Help Shape ICDD’s 2027-2031 Five-Year State Plan

Help Shape ICDD's 2027-2031 Five-Year State Plan

The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) is excited to share its 2027-2031 Five-Year State Plan for public comment.

Every Developmental Disabilities Council (DD Council) is required by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) to create a Five-Year State Plan. This plan helps guide how ICDD will use its resources, leadership, and systems change work to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families across Illinois over the next five years.

This plan was built over the last year with input from self-advocates, families, providers, community partners, state agencies, and Council members. Through listening sessions, planning meetings, and statewide feedback, we heard what matters most: stronger self-advocacy, leadership, employment, housing, behavioral health, better service access, and faster responses to new and urgent needs.

To help guide your review, we have also attached the State Plan Framework. This document gives more background on the federal requirements, the planning process used to build the goals and objectives, and examples of activities ICDD may pursue over the next five years.

Now it is your turn.

Public comment is an important part of the process. It gives people with DD, families, advocates, providers, community partners, and other Illinois residents a chance to review the plan and share ideas before it is finalized and sent for federal approval. Your feedback helps make sure the plan reflects real experiences, real barriers, and real solutions that can improve systems across Illinois.

The 45-day public comment period opens Friday, April 10, 2026, and closes Monday, May 24, 2026.

We invite you to review the plan and share your feedback through the public comment form.

SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT - CLICK HERE

GOAL 1: INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY ADVOCACY (IFA)

By September 30, 2031, individuals with developmental disabilities, families, and allies across Illinois strengthen self-advocacy and leadership skills and shape cross-disability, culturally responsive, and systems change efforts through lived experience.

OBJECTIVE 1: Statewide Self-Advocacy Network

By September 30, 2031, 1,000 self-advocates with developmental disabilities will strengthen leadership skills through a statewide self-advocacy network and meaningfully contribute to cross-disability and culturally responsive advocacy initiatives.

OBJECTIVE 2: STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP AND SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS

By September 30, 2031, ICDD will support at least 10,000 individuals with developmental disabilities, family members, and allies to strengthen leadership and self-advocacy skills through training, peer learning opportunities, leadership activities, and community engagement that prepares individuals to serve as leaders, peer mentors, and trainers in their communities.

OBJECTIVE 3: REGIONAL SELF-ADVOCACY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

By September 30, 2031, ICDD will expand statewide outreach and engagement with at least 1,500 individuals with developmental disabilities to strengthen self-advocacy and elevate lived experience in shaping systems change priorities.

GOAL 2: SYSTEMS CHANGE (SC)

By September 30, 2031, support systems will be strengthened to improve employment, community living, behavioral health, service access, and responsiveness to emerging needs for individuals with developmental disabilities and families in Illinois.

OBJECTIVE 1: EMPLOYMENT FIRST

By September 30, 2031, ICDD will promote participation of people with developmental disabilities in Employment First activities, increase stakeholder capacity, and advocate for at least two policy changes to increase competitive integrated employment.

OBJECTIVE 2: COMMUNITY HOUSING

By September 30, 2031, ICDD will collaborate with state agencies, providers, and community partners to expand the range of community housing models for people with developmental disabilities by supporting at least three statewide initiatives that improve access to Host Homes, Shared Living, small CILA options, community-based living supports, or independent living with person-centered supports.

OBJECTIVE 3: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

By September 30, 2031, ICDD will partner with individuals with developmental disabilities, families, advocates, content experts, and at least three state agencies to identify barriers in the behavioral health, dual diagnosis, and crisis response system, with a focus on improving coordination across systems, and implement at least two regional or statewide interventions that improve access, reduce avoidable emergency room admissions, and strengthen crisis stabilization pathways.

OBJECTIVE 4: IMPROVED SYSTEMS THROUGH COLLABORATION

By September 30, 2031, through strategic partnerships, ICDD will implement at least five innovative initiatives that improve service access, strengthen community living, and enhance coordination across responsive systems for individuals with developmental disabilities and families.

OBJECTIVE 5: EMERGING NEEDS

By September 30, 2031, ICDD will address any unanticipated emerging needs (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics, etc.) for individuals with developmental disabilities and families.