Draft UCEDD TA Performance Work Statement

Title: University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service Community Impact and Capacity Building Initiative: Technical Assistance to Strengthen Outcomes for People with I/DD and Their Families

1.0 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

1.1 Statutory Context

The Administration on Disabilities (AoD) is the Federal agency responsible for implementation and administration of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act of 2000) (42 U.S.C. 15001, et seq.). Consistent with Administration on Disabilities (AoD) usage, references in this document to people with developmental disabilities may also be expressed as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This agency is located within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The DD Act establishes UCEDDs as a federally legislated network required to carry out four core functions: (1) interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education; (2) community services, including training/TA, demonstration, and model activities; (3) research; and (4) dissemination of information (Section 153). The DD Act's purpose anchor (Section 101) is to help individuals with developmental disabilities and their families access community services, individualized supports, and assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration/inclusion in community life. As defined in the DD Act of 2000, the term "developmental disabilities" means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments that are manifested before the individual attains age 22 and are likely to continue indefinitely. Developmental disabilities result in substantial limitations in three or more of the following functional areas: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and capacity for economic self-sufficiency. There are four programs funded under the DD Act of 2000: State Councils on Developmental Disabilities;
State Protection and Advocacy Systems;
National Network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and Service; and Projects of National Significance.

The DD Act of 2000 identifies a number of significant findings, including: Disability is a natural part of the human experience that does not diminish the right of individuals with developmental disabilities to enjoy the opportunity for independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion into the community.