Developmental Disabilities, State Council on

Mission

The mission of the New York State (NYS) Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD), formerly known as the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), is to enhance the lives of New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families by working with key stakeholders to develop, demonstrate, and implement innovative ideas and programs that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion in all facets of community life.

Organization and Staffing

The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 18 FTEs for CDD, reflecting no change from FY 2025. In addition, the Council is comprised of approximately 30 members, of which more than 60 percent are Gubernatorial-appointed self-advocates or family members of individuals with I/DD, as required by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. The remaining Council members include State agency representatives, required representatives of University Centers of Excellence and State Protection and Advocacy System, and service providers. This diverse membership provides multiple perspectives and allows input from different skill sets and life experiences.

Major Programs

The Council meets three times a year to discuss and vote on projects and initiatives to be funded by the federal Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) grants received by CDD. The Council develops a five-year State Plan that aligns with the objectives of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, which is then submitted for approval to the AIDD. Recent notable projects include two five-year pilot programs to address unique and co-existing needs of New Yorkers with I/DD experiencing mental health challenges. CDD is partnering with the University of Rochester, Strong University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, to develop training for acute care nurses to understand health care needs and possible communication barriers to better respond to people in crisis who are dually diagnosed.

Additionally, the CDD has funded initiatives focused on employment for individuals with disabilities, including:

An apprenticeship program for people with I/DD who are seeking integrated competitive employment, which is an extension of the TECH Launch Program, that provides individuals with I/DD the tools for careers in information technology and partnerships with various State agencies to develop initiatives to support people with I/DD.
An entrepreneurship program in collaboration with the Small Business Development Center and Farmingdale State College, to assist people with disabilities in starting businesses. Nearly 800 self-advocates, family members and caregivers have participated in virtual workshops and trainings focused on skills development and best practices for starting a small business.
The Advance 2 Apprenticeship program, which is a CDD-funded supported employment initiative with the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Rochester Medical Center, that aims to improve access to apprenticeship programs for people with I/DD within the manufacturing sector.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $6.3 million All Funds appropriations for CDD. This represents an increase of $1.5 million from FY 2025, which is due to the inclusion of a General Fund appropriation to support CDD staff and allow for further investment in grant opportunities. This funding is sufficient to support the Council's role in coordinating information about persons with developmental disabilities and the services available to them, and in overseeing grant funds.

Federal funds support CDD non-personal service costs and contracts with not-for-profit agencies to develop new services and service delivery methods, while the General Fund supports personal service costs. The contracts are monitored by CDD to ensure that federal funds provided to the State are used to augment – rather than duplicate or replace – existing services for people with developmental disabilities.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Mental Hygiene

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2025	Appropriations Recommended FY 2026	Change From FY 2025	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026
State Operations	4,760,000	6,260,000	1,500,000	6,663,000
Total	4,760,000	6,260,000	1,500,000	6,663,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25	FY 2026 Estimated FTEs 03/31/26	FTE Change
Developmental Disabilities Planning
General Fund	0	18	18
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	18	0	(18)
Total	18	18	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Enterprise Funds	10,000	10,000	0
General Fund	0	1,500,000	1,500,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	4,750,000	4,750,000	0
Total	4,760,000	6,260,000	1,500,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Developmental Disabilities Planning
Enterprise Funds	10,000	10,000	0
General Fund	0	1,500,000	1,500,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	4,750,000	4,750,000	0
Total	4,760,000	6,260,000	1,500,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Developmental Disabilities Planning	1,500,000	1,500,000	1,500,000	1,500,000
Total	1,500,000	1,500,000	1,500,000	1,500,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Developmental Disabilities Planning	4,760,000	0	100,000	(1,200,000)
Total	4,760,000	0	100,000	(1,200,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Developmental Disabilities Planning	4,660,000	1,200,000
Total	4,660,000	1,200,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025

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