The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, funded by the federal government and the state of New Jersey, is a lead change agent in the state, responsible for a vision of what the lives of people with developmental disabilities should be. Through its membership, activities and projects, the Council provides a forum and resources for making its vision a reality.

The purpose of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-402) is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of life through culturally competent programs.

The purpose of the Developmental Disabilities Councils, according to federal law, is to engage in advocacy, capacity building and systemic change that contribute to a coordinated, consumer and family-centered, consumer- and family-directed comprehensive system that includes needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self determination for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Vision of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities is that all individuals with developmental disabilities are contributing members of their neighborhoods and communities; make real choices and have control over their own lives; have the freedom to strive, excel, and make mistakes; are in a position to achieve personal goals, are in a position to affect policy and process decisions that affect their lives; and have the same rights, privileges, responsibilities, and opportunities of citizenship as does any other New Jersey resident.

Programs:

People First NJ:  29 states in the US, as well as in Canada, the UK, Germany, New Zealand, Austria, Hong Kong, Japan, and Italy, self advocates have joined a grassroots movement organized and maintained entirely by individuals with disabilities, and dedicated solely to advancing the rights of citizens with disabilities across the globe. This International Movement is known as People First.

Regional Family Support Planning Council

In accordance with the 1993 Family Support Act, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities established the Regional Family Support Planning Councils (RFSPCs) to provide a way for parents and family members of people with developmental disabilities to come together to exchange knowledge and information about family support services and to advocate for families and individuals with developmental disabilities at the local and state level on issues that directly impact their lives. They also collaborate with the state Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and Department of Children and Families (DCF) on how to better serve individuals and their families.

Youth Leadership Program

The NJCDD’s Youth Leadership Program works with local groups and community-based organizations to provide leadership training for young people with developmental disabilities. Through attendance of eight fun and informative training sessions, young people with developmental disabilities develop skills to make them leading voices for themselves and other people with developmental disabilities. 

Partners in PolicyMaking (PIP)

The goal of this program is to prepare the next generation of disability advocates to work toward meaningful change in our state. The Boggs Center is committed to building a diverse group of participants that is reflective of the needs, geography, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds of New Jersey. 

The Revised Family Crisis Handbook- A Mental Health, Stabilization, and Wellness Toolkit

This handbook is to empower individuals with disabilities and their families and professional caregivers by providing information with which they an more effectively advocate treatments, supports, services and the conditions that promote mental wellness.

Age Groups	Children Adolescents Adults Seniors
Community Services	Legal / Advocacy Advocacy (Legal)
Health Services	Intellectual and Developmental Needs Advocacy Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)
Areas Served	State-Wide

Last Updated: 06/19/19