Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council
Goals, Objectives & Strategies
October 1, 2006–September 30, 2011

Outcome
People with developmental disabilities are participating members of communities they choose.

Goal
Increase community living options for Iowans with developmental disabilities.

Objective
By September 30, 2011

• the percentage of individuals with DD living in large (6+) bed homes will decrease from 44% to 30%
• the percent of total MR/DD spending in HCBS waiver programming will increase from 30% to 50%
• there will be increases in the percent of total federal, state and local dollars spent on community-based vs. institutional service, and
• there will be increases in the range and availability of community-based services to support individuals with DD.

Strategies
With the Iowa Association of Counties, the Iowa Association of Community Providers, and the Iowa Department of Human Services submit to the Iowa legislature policy recommendations for enhancing community options for Iowans with DD.

Public Policy Partnership

• Promote effective policy advocacy by providing Iowans affected by disability, via the InfoNet publication, website and other means, with timely, accurate, nonpartisan public policy and legislative information that supports their individual and collective advocacy interests.
• Develop information and resources to provide Iowans affected by disability with access to information needed to make informed decisions and confidently advocate for change.
• Develop information and resources that promote and connect Iowans affected by disability with opportunities for political and civic participation, as voters, advocates and members of decision-making or advisory committees, task forces, workgroups, etc.
• Assist the Council to promote and market Position Papers on issues of importance to targeted audiences of decision-makers and other stakeholders.
• Increase the capacity of DD Council members to develop and articulate a Council Policy agenda to decision-makers and to serve as members of appropriate committees, task forces and workgroups.
• Maintain a consistent presence in the arenas in which policy decisions are made and demonstrate the capacity to monitor, translate and report complex information in formats that are clearly understood and fully accessible to individuals with a variety of interests, needs and disabilities.
• Annually survey subscribers to determine how they use the information provided and their satisfaction with the content and format.

Outcome
People affected by disability are actively engaged in decision-making processes that affect their lives.

Objectives
By September 30, 2011, 5,000 people affected by disability are actively engaged in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Specific results include increases in the number of:

1. Iowans affected by disability who, at all levels of decision-making, advocate for improvements and/or increases in:
   a. Child care
   b. Educational services and supports, including early intervention
   c. Employment opportunities
   d. Housing options
   e. Health care and related services and supports
   f.  Informal and formal community supports
   g.  Quality Assurance
   h.  Recreation
   i. Transportation
2. Iowans affected by disability who report they’ve gained knowledge about their issues and report they use that knowledge and their personal experiences to advocate for themselves and others.
3. Iowans affected by disability who vote in local, state and national elections.
4. Iowans affected by disability who report that they effectively lobby their elected officials and hold them firmly accountable for their public policy.
5. Iowans affected by disability who lead by building coalitions and consensus around priority issues.

Strategies

ID Action Infrastructure

• Maintain an ID Action office.
• Update and maintain the ID Action database and website.
• Research and coordinate consistent efforts across projects to measure the effectiveness of ID Action to reach the Council’s targets and to measure customer satisfaction with ID Action programs, activities and events.
• Develop public education and awareness products that reflect the Council’s commitment to building community audiences such as Iowans with disabilities and their families, community leaders, etc.
• Conduct public relations and provide promotional activities to promote ID Action activities, resources and events.
• Track and report numbers of individuals reached as a result of public awareness and promotional strategies.

Advocacy University

• Provide systems advocacy and other specific training; e.g., child care, education, employment, health, housing, informal and formal community supports, quality assurance, transportation and recreation as identified by individuals with disabilities, their families and advocates.
• Produce an Advocacy University “course catalog” identifying the educational, training and technical assistance options available for local groups of advocates, organizations and others to determine the just-in-time assistance they would like to schedule.
   
• Include persons affected by disability and other ID Action partners to develop core competencies and content for systems literacy and advocacy skill development.
• Compile curriculum components from existing resources to address the competencies. (The Council does not intend to purchase a new curriculum.)
• Enlist content experts, capable of employing a variety of delivery mechanisms, to provide, at a local level, training, technical assistance and skill-building for Iowans affected by disability.
• Work with other ID Action partners to identify local groups that might take advantage of Advocacy University courses and to market and promote the Course catalog.
• Implement a management strategy to link content experts with local needs and reimburse their expenses as necessary.
• Report those trained and their level of competence to ID Action partners.
• Track and report training activities.
• Determine the number trained who become active systems advocates.

Participation Partnership

• Develop information and resources that promote and connect Iowans with disabilities and their families with opportunities for political and civic participation, as voters, advocates and members of decision-making or advisory committees, task forces, work groups, etc.
• Develop information and resources to provide Iowans with disabilities and their families with access to information needed to make informed decisions and confidently advocate for change.
• Continue to develop and support state and local grassroots organizing efforts such as the Third Wave and People First.
• Offer opportunities for Iowans with disabilities and their families to access Council and partner resources to affect targeted local change (e. g., voter participation efforts, ADA compliance, etc).
• Sponsor Advocating Change Day training and the opportunity for participants to connect with state legislators at the Capitol.
• Track and report increases in political and civic participation as a result of partnership strategies.