New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council

Five Year Plan

10/01/11 – 9/30/16

As Amended October 1, 2014

Goals

Goal 1. Children with developmental disabilities will receive quality supports and services in welcoming environments that enable them to reach their potential.

Objectives

Objective 1. State laws, policies and practices will be strengthened to better support children with developmental disabilities in the areas of education, health and social relations, through:
(1) building relationships with policymakers and engaging in legislative and administrative advocacy,
(2) supporting promising initiatives and
(3) training families, guardians, self-advocates and professionals in best practices and supporting them to advocate and influence policy.

Objective 2. The Council will develop an Anti Bullying Campaign directed to schools, families, and communities that will reduce incidents of bullying of people with developmental disabilities.

Goal 2. Individuals with developmental disabilities will have greater opportunities for vocational training, competitive employment, expanded work hours, and increased career options.

Objective 1. At least 30 people will obtain competitive employment, self-employment, higher pay or expanded work hours as a result of the Council’s efforts to:
(1) improve programs, policies and practices through support of promising local or statewide initiatives and
(2) advocate for the removal of work disincentives.

Goal 3. New Hampshire communities will become more accessible and better support individuals with disabilities to fully engage in community life.

Objective 1. The Council, in collaboration with disability, aging and other organizations, will support the development or improvement of 20 community-based programs, policies or practices that promote the full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life including:
(1) inclusive emergency preparedness and management,
(2) social integration, meaningful relationships and acceptance of differences and
(3) transportation, housing and infrastructure.

Objective 2. The Council will educate the public about the value of accessibility and inclusion by disseminating positive information, images and messages through multiple forms of media, reaching at least 250,000 people over 5 years.

Goal 4. People with developmental disabilities will lead high quality lives with an increased level of personal choice and greater control over their lives.

Objective 1. The Council, in collaboration with key partners, will support the establishment of outcomes measures and evaluation methods that define and measure the adequacy and quality of services in the state’s developmental services system and support systems change efforts designed to improve quality, prevent abuse and make services more flexible and responsive to individual needs.

Objective 2. The Council will take a leadership role in addressing direct support issues through:
(1) training of 500 direct support professionals to support people with disabilities to have greater opportunities, community inclusion, choice and control over their lives and
(2) working to develop and maintain a workforce capable of meeting the current and projected direct care needs of people with disabilities.

Objectives 3. The Council will ensure that people with disabilities are represented when key policy decisions are being made by
(1) participating in policy development,
(2) helping people and families develop leadership and advocacy skills,
(3) expanding the number of people in the disability community serving on boards and committees that influence policy and
(4) coordinating information about disability issues for policy makers and the public, leading to the creation or enhancement of at least 10 programs or policies.

Objective 4. The Council will assure that at least 1500 self-advocates, families, guardians and caregivers access information, training, and resources through a user-friendly web site, personal education and training opportunities and materials disseminated through multiple forms of media.

Goal 5. There will be at least one statewide self-advocacy organization led by people with disabilities, more people will participate and more individuals with developmental disabilities will achieve greater choice, independence, and self-determination through their advocacy efforts.

Objective 1. The Council will collaborate with key partners to promote and strengthen independent advocacy by individuals with developmental disabilities through:
(1) leadership training and development and
(2) supporting the formation and strengthening of self-advocacy organizations and activities led by people with disabilities, including cross-disability advocacy initiatives.

Goal 6: Young adults with developmental disabilities will be supported in making a successful transition to adult life.

Objective 1. The Council will collaborate with key stakeholders to educate at least 1000 self-advocates, family members, guardians, and professionals about best transition practices, to include individual service planning, employment, secondary and post-secondary education, health care, community inclusion, self-advocacy, self-determination and guardianship. The Council will support the implementation of improved practices in at least 10 programs.