Rising Expectations: The Developmental Disabilities Act Revisited

The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act was authorized in 1963. “Congress set out to establish a set of programs to improve the lives of people with DD; to protect their civil and human rights; and to promote their maximum potential through increased independence, productivity, and integration into the community. Despite some identified gains in disability rights, people with DD continue to face considerable barriers to full integration, maximum independence, and self-determination.”

This report by the National Council on Disability looks at what the DD Act has accomplished in the last 40 years, the strengths and weaknesses of the current structure, and whether or not the current structure is what’s needed for the future. Access it from our Disability Resources web page.