Council Annual Report Summary

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​2024 Annual Report Summary

​The Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCDD or Council) works to address identified needs by engaging in advocacy, systems change, and capacity building efforts that promote self-determination, integration, and inclusion. Key activities include conducting outreach, providing training and technical assistance, removing barriers, developing coalitions, encouraging citizen participation, and keeping policymakers informed about disability issues. 

For Federal Fiscal Year 2024, NCDD received $527,344.00 in federal funding authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Act to support its work and priorities identified in the Council’s State Plan. NCDD’s 25 members are appointed by the Governor with 60% of these members being individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) or parents or guardians of children with DD or immediate relatives or guardians of adults with DD who cannot advocate for themselves. 

In FFY2024, NCDD made substantial progress in advancing its mission to promote equity, inclusion, and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across Nebraska. Through targeted funding, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives, the Council supported a diverse array of projects that empowered individuals and families, strengthened systems, and enhanced access to resources and advocacy. Council activities in 2024 included the following:

• ​​In FFY2024, NCDD continued its impactful partnership with national consultant Dr. Lisa Mills to advance employment outcomes for Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Building on the findings of her 2023 published study, Necessity or Luxury? Supporting Nebraskans with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Join the Workforce and Contribute to Nebraskan’s Economy, Dr. Mills facilitated a statewide effort to identify barriers and implement strategic changes to Supported Employment (SE) services. Her work, informed by key informant interviews and public data review, highlighted critical gaps in access, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency of SE services. A major outcome of this work was the September 2023 Supported Employment Summit, which convened over 100 stakeholders—including agency leaders, advocates, providers, and people with lived experience—to collectively define actionable solutions to expand competitive integrated employment (CIE) opportunities across the state.

    As a result of these efforts, Nebraska now has a multi-agency Supported Employment Action Plan with clearly            defined roles and commitments from partners such as Nebraska VR, DHHS Divisions of Developmental Disabilities        and Behavioral Health, the Nebraska Department of Education, and others. This strategic shift recognizes the            broader applicability of SE beyond I/DD, extending to individuals with autism, mental and behavioral health needs,        and acquired brain injury. Throughout FFY24, Dr. Mills continued to guide the development of a comprehensive            roadmap to sustain and scale improvements in employment services. Her work has not only raised awareness but        also catalyzed system-level change to ensure more Nebraskans with disabilities can access meaningful employment      and contribute to the state's economy.

• With funding from NCDD, Madonna School & Community-Based Services (MSCBS) launched the Family Navigation project to empower individuals with I/DD, their families, and school professionals. The initiative provided essential education on state and federal benefits systems, waiver and non-waiver options, natural supports, person-centered planning, and the use of Assistive Technology (AT). Delivered through personalized one-on-one and group sessions — both virtually and in person across Nebraska — the project exceeded expectations, reaching 492 individuals and families. 

    MSCBS offered customized roadmaps, comprehensive resource packets, and educator training to help participants        navigate complex systems such as SSI, Medicaid, HCBS waivers, and vocational services. The project also dispelled      common myths about benefits, supported families in appealing denied services, and fostered early engagement          through partnerships with schools and organizations like Autism Action Partnership and CHI. Outreach included          presentations to Project SEARCH leaders and participation in parent nights hosted by Omaha, Millard, and Bellevue        Public Schools, while regular attendance at CMS and Nebraska town hall meetings ensured families received up-to-        date policy guidance. Despite barriers such as misunderstandings about waiver services and challenges with follow-      through, the project created clearer pathways to support, promoted greater inclusion, and improved access to life-        changing services — laying a strong foundation for ongoing systems navigation and advocacy.

• People First of Nebraska (PFN) is the only statewide, cross-disability rights organization in Nebraska led by and for individuals with disabilities. Through its network of local chapters, PFN empowers members to practice advocacy, engage with policymakers, and partner with families, service providers, and other organizations to build inclusive communities. Governed by a statewide board of elected representatives and supported by dedicated advisors and staff, PFN strengthens self-determination and inclusion by offering training, resources, and leadership development opportunities—highlighted annually at their statewide convention. 

    PFN’s State Advisor Project advanced disability leadership by training individuals to understand their rights and            responsibilities and to speak for themselves. The project also educated employers on the value of inclusive hiring        through personal testimonials, resources, and the Inclusive Employment video created in 2023. In collaboration with      the DHHS DD Division, Disability Rights Nebraska, and NASP, and civil rights specialist Dani Streeter, PFN developed ​ ​    training focused on civil rights, supported employment, and legislative advocacy. Their Civil Rights training - shaped      by participant feedback, real-life stories, and national HCBS standards - is being shared with local chapters              statewide. PFN also provided technical assistance to help chapters organize community events and increase             visibility and advocacy. These efforts reached over 1,000 Nebraskans, including 1,075 people with disabilities. PFN’s      continued work emphasizes self-advocacy, policy literacy, and community collaboration to elevate the voices and          rights of people with disabilities across Nebraska. 

• ​​​​Disability Rights Nebraska (DRN), in partnership with NCDD, advanced education on Supported Decision-Making (SDM) as an alternative to full guardianship for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). A key effort was the August 2024 summit, From Theory to Practice, which featured keynote speaker Jonathan Martinis, interactive sessions, and personal stories from SDM “Ambassadors.” The event provided practical guidance on implementing SDM in daily life, with contributions from parents, attorneys, and advocates. 

