About Us

Our Mission:
To initiate positive change on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities by voicing their needs to the community, creating new choices for living, learning and participations; and, ensuring the highest quality of life possible.

Our Vision
A society that includes, values, and empowers children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities.

For over fifty years, since the Council On Developmental Disabilities was created by a group of concerned parents, Parent Outreach activities have been a core part of the Council! About 25 years ago on a more formal basis, the Parent Outreach program was established because parents realized the tremendous benefits they gained through their interactions with one another. Since that time the Council has provided a staff person who works with the Parent Outreach Committee to develop ways to facilitate ongoing friendships between parents of infants, children, and adult children with developmental disabilities.

---

DEFINING Developmental Disability

A Developmental Disability is, according to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, Section 102, 8-A:
A severe, chronic disability of an individual that 1) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental or physical impairments; 2) is manifested before the individual attains age 22; 3) is likely to continue indefinitely; 4) results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity—I. Self-care; II. Reflective and expressive language; III. Learning; IV. Mobility; V. Self-direction; VI. Capacity for independent living; VII. Economic self-sufficiency; and 5)reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

---