The Division of Developmental Disabilities serves more than 35,000 people with developmental disabilities. These include disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, spina bifida, traumatic brain injuries and certain neurological impairments.

With an operating budget of over $1,221,408,000 for FY 2006 and over 9,000 staff, the division coordinates and/or provides a wide variety of services to help people with developmental disabilities live as independently as possible. Most services are provided through state contracts with private organizations or individuals. The availability of services depends on current resources; the types of services may vary in each county.

As part of its services provision, DDD offers case management , residential services , and various family support services that help both people with developmental disabilities and their families. DDD services also include the provision of day programs , which help the consumer develop vocational skills and learn how to use community resources; supported employment services , which help the consumer develop job skills, such as group interaction, teach the consumer about volunteerism, and offer job coaching to help consumers remain employed. DDD also helps with guardianship procedures and offers opportunities for active senior citizens to care for people with special needs in the New Jersey Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program \ Volunteer Opportunities

The central theme of the Division's mission is consumer choice and family participation in planning for care. The Division is taking steps to offer more choices and flexibility in planning for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Most of the people served by DDD live at home with their families while a smaller number reside in living arrangements that are funded by the Division and licensed by the Department of Human Services. Although a large majority of people with disabilities live with their families and wish to do so as long as possible, there have been few supports and services available to assist them, until now.

, the systems change blueprint announced in the fall of 2002, recognizes the need to better assist families caring for members with developmental disabilities at home . Real Life Choices represents a system change that provides services and supports, while reassuring families that - should their needs change - the system will provide for those changing needs. Real Life Choices is a multi-year plan, which was launched in the fall of 2003, working with families to ensure that they have a personalized and responsive service plan.

DDD has four goals for implementing this systems change:

• Establishing equity in the distribution of resources and services
• Allowing for more Family and Individual decision-making
• Allocating comparable resources for comparable levels of need,
• Developing individual budgets based on support needs

DDD has partnered with The Family Support Center of New Jersey to offer a Real Life Choices Resource Database through the Internet. This directory provides families with information about agencies that have been qualified through DDD to provide services and receive payment for those services.

The Division also provides personal and medical care, training, therapy and supervision to individuals with the most severe disabilities in seven developmental centers statewide.