    Beyond the summit, DRN expanded outreach by presenting at the 2024 Transition Nebraska Conference and             engaging healthcare and human services professionals to integrate SDM into practice. The initiative reached 444          ​individuals, including self-advocates, families, and professionals—offering resources and tools to support personalized     SDM agreements. DRN also launched an online SDM Clearinghouse, providing ongoing access to educational              materials and tools.    

• Parent and Training Information (PTI) Nebraska is the state’s only Parent Training and Information Center, dedicated to empowering families of children and young adults with disabilities (birth to age 26) to navigate the special education process with confidence. PTI Nebraska led a far-reaching initiative to promote Person-Centered Planning (PCP) for youth transitioning to adulthood. Through 31 statewide training, PTI reached over 900 participants and further expanded its impact via digital outreach to more than 70,000 individuals. Using Charting the Life Course (CtLC) tools, families—particularly within the Hispanic/Latino community, gained the skills needed to plan for inclusive, self-directed futures.
• In FFY2024, NCDD advanced its commitment to embedding person-centered planning (PCP) practices across Nebraska’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) by promoting broad adoption of the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) framework. As part of the Nebraska Community of Practice (CoP) internal team, NCDD staff participated in monthly national CoP meetings, the CtLC Annual Showcase, and presented Nebraska’s progress on integrating CtLC into systems and practices. Monthly PCP/CtLC Champions meetings offered a collaborative space for families, providers, self-advocates, and state staff to exchange strategies, troubleshoot challenges, and deepen their understanding of CtLC tools and their application in planning meaningful lives for individuals with disabilities. Several FFY2024 partner projects—such as those led by PTI Nebraska, Disability Rights Nebraska, and B. Kessler Consulting—also integrated CtLC to elevate transition planning, supported decision-making, and family expectations for competitive employment.
• With support from NCDD, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Answers4Families developed the Professional Development Educational Clearinghouse—an innovative online platform (teach.nebraska.gov) designed to support special education professionals across Nebraska. Created in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education, the platform provides centralized access to degree programs, certification pathways, professional development opportunities, and training resources, with a particular focus on supporting paraeducators. The project reached 95% completion by the end of the FFY2024 grant year and was finalized with a short, requested extension into the first part of 2025.

​    Key enhancements to the platform include a section dedicated to special education-related services and a                downloadable media kit with social media content and branding materials. UNL collaborated with partners such as  ​      NDE and UNMC to compile a wide array of resources, including training opportunities outside of traditional              institutions and detailed listings of Nebraska colleges and universities with certification and endorsement programs.      With over 1,000 users reached in its early phase, the clearinghouse has become a valuable tool for recruitment,          retention, and career advancement in the special education field, helping address workforce shortages and improve        academic outcomes for students with disabilities.

• The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Family Engagement and Education Training (FEET) initiative, developed with the Service-Learning Academy and Munroe-Meyer Institute, focused on strengthening family-school collaboration in special education. Over two semesters, more than 130 students, families, and educators participated in relationship-building activities, toolkit development, and a statewide Family Engagement Conference. Feedback revealed a 94% improvement in advocacy confidence among attendees. The FEET curriculum proved to be a powerful model for sustaining inclusive educational practices with 357 participants. UNO plans to continue the program through in-service trainings and expanded partnerships.
• ​The Council serves as a trusted, nonpartisan source of information and guidance for Nebraska state policymakers and Senators, offering education on legislation impacting individuals with developmental disabilities. During the Second Session of the One Hundred-Eighth Legislature, 597 bills were introduced. Council staff actively monitored, discussed, and evaluated those relevant to the disability community, ultimately identifying 22 priority bills. Additionally, staff continued tracking 25 carry-over bills from the First Session (2023) on which the Council had previously taken official positions.

    In 2024, the Council Executive Director provided testimony on four priority bills during legislative committee              hearings. Written comments—offered in support, opposition, or neutral stance—were submitted on the remaining 18        ​bills, and entered into the official hearing records. NCDD also published and distributed its annual Newsline              ​legislative summary to more than 610 individuals, including families, professionals, and all 49 state senators. This      ​  year, three Council-supported bills were passed and signed into law, while four opposed bills did not advance. NCDD     continues to serve as a central resource for legislative updates and advocacy tools for individuals with                  developmental disabilities, their families, service providers, educators, and other stakeholders across Nebraska. 

Through all initiatives funded or supported during federal fiscal year 2024, NCDD upheld its mission to enhance the quality of life and independence of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) through advocacy, education, systems change, and collaboration. From advancing innovative technology and person-centered planning to improving employment outcomes, promoting supported decision-making, and fostering leadership development, the Council’s efforts continue to shape a more accessible, equitable, and inclusive Nebraska for all.

Please contact us with any questions or comments about NCDD’s activities or if you would like to receive a copy of the complete annual report. 

Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities
Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
301 Centennial Mall South
PO Box 95026
Lincoln, NE  68509-5026
402-471-2330
TTD: 800-833-7352
dhhs.ddcoucil@nebraska.gov​

Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities 2024 Membership

2023 Annual Program Performance Report​​

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