As DD Councils continue to develop the 2017-2021 5-year State plan, care should be taken to include at least one goal or objective with related activities to address targeted disparity, collaboration, and self-advocacy.

Below is a brief description of the element. For more information, please visit www.itacchelp.org and seek out resources under the State Plan webpage.

Targeted Disparity - Using the findings of the comprehensive review and analysis (CRA) identify a subpopulation (i.e., racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender minority groups with developmental disabilities) vulnerable to disparities (e.g., health, education, employment, housing, etc.); Identify a disparity and develop an impact statement in a targeted area of emphasis around individual/family advocacy and/or systems change; and implement strategies to decrease the differences in access, service use, and outcomes among such sub population during the course of the 5 year state plan implementation. The activities should include evidenced based, best and/or promising practices, to the extent feasible.
Collaboration - As a DD Network, describe the planning of collaborative efforts of the DD Council, P&A, and UCEDD(s), and how each entity will use their resources in collaboration with the effort(s) that are supported by the CRA; with each other, and with other entities.

Self-Advocacy - For each of the years of a DD Council 5-Year State Plan, there must be obvious work being done related to the three requirements of self-advocacy as mandated in the DD Act (strengthen a statewide self-advocacy organization, self-advocate leaders training others, and; self-advocates as part of coalitions). For more guidance, please see page 16 of the 2017-2021 Draft State Plan Template with Guidance document.