A staff of six assists the all-volunteer Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, which is made up of individuals with disabilities, family members, professional stakeholders and state agency representatives appointed by the Governor of Arizona. The 23-member Council meets at least four times a year to discuss issues and vote on which projects to support by allocating our federal funds.

We were created on July 1, 2009 as a successor organization to the former Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. Click here to view the current Executive Order from the Governor's Office, which must approve the Council every five years.

How We Serve Arizona

Collecting Data - We identify local developmental disability challenges and solutions.

Collaborating Together - We work with public and private sectors to address issues that are important to people with developmental disabilities.

Funding Grants - We use our grants to fund innovative projects, such as efforts to help Arizonans speak up for themselves or push for community inclusion. Click here for available funding opportunities.

Advancing Inclusion - We educate through events, resources, and social media on ways to include all people who have developmental disabilities in every aspect of community life.

Promoting Self-Advocacy - We establish, strengthen, and expand self-advocacy activities among people with developmental disabilities so they will become empowered and self-determined.

How to connect

Be sure to check out our research page with tons of great disability data with an Arizona focus, and don’t forget to browse our calendar for upcoming conferences and events.

We also love connecting with our friends on social media. Join the conversation and like us on Facebook— we’re also on Twitter, too.

Why a council on developmental disabilities?

Each state and territory of the United States has a council on developmental disabilities focused on advocacy, inclusion and improving access and services, as outlined in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000.  

OUR MISSION:  We want to develop and support capacity building and systemic change to increase inclusion and involvement of people with developmental disabilities in their communities through the promotion of self-determination, independence and dignity in all aspects of life.

OUR VISION:  The vision of the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council is one community working together to achieve full inclusion and participation of people with developmental disabilities.

OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS: We believe that communities benefit from full inclusion and active participation of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life.

• We value diversity in all its forms and believe that individuals with developmental disabilities should be treated with dignity and respect.
• We believe that people with developmental disabilities, their families, and persons who support them should have the information and support needed to make informed decisions about options available to them.
• We believe that people with developmental disabilities should have the opportunity to make choices about services, supports, and other matters that affect their quality of life.
• We are passionate about the meaningful inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life.
• We believe that our work should be guided by the results that we want to see.
• We believe that we are accountable to people with developmental disabilities, their families, others who support them, and those who support our work.