experience to improve outcomes for people with I/DD.

To ensure these priorities reflect real needs, 60% or more of each Council’s members must be people with I/DD or their close family members. Their voices help ensure the Council's work addresses the issues that matter most.

Employment: A Measurable Return on Investment

DD Councils helped drive a 26% growth in integrated employment for people with I/DD between 2011 and 2023. Employment remains a top priority.

The business case is clear. Over a five-year period, companies that hire people with disabilities:

• 1.6x more revenue
• 2.6x more net income
• 2x more economic profit than industry peers
• 25% greater productivity than their peers

DD Councils invest in employment initiatives, including Transition to Work, Project SEARCH, and Employment First. These initiatives help people with I/DD gain job skills and hands-on experience so they can enter the workforce.

56 DD Councils

Across the United States and its territories, 56 DD Councils are an important part of the DD Network. They work with University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) and Protection & Advocacy (P&A) organizations to help people with I/DD live fulfilling lives in their communities.

Community Living and Civic Participation

• Community living for people with I/DD has increased nearly 91% over the past 50 years, due in part to the work of DD Councils and their partners. This shift has saved billions of dollars in federal assistance.
• People with I/DD are not only living in their communities. They are helping shape them.
  • More than 164,000 people with I/DD participated in DD Council activities.
  • More than 75,000 advocated for themselves or their loved ones.
  • More than 24,500 served on boards, coalitions, and governing bodies, often in leadership positions outside DD Councils.

Removing Barriers, Increasing Opportunities

DD Councils work to help people with I/DD:

• Complete grades 6–12 and pursue education or training after high school
• Find and succeed in jobs that match their goals and interests, which makes the broader economy stronger
• Access health care and live longer, healthier lives
• Choose their own paths in life and work and help others do the same
• Participate more fully in community life

Greater independence can mean less reliance on government support.

State Spotlight: South Carolina

Stories like Justin’s and Kaelyn’s happen every year across states and territories through the work of DD Councils and their partners.

Justin Builds a Healthier, More Connected Life

Justin lived in a small beach town near Myrtle Beach, Justin — like many people with I/DD in the area — could easily get lost among the tourist crowds. Quiet and reserved, he did not socialize much until he joined  SOS Care’s Walking Club.

Funded by the South Carolina DD Council, the program helps people with I/DD become healthier, more active, and more connected to others. Through the program, Justin became more active, lost weight, gained confidence, and made friends.

Justin later became an active DD Council member and joined a running club. He met his wife, and they completed marathons and ultramarathons together.

Over three years, the Walking Club served 577 participants, 380 of them people with I/DD. Many of them reported better health and less reliance on medication. What began as a small-town effort has since expanded across the entire coastal county.

Kaelyn Builds a Career and Becomes a National Influencer

Kaelyn’s story shows what can happen when people with I/DD are given real opportunity. Kaelyn, a trained therapist with autism, was hired as a Registered Behavioral Technician through Project Hope’s Hope4Work program. Funded by the South Carolina DD Council, the program works to address unemployment in the autism community.

During her first year, Kaelyn became an advocate. She spoke at events, trained staff, and raised awareness about autism and available services.

During her second year, she managed social media for the Project Hope Foundation, reaching millions of people. She also delivered the keynote address at the Autism Service Providers Conference.

During the program’s final year, Kaelyn published a book. She continues to lead through storytelling and public outreach, with support in part from a DD Council grant.

Sources: Accenture, in partnership with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (2023); University of Massachusetts Boston, Institute for Community Inclusion (data note in press); University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration, RISP (2025); ACL FY 2025 Annual Report.