The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) provides federal financial assistance to states and public and nonprofit agencies to support community-based delivery of services to persons with developmental disabilities (DD). The aim of the programs established by the DD Act is to help persons with DD maximize their work potential, facilitate their ability to live independently, and foster their integration into the community. The protection of the legal rights of individuals with DD is another major objective of the DD Act. Current law encourages coordination and collaboration among the State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (SCDDs), various independent living centers, and its state Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs to support the legal rights of individuals with DD. Although the DD Act does not provide direct services, its programs are intended to plan and better coordinate the delivery of services and to advocate on behalf of individuals with DD. The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), part of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the federal agency that oversees all DD Act programs. The DD Act was originally Title I of the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963 (P.L. 88-164). It was renamed the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act by P.L. 95-602 in 1978, and was completely reorganized by P.L. 98-527 in 1984. Congress last reauthorized the DD Act ( P.L. 106-402 ) in 2000. Authorizations of appropriations for the DD Act programs expired at the end of FY2007, although Congress has continued to provide appropriations for the programs. Legislation to reauthorize the DD Act has not been introduced in the 111 th Congress. Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are an estimated 4.6 million individuals with developmental disabilities in the United States. Although the term "developmental disability" originally specified disabling conditions such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy, the current definition is based on functional limitations that manifest prior to adulthood. Section 102(8)(A) of the DD Act defines "developmental disabilities" as "a severe, chronic disability of an individual that (i) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments; (ii) is manifested before the individual attains age 22; (iii) is likely to continue indefinitely; (iv) results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity: (I) Self-care. (II) Receptive and expressive language. (III) Learning. (IV) Mobility. (V) Self-direction. (VI) Capacity for independent living. (VII) Economic self-sufficiency; and (v) reflects the individual's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated." The DD Act also specifies that "an individual from birth to age 9, inclusive, who has a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition, may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting 3 or more of the criteria described ... if the individual, without services and supports, has a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life." Without appropriate services and supports, the choices open to some people with DD, including where they live, work, and play, may be minimal. Many may be isolated rather than fully integrated and included in the mainstream of society. Others may require individually planned and coordinated services and supports (e.g., housing, employment, education, civil and human rights protection, health care) from many providers in order to live in the community. This report describes the major programs authorized under Title I of the DD Act. Federal funds for these programs are used to help state governments, local communities, and private sector organizations provide health care services, educational opportunities, P&A, and employment training to persons with developmental disabilities. A list of P&A programs and their respective administering agencies is provided in Table 1 . A funding history for each of these programs is included in Table 2 . Table A -1 and Table A -2 in Appendix A detail allotments for SCDDs and for P&A programs, respectively, by state and U.S. territory. Appendix C lists the full names of the acronyms used in this report. Each state and U.S. territory receives federal funding to establish a SCDD, which is expected to develop and implement a comprehensive statewide plan for delivering services to individuals with DD—and their families—especially those not otherwise served under existing health and welfare programs. Members of a state's Council are appointed by the governor and must be geographically, ethnically, and racially representative of the state as a whole. At least 60% of the members of the Council must be individuals with DD, immediate relatives of persons with a DD, or legal guardians to such individuals. Representatives from relevant state agencies are also required to sit on each SCDD. SCDDs are given wide latitude to use the DD Act funding they receive. Each is permitted to engage in advocacy activities that promote independent living and social integration. These efforts may include, but are not limited to training, technical assistance, barrier elimination, coalition development and citizen participation, informing policymakers, advocacy, capacity building and systems change, and demonstration of new approaches to services and supports. Funds are allotted to states and territories based on population, the need for services for individuals with DD, and the financial need of each state or territory (see Appendix A , Table A -1 ). The DD Act of 2000 ( P.L. 106-402 ) amended the previously established minimum allotments for states and territories. P.L. 106-402 stipulates that in years when total appropriations for SCDDs are less than or equal to $70 million, each state will receive at least $400,000 from this program and each territory will receive $210,000. When appropriations exceed $70 million, minimum allotments for states and territories will be $450,000 and $220,000, respectively. Matching funds are required on a 75% federal-25% state basis, except in the case of projects in "poverty areas," where the federal share may be up to 90%. For projects conducted by Council members or staff to implement state plan activities, the federal share may be up to 100% of the aggregate necessary cost of such activities. As a condition for receipt of grant funds for SCDDs, states must have in effect a system of programs to protect and advocate for the rights of individuals with DD. P&A programs provide information and referral services and investigate reported incidents of abuse and neglect of individuals with DD. These programs have the authority to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies to protect and defend the legal and human rights of individuals with DD. There are 57 P&A systems in the United States. Each state (50), each U.S. territory (5), the District of Columbia (1), and American Indian tribes (1) receive P&A funding. Appropriations for all entities are detailed in Table A -2 of Appendix A . Funds for P&A systems are allotted on the same basis as the SCDDs, except no matching funds are required. The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 1994 ( P.L. 103-230 ) set the minimum allotments under this program at $200,000 for states and $107,000 for territories in fiscal years when the total amount appropriated for the program is at least $20 million, and current law maintains those minimum allotments. Although the DD Act provides a mandate for protection and advocacy of persons with DD, other federal laws have similar mandates for P&A programs for similarly vulnerable populations. Table 1 lists other P&A programs and the federal agencies that administer them. Together, these programs form a state, territorial, or tribal P&A system that focuses on securing the rights of persons with all types of disabilities wherever they reside. The DD Act is unique in that it charges the SCDDs with coordination of services with the other programs in the P&A system. Formerly known as "university-affiliated programs," University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs) are interdisciplinary research and public service units of universities or public, not-for-profit entities associated with universities. They provide training and technical assistance, and engage in scientific research that is intended to be directly applicable to meeting the needs of people with DD. These centers are in a unique position to facilitate the flow of research findings and disability-related information from the university environment to the public at-large. UCEDDs educate policy makers, employers, and community leaders about opportunities for persons with disabilities in an effort to increase the capacity of such individuals to live independently and lead economically productive lives. UCEDD discretionary grants are awarded on a competitive basis for a period of five years. According to statute, existing UCEDDs receive first priority when DD Act funding is being distributed. In FY2010, there are 67 such UCEDDs, with at least one center in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, receiving $542,000 per year in federal funding. This program funds grants or contracts to public nonprofit institutions to enhance the independence, productivity, and social inclusion of people with DD. Projects of National Significance (PNS) differ from the SCDDs and P&A programs because PNS activities focus on emerging areas of concern, on issues that transcend the border of particular states and territories.