Consumer Friendly Publications
DDS is sharing the following materials with consumers, families, providers, service coordinators, regional centers, developmental centers and everyone who helps individuals with developmental disabilities.
- What We Learned from the National Core Indicators (NCI) Adult Family Survey – User Friendly Version 2013
- What We Learned from the National Core Indicators (NCI) Family/Guardian Survey – User Friendly Version 2013
- National Core Indicators (NCI) - What to Expect During an NCI Survey (Video)
- What We Learned from the National Core Indicators (NCI) Adult Consumer Survey - NCI Results from People Across California in 2010
The NCI survey asks people with developmental disabilities and their families how they feel about the services they receive from the State. This report is written in a User Friendly format which details answers to questions that the Consumer Advocacy Committee identified as being of interest to Users with disabilities
The Choices Project
Is a specially designed tool that was developed for use during a Developmental Center closure to help residents communicate what is important to them about their home and leisure time activities. The information may be included in their transition plans.
Advocating with your Elected Officials
Elected officials need to hear from people they represent about important issues affecting their lives. Contacting your representatives is an effective way to have your voice heard. This booklet guides you when sending personal letters or emails, telephoning and meeting with your elected officials. It provides website links where you can find information about legislators and proposed legislation.
How I Want to Spend My Time: Making Informed Choices
English | Spanish
This guide is an easy-to-use six page booklet geared for users with disabilities seeking person-centered adult services to support their futures. With plain language and graphic cues, the tool guides individuals to practice self-direction as they: identify how they want to spend their time and support they need. The tool also provides questions to ask when choosing service agencies to meet their goals and a straightforward agreement page. Developed by Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center and The SCILS Group, 2009.
My Choice, My Future: Making Informed Choices
English | Spanish
This guide is an easy-to-use six page booklet geared for users with disabilities who are in transition from high school to adult life. With plain language and helpful graphics, the tool guides individuals to practice self-direction as they: THINK about their futures; make a simple PLAN; and DO what they need to get started. After completing the booklet can be easily shared at team meetings, with family, teachers and support staff. Developed by Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center and The SCILS Group, 2009.
A Performance contract is an agreement between a state department or agency who gives money to an agency or provider to offer services. This PowerPoint gives you a simple of what a performance contract might look like between Department of Developmental Services and Regional Centers.
My Own Choice
This guide is to help people with developmental disabilities residing in large congregate residential facilities to enhance their participation in the individual program planning process. Also available is the companion sticker booklet to help individuals express their personal decisions living options.
Families Creating a Vision and Building Inclusive Lives for their Children
English | Spanish | Chinese
For families who want to create visions that lead to inclusive lives for the children with developmental disabilities, read about Nick and Brissa. Learn about creating a vision, building community connections and making meaningful futures happen.
Leadership Through Personal Change: Think - Plan - Do
This guide is to help people with developmental disabilities to have self-determined lives. To learn simple ways, using supports, everyone can participate in directing their futures.
Feeling Safe, Being Safe
This workbook will help you make a plan that you can use in case of an emergency. The DVD demonstrates how to complete the workbook and put together a home emergency kit.
Thinking Ahead: My Way, My Choice, My Life at the End
This is a consumer friendly workbook to assist people in making decisions about the end of their life. The workbook and videos were funded by a 2006-07 DDS Wellness grant.
Boardsmanship - Inclusive and Accessible
English | Spanish
This book will help consumers to understand how to become better members of boards. It was developed by People First of California, Inc. who is offering to provide training in the use of the book. If you would like this training, contact People First at 916-552-6625.
This publication is to help individuals with developmental disabilities . . .
Ways to Make Complex Information Simple
This publication is to help individuals with developmental disabilities be prepared and to understand what is being said at meetings and be able to vote.
Leadership Through Personal Change (PDF)
This publication describes the DDS Consumer Advisory Committee leadership project.
Senate Bill 1270
English | Spanish
It asks the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) to bring different people together in a Work Group and think about different ways people with developmental disabilities spend their time in paid work and other activities.
Speaking for a Better Tomorrow, A Guide to Making an Effective Speech
This guide is to help individuals with developmental disabilities give a speech about something that will make their life, or the lives of others, better.
The Satisfaction Guide assists people to think about quality and satisfaction in their lives and assists them to communicate their preferences with others.
From Conversations to Actions Using the IPP (PDF)
This booklet shares the real life stories of how consumers can set their goals and objectives and work through the IPP process to achieve them.
Picture Sticker Book
This booklet has been developed to the used with the "Satisfaction Guide and Making My Own Choices." This can also be used with other projects that will enhance persons' independence and choice. Please note: Pages of the Picture Sticker Book can be printed using 2 ½ x 2 ½ inch square label sheets.
Community Conversations with People with Developmental Disabilities (PDF)
A book developed from conversations with 400 consumers about what choices they make in their life today and what choices they would like to make.
Rights of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Handout
A graphically illustrated handout available in English and Spanish (combined), Armenian, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Hmong.
Recommendations for Satisfaction Surveys
A guide developed by CAC members for anyone in the developmental disabilities field conducting surveys with people with developmental disabilities.
The Consumer Advisory Committee is proud to share these publications with consumers, families, providers, service coordinators, regional centers, developmental centers and everyone who helps individuals with developmental disabilities. For more information regarding these publications you may contact:Department of Developmental Services
Office of Human Rights and Advocacy Services
1600 9th Street, Room 240
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 654-1888