LaCAN
LaCAN (Louisiana Council’s Advocacy Network) furthers the Council’s mission by advocating for policies and systems that support inclusion everywhere people learn, work, live, and play. LaCAN advocates for service systems that support children and adults with disabilities to live in their own homes and be fully-included and participating members of their local schools and communities.
Families Helping Families
Families Helping Families is a statewide network of ten family-directed and family-staffed regional resource centers which provide information on all types of services, goods, technologies, and activities that improve the quality of life in the community; help individuals understand their rights and how to advocate for themselves; and lend support from someone “who has been there”.
Partners in Policymaking
Partners in Policymaking is a national leadership training program for people with developmental disabilities and parents of young children with developmental disabilities. It provides the most current knowledge about disability issues and develops the competencies necessary for effective advocacy to influence public policy at all levels of government.
People First of Louisiana
People First is a statewide self-advocacy organization made up of and run by people with disabilities, to provide opportunities for self-advocates to speak for themselves on the issues that most impact and affect their lives.
FIRST RESPONDER TRAININGS
In an effort to address first-responder tactics, approaches, and resources in fostering relationships with and dealing with individuals with developmental disabilities, the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council has contracted with Interaction Advisory Group to conduct virtual training sessions for First Responder Professionals and to host Community Training Events.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DISABILITY AWARENESS TRAININGS
The program from Niagara University brings together the disability community and those with a role in disaster emergency response with the intent to educate on all matters related to proper response for those with disabilities and access and functional needs. Designed to address inclusive planning, preparedness, response, and recovery as it relates to people with disabilities and access and functional needs, NU DAT defines the topic as regulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act and established by FEMA.
NAVIGATING THE SYSTEMS FOR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS: UNLOCKING UNDERSTANDING TRAININGS
Hustle & Grow, LLC will be hosting a series of trainings that will promote continuous coordinated care to help with early recognition, self-advocacy and family/caregiver involvement to improve access and quality of healthcare to individuals with co-occurring conditions.
DISABILITY VOTING RIGHTS TRAININGS
The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council has partnered with People First of Louisiana to offer 10 statewide training opportunities to empower and educate individuals on voting rights for people with disabilities.
The Council promotes the expansion of individual and family supports for people with developmental disabilities in their own homes in order for them to be active participants in the life of their communities.
Community and Family Support System
The Council oversees the implementation of the Community and Family Support (CFS) System Plan developed in accordance with Act 378 of the 1989 Legislative session. The plan called for a system of supports and services to be available for families of children and adults with disabilities in their own homes based on their individual needs in order to avoid out-of-home placement.
DIRECT SUPPORT PROVIDER COMPLEX NEEDS TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP
The Complex Needs Training and Technical Assistance Partnership with the Louisiana Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities works with a small number of home- and community-based providers to increase capacity and improve outcomes for the people they support through in-class training and provider- and individual-specific ongoing technical support.
Direct Support Professionals Recognition Campaign
The Council acknowledges the valuable work done by direct support professionals across the State of Louisiana. A direct support professional (DSP) is a person who assists an individual with a developmental disability to lead a self-directed life and become an active, contributing member of their community. DSPs assist in may ways, such as, helping with activities of daily living, presenting opportunities to learn and develop new skills, empowering individuals to exercise their independence, and encouraging attitudes and behaviors that enhance community inclusion.
SELF-DIRECTION MENTORS
One self-advocate and four parents who are enrolled in the self-direction waiver option hold workshops across the state in which they share their experiences with self-direction and serve as mentors to other individuals with disabilities and parents new to or considering enrolling in self-direction.
Stipends
People with developmental disabilities and their family members may be awarded stipends to support their participation in training, conferences, meetings and events that advance their knowledge of individual and family supports and services and to promote advocacy leadership. Stipends are available through the Families Helping Families Regional Resource Centers.