Current Initiatives

LaCAN
LaCAN is the Council’s statewide grassroots network advocating for systems change in home and community-based services, education, and employment to improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Families Helping Families
Families Helping Families are one-stop resource centers that provide information and referral, education and training, and peer support to individuals with disabilities and their families. Regional resource centers are unique in that they are staffed by parents or family members of people with disabilities to offer help and understanding from people who have been there.

Direct Support Professionals
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.

Community Support Advocacy Initiatives
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 Developmental Disabilities Council oversees the implementation of the Community and Family Support (CFS) System Plan developed in accordance with Act 378 of the 1989Legislative 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.

Natural Supports
More and more states are pushing to increase utilization of natural supports by people with developmental disabilities. Unfortunately natural supports are not available to every individual with a developmental disability and many individuals with developmental disabilities, families and paid workers do not know how to identify and develop natural supports.