It is the mission of the Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DDID) to empower each person to realize his or her place in the community as a citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. To accomplish this mission, DDID will partner with and support persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, families, advocates, stakeholders and government agencies.

People, throughout their lifespan, are active, contributing and respected members of their community. People have the ability to choose from a full array of effective and meaningful natural and paid supports to access what is important for them and to access and maintain what is important to them.

The following principles guide the work of DDID staff as we strive to make a positive difference in the lives of all individuals with whom we come in contact.

Person-centered thinking drives our actions by emphasizing the importance of each person. Communities are the first places to seek, identify and nurture supports and opportunities.

We affirm that all people can direct their own supports and thereby encourage and promote true and meaningful participation in the community as essential to person-centered practices.

Individuals of working age are employable: employment is life-enriching.

We recognize and embrace Direct Support Professionals as essential team members whose input is valued and respected at all levels of planning and implementation of services pertinent to individuals they support.

We promote and respect the involvement of family members and natural supports to empower individuals in the pursuit of active meaningful participation within their community.

Initiatives and supports are driven by research and data to include the array of promising, evidence-based, and identified best practices.

DDID comprises three branches: