About the DD Act The purpose of the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) is to ensure
that people with developmental disabilities and their families
have access to community services, individualized supports, and
other forms of assistance that promote: - Integration and
inclusion The DD Act also aims to ensure that individuals with
developmental disabilities and their families participate in the
design of these services, supports, and assistance. See History
of the DD Act for detailed information on how the DD Act and its
programs have changed over time. Evolution of the DD Act 1960s:
First Legislation In 1961, President John F. Kennedy’s Panel on
Mental Retardation investigated the major issues that people
with developmental disabilities faced, such as exclusion from
schools, community activities, and other areas of public and
private life. The panel published its findings in “A Proposed
Program for National Action to Combat Mental Retardation.” After
the plan was rel