SCPD's Mission & Purpose

Mission Statement

The mission of the State Council for Persons with Disabilities is to unite, in one Council, disability advocates and State agency policy makers to ensure that individuals with disabilities are empowered to become fully integrated within the community.

Purpose

The purpose of the State Council for Persons with Disabilities is defined by Title 29, Chapter 82, §8210 of the Delaware Code as follows:

This Council shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Promote coordination among all state programs, services and plans established for or related to persons with disabilities.
2. Review, on a continuing basis, all state policies, plans, programs and activities concerning persons with disabilities which are conducted or assisted, in whole or part, by state departments, agencies or funds in order to determine whether such policies, programs, plans and activities effectively meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
3. Make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly and all state departments and agencies respecting ways to improve the administration of services for persons with disabilities and for facilitating the implementation of new or expanded programs.
4. Provide the Governor, the General Assembly, all interested agencies and the general public with review and comment on all state legislative proposals affecting people with disabilities.
5. Provide policymakers and the general public with analyses and recommendations on federal and local governmental legislation, regulations and policies affecting state programs and persons with disabilities.
6. Propose and promote legislation, regulations and policies to improve the well-being of persons with disabilities.
7. Serve as a central state clearinghouse for information and data regarding:
   1. The current numbers of persons with disabilities and their needs;
   2. The location, provision and availability of services and programs for persons with disabilities;
   3. Any other relevant information and data about persons with disabilities which the council deems appropriate.
8. Prepare and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual report of the activities of the Council and the status of services and programs for persons with disabilities.
9. Serve as advisory council for the Community-Based Attendant Services program established by Chapter 94 of Title 16.
10. Serve as the primary brain injury council for the State. In furtherance of this role, the Council shall:
    1. Fulfill the duties and responsibilities set forth in paragraphs (b)(1) through (8) of this section with respect to persons with brain injuries;
    2. Fulfill Council duties and responsibilities identified in the Concussion Protection in Youth Athletic Activities Act, codified at Chapter 30L of Title 16; and
    3. Maintain a standing brain injury committee to facilitate prevention and centralized interdisciplinary planning, assessment and an improved service delivery system for individuals with brain injury comprised of the following members, or designees of such members:
       1. Director of the Division of Public Health;
       2. Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services;
       3. Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health;
       4. Director of the Division of Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities;
       5. Director of the Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services;
       6. Director of Division of Vocational Rehabilitation;
       7. Exceptional Children Director of Department of Education;
       8. Chair of Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens;
       9. Chair of Developmental Disabilities Council;
       10. Minimum of 3 survivors of brain injury or family members of such individuals; and
       11. Representatives of prevention, planning, veterans and service delivery organizations appointed by the Council, including a representative of the state chapter of the Brain Injury Association of America and a representative of the "protection and advocacy agency" defined in § 1102 of Title 16.
11. Serve as administrative agency for the Employment First Oversight Commission as established in § 745 of Title 19