HHS Programs: Key features of programs funded by the HHS Programs: Key features of programs funded by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD)Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD)

Jamie Kendall, Deputy CommissionerJamie Kendall, Deputy CommissionerJune 23, 2011June 23, 2011

Myth: The Administration on Developmental Myth: The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) is a large program officeDisabilities (ADD) is a large program office

Reality: ADD is a small program office with an Reality: ADD is a small program office with an oversized statutory mission, oversized statutory mission, ““to assure that to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have their families participate in the design of and have access to needed culturally-competent access to needed culturally-competent community services, individualized supports, and community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of integration and inclusion in all facets of community lifecommunity life””  

Myth: ADD has a substantial discretionary Myth: ADD has a substantial discretionary budget to support the efforts of the DD budget to support the efforts of the DD Network.Network.

Reality: There are estimated to be Reality: There are estimated to be approximately 5 million Americans with approximately 5 million Americans with intellectual/developmental disabilities intellectual/developmental disabilities (consistent with the DD Act definition), and (consistent with the DD Act definition), and many of the efforts of our programs are many of the efforts of our programs are cross-disability, serving many people with cross-disability, serving many people with other disabilities as well, yet the agency other disabilities as well, yet the agency budget for FY11 is about $186M.budget for FY11 is about $186M.

Funding AmountsFunding Amounts

State Councils on Developmental Disabilities $ 74,915,868

Protection and Advocacy $ 40,941,952

Projects of National Significance $ 14,133,676

University Centers on Excellence in Disabilities $ 38,865,114

Help America Vote Act $ 17,375,180

Total $ 186,231,690

Myth: The Developmental Disabilities Act, Myth: The Developmental Disabilities Act, Federal legislation, focuses on the federal Federal legislation, focuses on the federal levellevel

Reality:  Although Federal legislation, our Reality:  Although Federal legislation, our programs see the real action at the State programs see the real action at the State levellevel

Myth: ADD focuses upon providing direct service Myth: ADD focuses upon providing direct service to people with DD.to people with DD.

Reality: ADD is responsible for four programs Reality: ADD is responsible for four programs under the DD Act (DDC, UCEDD, P&A, PNS) under the DD Act (DDC, UCEDD, P&A, PNS) and HAVA that are primarily focused upon and HAVA that are primarily focused upon systems change and capacity development, with systems change and capacity development, with some elements of direct service in all of the some elements of direct service in all of the programs.programs.

Myth: ADD oversees State DD agencies Myth: ADD oversees State DD agencies across the country.across the country.

Reality: The State DD Agencies work as Reality: The State DD Agencies work as partners (and sometimes adversaries!) partners (and sometimes adversaries!) with the ADD entities in each state, but with the ADD entities in each state, but they are state units that generally operate they are state units that generally operate as a component of the State Medicaid as a component of the State Medicaid Agency or as a State office with delegated Agency or as a State office with delegated authority through the State Medicaid authority through the State Medicaid agency  to implement DD services.agency  to implement DD services.

Myth: ADD, because we are located at Myth: ADD, because we are located at HHS within the Administration for Children HHS within the Administration for Children and Families, we primarily serve childrenand Families, we primarily serve children

Reality:  ADD serves adults and children.  Reality:  ADD serves adults and children.  We serve individuals and their families We serve individuals and their families across the lifespanacross the lifespan

Myth: Collaboration is new to our Myth: Collaboration is new to our programsprograms

Reality:  DD Act programs are the Reality:  DD Act programs are the embodiment of interoperabilityembodiment of interoperability