No
Pending final approval from the Administration for Community Living.
Fiscal Years 2027-2031
The Nebraska Council selected the following goals as their priorities over the next five years. Priorities were determined with input from self-advocates, family members, and service providers.
Goal 1 - Strengthening Systems for Community Inclusion
By September 30, 2031, Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families and guardians will experience measurable increases in opportunities for self-determination, independence, productivity, safety, and inclusion in community life, as a result of systemic changes at the state, regional, and/or local level.
Objective A - Housing
Through September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will advocate for and monitor the progress of Nebraska’s 2026-2031 Olmstead Plan goals to expand access to safe, affordable, and accessible housing in the communities where Nebraskans with disabilities choose to live. This will be accomplished through NCDD staff participation in the Olmstead Advisory Committee and the Olmstead Housing Workgroup, which meet regularly throughout the year to monitor and document progress on the Olmstead Plan housing goals and associated data measures.
Objective B - HCBS Services
By September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will monitor and advocate for systemic changes that strengthen, improve the quality of, and expand access to Home and Community Based Services, such as person-centered community connection assistance and intermittent service alternatives, that increase the independence of Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their communities.
Objective C - Employment
Through September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will, in collaboration with related state agencies and organizations, monitor and advocate for systemic changes that increase the number of Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities who engage in competitive integrated employment (CIE). NCDD will also support the improvement, collection, and sharing of employment data necessary to measure progress toward achieving this increase.
Objective D - Access and Use of Medicaid Services
By September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will monitor and advocate for systemic improvements in Medicaid navigation—defined as the ability of individuals with IDD and their families and guardians to understand, access, and effectively use Medicaid services. These efforts will include supporting strategies that increase access to qualified providers, behavioral health services, and specialist care, all with the goal of measurably enhancing the health, well-being, and safety of Nebraskans with IDD.
Objective E - Training Opportunities
Through September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will support at least three high-quality, person-centered training opportunities for professionals who provide support to individuals with IDD. These trainings will focus on enhancing skills that promote the self-determination, independence, productivity, safety, and inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in community life and educational settings.
Objective F - Emergency Events
Through September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities, in collaboration with related stakeholders and organizations, will monitor and respond to the needs of Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families and guardians that result from man-made, natural, or environmental events.
Objective G - Policy Advocacy
Through September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will serve as a trusted policy advisor to the Nebraska Legislature, the Governor, and other policymakers; track key legislative activity; collaborate with state and local stakeholders; and equip allies, self-advocates, families, and guardians with tools to engage in advocacy. These efforts will ensure that policies across all areas of community life reflect the rights, needs, and voices of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, promoting full inclusion and meaningful participation in decision-making.
Goal 2: Strengthening Advocacy, Leadership, and Information Access
By September 30, 2031, Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, caregivers, and guardians will have increased access to information, tools, and supports that empower them to make personally meaningful and appropriate choices about their services, education, employment, decision-making needs, healthcare, living situation, and relationships—leading to more self-determined lives.
Objective A - Self-Advocacy
Through September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will increase the influence of self-advocates and leaders with disabilities by strengthening, supporting, and funding at least one self-advocacy organization led by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• By September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will support opportunities for transition-age youth (14–21) with intellectual and developmental disabilities to form self-advocacy groups that build leadership and self-determination skills, promoting their inclusion in age-appropriate community clubs and activities.
• By September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will increase opportunities for self-advocate leaders to train others with disabilities to increase their personal, civic, and/or collaborative leadership roles.
• By September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will expand self-advocate participation in cross-disability and culturally diverse coalitions.
Objective B - Leadership for Those with Lived Experience
Through September 30, 2031, the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities will support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and guardians, and Council staff to increase leadership and participation in policymaking through active participation in statewide advisory committees, cross-disability workgroups, public advocacy, and cross-system dialogue.
Objective C - Youth Transition
By September 30, 2031, transition-aged youth (ages 14–21) with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with their families and guardians, will have increased access to person-centered planning — grounded in the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) framework — through education and training that support informed choice and successful transitions to inclusive, meaningful employment and adult services. This will be achieved through collaboration with the Developmental Disabilities Network, state agencies, and community partners.
Objective D - Information Access
By September 30, 2031, as the result of Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities efforts, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, guardians, professionals, related organizations, policymakers, and the public will have greater access to information about disability issues, services, and supports, and will assist individuals, their families, and guardians, to obtain needed supports and advocate effectively for themselves and for systems change.
2027-2031 Nebraska State Plan
The 2025 Nebraska Needs Assessment Report was funded by the Council to provide guidance and input for the development of the Council's 2027-2031 State Plan Goals and Objectives.