Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council

The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (Council) is aware of the federal budget proposal from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The document outlines proposed budget cuts for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which include the reorganization and elimination of vital programs that provide essential support to people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Among the programs outlined that could be eliminated include Protection and Advocacy Agencies (Disability Rights Michigan), University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute), and State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council). For more than 50 years, these programs have received strong bipartisan support in Congress.

It is important to note that these budget decisions reflected in the document are not final. The document is labeled “pre-decisional,” meaning it is still in the early stages of review. Typically, there are several rounds of internal negotiations prior to public debates in Congress.

Prior to the proposed budget cuts, Council staff and Council Members had been actively meeting with key stakeholders, including legislators at the state and national level, to educate and advocate for programs that support Michiganders in the disability community. We are grateful to the committed advocates in our statewide disability network for your collaboration thus far.

Additionally, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), our national membership organization, is working with other national organizations to develop a strategic approach to ensure the developmental disability community is heard. We appreciate the efforts of our national leaders during the federal budget process to advocate for the importance of longstanding bipartisan programs that support people with disabilities and their families.

State Councils on Developmental Disabilities have received consistent, bipartisan support due to our nonpartisan mission and community-based approach. From supporting self-advocates to helping individuals with developmental disabilities navigate education, employment, housing, and health care, our work has made a direct impact on the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families.

As the federal budget process develops, the Council is committed to providing accurate and timely information to our community. We will continue to keep you informed as new information becomes available.