President Kennedy initiated what is now known as the Developmental Disabilities Act.
The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) guarantees that individuals with developmental disabilities are able to have access to community services. The bill also allows that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families help create and have access to programs that promote independence and community integration.
History
The Mental Retardation Facilities Construction Act of 1963 was the first incarnation of the Developmental Disabilities Act. Passed by President Kennedy, this was the first time that federal funding and support was given to research mental retardation. The Act provided training centers for mental health professionals and direct care facilities for children and adults living with developmental disabilities. This Act also helped deinstitutionalize many developmentally disabled individuals.
Expert Insight
As more information became available to lawmakers about the reality and needs of individuals with disabilities, amendments were made to the initial 1963 legislation beginning in 1970. The Act then became the Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Amendments of 1970 and it formally defined developmentally disabled individuals. In 1975 the Act was amended again and the name changed again to Developmentally Disabled Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, which added the DD bill of rights and provided more funding for services for individuals with developmental disabilities. In 1984, employment related services were added to the bill and in 1987 the role of the family was recognized and added to the bill. The need to recognize cultural differences and expanding Projects of Significance were added as amendments in 1990 and 1994.
Implementation of the DD Act
The DD Act is the responsibility of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services. The administration ensures that people with developmental disabilities not only have access to the programs that will help them lead more independent and productive lives, but that they have access to the planning phase of these programs. By having access to the planning phase, individuals and their families can ensure that these programs meet the needs of the individuals they were meant to serve.
Types
The DD Act establishes areas of emphasis that are most needed to accomplish its goals. The Programs enacted by the DD Act highlight the need for individuals with developmental disabilities to develop skills in employment and transportation when applicable. The Act also provides greater access to education, child care, health care and housing issues faced by families caring for individuals with developmental disabilities. Recreation and quality assurance are other areas highlighted for a well-rounded application of the DD Act.
Features
When the Developmental Disabilities Act was reauthorized in 1970, Congress established State and Territorial Councils on Developmental Disabilities to help states begin providing services for the developmentally disabled. This program created by the DD Act requires every state and U.S. territory have a DD Council to help meet the goals of the DD Act. The 2000 reauthorization of the DD Act created University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), which provided federal funding for professionals working with the developmentally disabled. The Protection and Advocacy Systems created by the DD Act provides recourse in every state and territory to resolve problems including abuse, neglect, and discrimination based on developmental disabilities. The 1975 reauthorization created Projects of National Significance which provides grants for programs that promote and help increase independence productivity and community inclusion.
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