The Council's responsibilities are set forth in both federal and state law. Under the
federal Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, the Council and all the programs, activities and
projects it funds, including the Community
Program
Development Grants and local Area Boards on Developmental
Disabilities, must adhere to the following principles (as amended in
the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000):
- Individuals with developmental disabilities, including those with the most severe
developmental disabilities, are capable of self-determination, independence, productivity, and
integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, but often require the provision of
community services, individualized supports and other assistance;
- Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have competencies,
capabilities and personal goals that should be recognized, supported and encouraged, and
any assistance to such individuals should be provided in an individualized manner,
consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and
capabilities of such individuals;
- Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are the primary
decisionmakers regarding the services and supports such individuals and their families
receive, including regarding choosing where the individuals live from
available options, and play decisionmaking roles in the policies and programs that affect the lives
of such individuals and their families;
- Services, supports and other assistance should be provided in a manner that demonstrates
respect for individual dignity, personal preferences, and cultural differences;
- Specific efforts must be made to ensure that individuals from racial and ethnic minority
backgrounds and their families enjoy increased and meaningful
opportunities to access and use community services, individualized
supports, and other forms of assistance available to other individuals
with developmental disabilities and their families;
- Recruitment efforts in disciplines related to developmental disabilities
relating to pre-service
training, community training, practice, administration, and policymaking
must focus on
bringing larger numbers of racial and ethnic minorities into the
disciplines in order to provide
appropriate skills, knowledge, role models, and sufficient personnel to address the
growing needs
of an increasingly diverse population;
- With education and support, communities can be accessible to and responsive to the needs of individuals
with developmental disabilities and their families and are enriched by
full and active
participation in community activities, and contributions, by individuals with developmental disabilities and
their families;
- Individuals with developmental disabilities have access to opportunities and the
necessary support to be included in community life, have interdependent relationships,
live in homes and communities, and make contributions to their families,
communities, State,
and the Nation.
- Efforts undertaken to maintain or expand community-based living
options for individuals with developmental disabilities should be
monitored in order to determine and report to appropriate individuals
and entities the extent of access by individuals with developmental
disabilities to those options and the extent of compliance by entities
providing those options with quality assurance standards;
- Families of children with developmental disabilities need to have
access to and use of safe and appropriate child care and before-school
and after-school programs, in the most integrated settings, in order
to enrich the participation of the children in community life;
- Individuals with developmental disabilities need to have access to
and use of public transportation, in order to be independent and
directly contribute to and participate in all facets of community
life; and
- Individuals with developmental disabilities need to have access to
and use of recreational, leisure, and social opportunities in the most
integrated settings, in order to enrich their participation in
community life.
The federal law also allows additional requirements to be placed on Council funding to
accomplish the mandates of the federal Act. These are accomplished through program
instructions, information, or memoranda issued by the Administration on Developmental
Disabilities. Councils must also follow specific procedures to receive federal
funding, and must attest to certain assurances regarding how the money is spent.
The Council's state-mandated functions are defined in California Welfare &
Institutions Code (WIC) Sections 4540-4542. The majority of the state statutes that govern
services for individuals with developmental disabilities are found in WIC Sections known
collectively as the Lanterman Act.
For a complete list of governing statutes and regulations concerning services to
individuals with developmental disabilities, visit the Department of Developmental Services web page
entitled Laws
and Regulations.
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