This ITACC history document provides a clear timeline of major changes to the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act), beginning with the 1970 legislation that first introduced the term “developmental disabilities” and created State Planning and Advisory Councils. Over the next several decades, amendments strengthened individualized planning, required deinstitutionalization studies, expanded the definition of developmental disabilities, and increased the percentage of Council membership reserved for people with developmental disabilities and their families (page 1) . These early reforms laid the groundwork for a national system focused on rights, community integration, and family-centered supports.

Legislative updates in the late 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s further solidified the independence and advocacy role of DD Councils, emphasized inclusion, interdependence, cultural competency, and self-determination, and expanded Councils’ responsibility to support self-advocacy organizations and monitor waiting lists (pages 2–3) . The document also highlights related disability laws—including the ADA, Fair Housing Act, and IDEA—that interact with and reinforce the DD Act’s goals. Together, these milestones show how the DD Act evolved into a comprehensive framework that supports civil rights, community living, and meaningful participation for people with developmental disabilities.