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Welcome to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council’s website.  We envision a system of services and supports in Louisiana which enable individuals with developmental disabilities to exercise self-determination, be independent, productive and integrated and included in all facets of community life.  The Council’s mission is to ensure all individuals with disabilities benefit from supports and opportunities in their communities so they achieve quality of life in conformance with their wishes.

The goal of the Developmental Disabilities Council is to effectively implement the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 in Louisiana.  All actions and efforts undertaken by the Council, either directly or through funded grant projects, are directed to advocacy, capacity building and systems change activities to affect real and meaningful reform of Louisiana’s system of services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.  The Council advocates for the community services and supports desired by individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, increased availability of those supports for Louisiana’s citizens now waiting for those services, appropriate rebalancing of Louisiana’s resources to better meet the needs of our citizens with disabilities and their families, and reasonable fiscal expenditures to support high quality community services. 

The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council is made up of people from every region of the state who are appointed by the governor to develop and implement a five year plan to address the needs of persons with developmental disabilities.  Membership includes persons with developmental disabilities, parents and representatives from public and private agencies. Several members rotate off the Council each year and nominations for new members are always welcomed.

People First Language
To Ensure Inclusion, Freedom and Respect for All, It’s Time to Embrace People First Language.  Please read Kathie Snow’s article on People First Language, reprinted with permission.