What We’re Working On at LADDC

LaCAN (Louisiana Council’s Advocacy Network)

LaCAN (Louisiana Council’s Advocacy Network) supports the Council’s mission by advocating for inclusion everywhere. That means LaCAN advocates for people with and without disabilities to live, learn, work, and play together. LaCAN advocates for policies and services that help children and adults with disabilities live in their own homes and be included and active in their local schools and communities. LaCAN provides information and support to people who want to advocate for better community services, education, and employment. Regional LaCAN teams include people with disabilities, their family members, and professionals. 

Families Helping Families

Families Helping Families is a network of 9 regional resource centers across Louisiana. These centers are run by family members of people with disabilities. They give out information about services, goods, technology, and activities that help people with disabilities and their families:

• Live a good life (good quality of life), and
• Understand their rights and how to advocate for themselves. 

Goods are things people buy to meet their needs. Technology means tools and equipment that make life easier, like help moving around, doing daily activities, and talking to others.  

Families Helping Families makes sure families get support from people who understand what they are going through. 

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. The program teaches people to advocate for themselves and others. It gives them information and skills to be leaders that make a difference. There are 6 training sessions over 6 months. One participant said, “Partners has taught me to use my voice and follow through with advocating for others and myself.”

People First of Louisiana

People First is a statewide self-advocacy organization made up of and run by people with disabilities. People First helps people with developmental disabilities speak for themselves about important issues that affect their lives.

Navigating the Systems for Co-Occuring Disorders: Unlocking Understanding Training

The Arc of Louisiana is holding training sessions to help people get better healthcare when they have a developmental disability and mental health needs. These sessions focus on spotting health needs early, teaching people to advocate for what they need, and involving families and caregivers to get better care for people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs.

Youth Leadership Forum

The Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a program that helps young people with disabilities become leaders. Participants are called delegates. YLF builds confidence and pride in disability culture. The Louisiana YLF is for high school students in grades 10-12 who have disabilities. All the speakers in the program are also people with disabilities. During the program, delegates learn about leadership and advocacy, make new friends, and build a supportive community. The goal is to give delegates skills they need to be leaders in the future.

Transitioning to Adulthood

Team Dynamics, LLC will be hosting a series of trainings on Innovative Pathways to Empowerment for the Transition to Adulthood. The trainings will provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities information, skills, and resources needed to succeed in adult life. Workshops will be developed and offered in five locations across the state.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Project

The Council has partnered with LSU’s Human Development Center to create and run a Fetal Spectrum Disorder outreach campaign. The project will provide trainings to communities around the state to increase awareness and prevention of Fetal Spectrum Disorder.

Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation

Team Dynamics, LLC host a series of trainings called Taking Action Against Abuse. Participants will gain knowledge, skills, and resources to help them recognize and respond to abuse and neglect of people with developmental disabilities. Trainings will be held across the state.