The Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities (MSCDD) was established by the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (Public Law 106-402) and Executive Order of the Governor in 1971. By law, more than sixty percent of each Council’s membership must consist of individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) or their family members. Specific state agency representatives also serve as members. This diversity enables Councils to better analyze and improve systems and services within the state and ensure that the voices of people with developmental disabilities and their families are heard. Across the U.S. and its territories, 56 Councils on Developmental Disabilities engage in advocacy, systems change, and capacity building to address the most pressing needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Councils work as self-governing organizations to empower people to achieve their maximum potential for self-determination, integration, and inclusion into their communities. Key activities include funding innovative demonstration projects, conducting outreach, providing training and technical assistance, removing barriers, developing coalitions, encouraging citizen participation, and keeping policymakers informed about disability issues. About Facebook - MSCDD does not endorse nor recommend advice from any source provided and is not responsible for any content from links or articles to this page. This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001MSSCDD, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.
