Council Annual Report Summary

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​2025 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 2025, NCDD received $526,312.00 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 either being individuals with developmental disabilities (DD), parents or guardians of children with DD, immediate relatives or guardians of adults with DD who cannot advocate for themselves.

In FFY2025, 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 2025 included the following:

The Supported Employment Action Plan Coordination

NCDD concluded its work with Dr. Lisa Mills in November 2025 after she produced a major report and led development of a 21-page Supported Employment (SE) Summit Action Plan with seven core priorities to improve competitive integrated employment (CIE) outcomes. To sustain progress, NCDD provided funding to engage Becki Koehler as a Nebraska-based SE Action Plan coordinator in mid-2024 and continued through FFY2025, leading implementation, strengthening partnerships, advancing policy changes, enhancing job coach training, and integrating priorities into the 2026–2031 Olmstead Plan. She also streamlined the plan into an 8-page version while maintaining all seven priorities. The updated plan reflects strong cross-agency collaboration, with continued coordination emphasized to maintain momentum statewide.

Building Capacity to Engage Families Around Employment (TransCen)

This project strengthened provider capacity and family engagement to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities through three main activities: 1.) provider/family trainings, 2.) a virtual State-of-the-Art training series, and 3.) conference-based information dissemination. Since launching January 1, 2025, TransCen presented at the 2025 NASP Conference (27 attendees), completed two trainings (66 attendees), and delivered a three-part series (167 attendees), reaching approximately 350 people by late 2025. The project has built strong partnerships and will continue through June 2026 with additional trainings, one more State of the Art session, and presentations at two Transition Conferences and the 2026 NASP Conference, advancing Nebraska’s Employment First vision and long-term systems change.

Goodwill Omaha EmployAbility Awareness Campaign

This initiative addressed barriers to employment for individuals with I/DD through workforce training, public awareness, and self-advocacy development. Goodwill Omaha produced 10 video stories, distributed 60 posters, and reached over 65,000 social media impressions and approximately 692,800 radio impressions. Around 350 people were trained, while 70 participants received over 8,200 hours of coaching to build leadership and advocacy skills. The project successfully elevated individuals with I/DD as leaders and storytellers while increasing employer and public awareness.

Easterseals Nebraska (ESN) Employment 1st Initiative

This project demonstrated the impact and importance of benefits education and individualized assistance to encourage and enable people with I/DD to make informed decisions and choices related to their living and employment. The project developed a model for access to benefits education and provided training/consultation support that reflected best practices in identifying referrals, outlined service definitions and suggested outcomes and impacts. Overall, ESN educated almost 400 people with I/DD, family members, and professionals on benefits planning and counseling.

Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) Spanish-Speaking Family Initiative

This project improved access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services for Spanish-speaking families by translating 20 caregiver modules and 23 handouts and delivering two Spanish-language trainings to 22 caregivers, with over 100 people trained overall. Families reported increased confidence, reduced stress, and stronger advocacy skills. Systems-level improvements included Spanish-language consent forms and training frameworks, while partnerships expanded outreach. The initiative built sustainable infrastructure and significantly improved access to supports for Nebraska’s Hispanic/Latino community.

People First of Nebraska (PFN)

PFN strengthened self-advocacy and leadership among individuals with disabilities through its statewide network, training programs, and policy engagement. In 2025, two Disability Policy Specialists participated in legislative advocacy, including introducing a resolution on transportation barriers. PFN expanded chapters, supported events, hosted its 46th annual convention, and co-led planning for the October 2025 SOAR (Seeking Opportunities for an Advocacy Revolution) regional self-advocacy conference. Overall, PFN trained and educated over 300 individuals with I/DD, families, and professionals, continuing to build a strong, sustainable self-advocacy movement.

Madonna Family Navigation Project

This project helped individuals with I/DD and families navigate complex systems like Medicaid, HCBS (Home and Community-Based) Waivers, and Vocational Rehabilitation through personalized support and training. Approximately 334 people were trained, with families reporting increased understanding, confidence, and reduced stress. The project also improved educator capacity and identified systemic issues for state-level improvements, ultimately strengthening access to services and long-term system effectiveness.

Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Community Knowledge of EarliPoint™

This project helps to better understand the early signs of autism in toddlers and introduced EarliPoint™, an FDA-authorized medical device that supports the diagnosis of autism in children ages 16 to 30 months. MMI wanted caregivers, medical providers, and community members to feel more informed and confident about early identification and to understand how EarliPoint™ fits into that process. During the first year of the project, MMI delivered 11 presentations and educated over 100 medical providers, family members, caregivers, and community members on the EarliPoint™ tool and diagnosis process. As awareness of EarliPoint™ continues to grow, families are increasingly advocating for early evaluations/diagnoses, faster connections to services, and dispelling common myths.

HETRA Equine Assisted Services

The overall goal of this project was to increase the quality of life and level of independence of individuals with disabilities and I/DD. This program made great strides assisting and preparing youth for school and employment. Throughout the project, HETRA measured improvements in each of the following skill categories: following directions, staying on task, personal confidence, productivity, teamwork, work tolerance/endurance, and social skills. Overall, HETRA provided 160 sessions of Life Skills programming for 13 individuals and also provided training for family members/volunteers.

PTI Nebraska Transitioning Youth into Adult Services

PTI Nebraska promoted Person-Centered Planning (PCP) using Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) tools through 31 trainings reaching over 600 participants and digital outreach to more than 70,000 individuals. The project provided bilingual resources, one-on-one consultations, and practical transition supports such as Individualized Education Program (IEP) planning and job exploration. Families reported increased confidence, reduced stress, and clearer pathways to adulthood, while the initiative strengthened coordination across Nebraska’s transition system and improved outcomes for youth with disabilities.

Charting the Lifecourse (CtLC) Ambassadors Workgroup

CtLC advanced family engagement and person-centered planning initiatives statewide, with Nebraska now having 65 certified CtLC Ambassadors. NCDD staff started the Ambassadors Workgroup in January 2025, hosting monthly meetings where NE CtLC Ambassadors come together to discuss progress on improving how families are supported using the CtLC framework while identifying barriers to address. A major milestone included a two-day 2025 technical assistance visit from our National Community of Practice (CoP) team, with over 100 participants to assess progress and set priorities. Efforts focused on expanding CtLC beyond compliance-based meetings, improving family support, and integrating practices across systems like education and employment (including Nebraska’s ESUs (Educational Service Units) #3, #7, and #10). The initiative continues to drive systems change and builds coordinated, person-centered and family-centered infrastructures.

Legislative Advocacy and Policy Engagement

The Council serves as a trusted, nonpartisan source of information and guidance for Nebraska state policymakers and Senators, offering education on legislation that impacts individuals with developmental disabilities. During the First Session of the 109th Legislature, 715 bills were introduced, with 26 identified as priority bills for NCDD. The Executive Director provided testimony on five bills, and Council staff along with the Legislative and Advocacy Committee Chair submitted written comments on 21 selected bills, expressing support, opposition, or a neutral position. NCDD also published and distributed its annual Newsline legislative summary to more than 600 stakeholders and all 49 state senators. As the first year of the biennium, remaining bills will carry over to the Second Session beginning January 7, 2026, with NCDD continuing its role in legislative education and advocacy.

Through all initiatives funded or supported during Federal Fiscal Year 2025, 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 2025 Membership

2023 Annual Program Performance Report​​

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