What’s in Draft 1 of the

Developmental Disabilities Reform Act (DDRA)?

Family Supports

Under the draft DDRA, the DC Developmental

Disabilities Administration (DDA) must provide a
comprehensive system of family support services for
families of children, youth and adults are eligible for
DDA services.

Key DDRA Terms

A family
family includes people who are related by blood,
marriage, domestic partnership, adoption, or legal
custody, or who consider themselves a family based
on bonds of affection.

Family support services are designed to help

families to support their members who have
developmental disabilities to live in the family home
or to maintain family unity.

1

DDA will develop, administer, coordinate,
monitor and evaluate all family supports.

Family support services must make maximum

use of federal funds.

Family support services will include:

o Support coordination;
o Information and referral;
o Transition planning;
o Respite services;
o Family training and counseling;
o Temporary supports and services;
o One-time cash assistance;
o Home modifications;
o Funding for items or equipment;
o In-home supports; and
o Any other assistance that DDA believes is
needed to provide a comprehensive,
coordinated family support system.

DDA must provide regular orientations and

trainings for families of eligible children, youth

2
 and adults on supports and services, service
planning, rights, and grievances.

Family support services will not replace or

reduce other public benefits to families, or be
considered resources or income in any eligibility
determination or sliding fee scale.

A Family Support Council will guide the

development of the family support system and
will provide ongoing advice and oversight for
DDA’s family support system. The 35-member
Family Support Council will have a majority of
family members and a minority of government
officials.

For more information, visit http://dc-

ddleg.blogspot.com or contact the DDS MAC
Legislative Committee through tjsutcliffe@arcdc.net
or (202) 636-2963.