FIVE-YEAR STATE PLAN
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
2007-2011

The plan is also available as a Word document [373Kb].

Education and Early Intervention: Students reach their educational potential. Infants & young children reach their developmental potential.

• Objective 1: Promote and participate in collaborative efforts to remove barriers to educational services and supports for students from birth through age 21, including access to information on rights and responsibilities under applicable laws and regulations.
• Objective 2: Promote inclusion and education of students with developmental disabilities in all classes and related activities throughout their education.
• Objective 3: Promote and participate in collaborative efforts to improve access to transition planning and services.

Health: People are healthy and benefit from the full range of needed health services.

• Objective 1: Expand access to appropriately-trained medical, mental health and dental providers, as well as other health and wellness services, including specialty resources and equipment, for persons with developmental disabilities.
• Objective 2: Expand access to appropriate mental health services for individuals with developmental disabilities with significant psychiatric needs, substance abuse/addictions or behavior challenges to support those individuals living and participating in their communities of choice.
• Objective 3: Increase efforts to prevent secondary disabilities and promote wellness for persons with developmental disabilities through collaborative efforts to assure that schools, public health programs and others that address healthy life styles include persons with developmental disabilities in their efforts.
• Objective 4: Increase efforts to resolve health status disparities and to reduce the vulnerability of people with developmental disabilities in the health care system

Quality Assurance (Advocacy): Quality assurance systems contribute to and protect self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life.

• Objective 1: Maine citizens with developmental disabilities in all regions of the state will benefit from a statewide self-advocacy organization that is organized, led by and directed by Mainers with developmental disabilities.
• Objective 2: Provide opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families to improve their self-advocacy skills through Council projects, activities and collaborations.
• Objective 3: Promote self-determination and meaningful "limited guardianship" options without endangering consumers through collaborative efforts involving individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, advocacy organizations and public agencies to expand awareness and achieve necessary modifications in existing laws and regulations related to guardianship.
• Objective 4: Increase the number of individuals with developmental disabilities involved in policymaking and planning activities at the local, state and national level to most effectively promote full inclusion and participation for all Maine citizens with developmental disabilities. These activities should include involvement in efforts to eliminate sheltered workshops, and participation in local transportation and housing boards, among others.
• Objective 5: Maximize opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to engage in self-determination in all aspects of their lives.

Formal and Informal Community Supports: Individuals have access to services offered in the community.

• Objective 1: Collaborate with other organizations and agencies to assure that law enforcement and other first responders, and personnel of the courts have access to training to support successful interaction with persons with developmental disabilities and protection of those persons' rights.
• Objective 2: Improve access to formal community supports and services, including housing, transportation, personal support services and employment that enable all individuals with developmental disabilities to live and fully participate in their communities of choice through collaborative systems change efforts.
• Objective 3: Promote and participate in efforts to expand the availability and provision of appropriate informal supports for all persons with developmental disabilities to participate in their communities, including transportation and recreation opportunities.
• Objective 4: Improve community inclusion opportunities through collaborative efforts to increase compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Objective 5: Collaborate with other agencies and organizations to involve self-advocates in the planning, implementation and evaluation of emergency preparedness plans and to facilitate initiatives that promote individual preparedness efforts.
• Objective 6: Work toward elimination of sheltered workshops for persons with developmental disabilities.

Cross Cutting: Covers all areas.

• Objective 1: Increase the awareness of policymakers about Maine Developmental Disabilities Council initiatives and other issues related to the rights, abilities and needs of persons with developmental disabilities.
• Objective 2: More members of the general public will be educated about Maine Developmental Disabilities Council initiatives and the rights, abilities and needs of persons with developmental disabilities and their families.

• Objective 1: Each year of the State Plan, provide staff input on public policy issues affecting people with developmental disabilities and their relationship to the Council's mission and goals, and coordinate various activities to provide information to the public.
• Objective 2: Each year of the State Plan, coordinate the Council's planning processes, compile necessary information to support the work of the Committees and Council, and provide monitoring for projects funded through grants to other entities.
• Objective 3: Each year of the State Plan, coordinate and provide support for meetings of the Council and Committees, and leadership and administrative coordination to implement Council-approved activities.

Education and Early Intervention: Students reach their educational potential. Infants & young children reach their developmental potential.

OBJECTIVE #4 DELETED: Collaborate with other organizations to assure that students with developmental disabilities receive transition services that assist them to find employment options appropriate to their abilities and interests which are in inclusive settings and offer a "living wage."

TRANSITION SERVICES INVOLVE EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, ETC., AND WILL BE ADDRESSED AS PART OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN MANY AREAS OF EMPHASIS.

Employment: People get and keep employment consistent with their interests, abilities and needs.

SEPARATE GOAL & OBJECTIVES FOR THIS AREA OF EMPHASIS DELETED. EFFORTS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT WILL BE INCLUDED UNDER "COMMUNITY SUPPORTS"

Housing: Adults choose where and with whom they live.

SEPARATE GOALS & OBJECTIVES FOR "HOUSING" DELETED. HOUSING IS INCLUDED AS PART OF EFFORTS UNDER "QUALITY ASSURANCE" AND "COMMUNITY SUPPORTS," AND LANGUAGE HAS BEEN ADDED TO CALL ATTENTION TO HOUSING UNDER THOSE AREAS OF THE STATE PLAN.

Transportation: People have transportation services.

SEPARATE GOALS & OBJECTIVES FOR "TRANSPORTATION" DELETED. COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGING ISSUE ARE INCLUDED UNDER "COMMUNITY SUPPORTS."