Developmental Disabilities

Iowa Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to the Developmentally Disabled

The Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (MH/DD) is the agency designated as the state mental health authority by the Governor of Iowa. The Division provides program support services for persons with mental illness, mental retardation and developmental disabilities; plans for state services; works with counties in the development and implementation of their service plans; develops policy for the state mental health institutes and the state resource centers for persons with developmental disabilities; provides consultation and technical assistance; and provides accreditation for providers of MH/DD services. It is the mission of the Division of MH/DD to provide leadership - through the coordination of communication, education, planning and funding - for the development of a system which creates opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue the life of their choice. For information on who is eligible for services or for more information about the services provided call or write:

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for the Developmentally Disabled

The Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services works for and with individuals who have disabilities to achieve their employment, independence and economic goals. The Disability Determination Services Bureau is responsible for determining the eligibility of Iowa residents who apply for disability benefits; the Rehabilitation Services Bureau assists eligible individuals with disabilities to become employment. Persons who receive vocational rehabilitation services have a wide range of disabilities.

In Iowa, the Division of Persons with Disabilities, Department of Human Rights, operates the Client Assistance Program (CAP), a federally funded grant program. Services include advising and informing clients and applicants of all services and benefits available to them through programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended; assisting and advocating for clients and applicants in their relationships with programs authorized under the Act; and informing individuals with disabilities in the State of Iowa, especially those who have traditionally been unserved or underserved, of the services available to them under the Act and under Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Division of Persons with Disabilities is an agency located within the Department of Human Rights. It exists to promote the employment of Iowans with disabilities and to reduce barriers to employment by providing information, referral, assessment and guidance, training, and negotiation services to employers and citizens with disabilities. To learn more about the programs of the Iowa Division of Persons with Disabilities, write or call:

Sheltered Employment

Sheltered employment or community rehabilitation programs are services which provide a controlled and protected environment, additional supervision and other supports for individuals engaged in remunerative work either in a sheltered workshop or in the community. These service options are available for clients of the Iowa Workforce Development, including the Newton Workforce Center.

Competitive Employment

The Newton Workforce Development office is staffed by Workforce Advisors, one of which is located at the Department of Human Services. These advisors provide the employment services for persons with disabilities.

Health and Safety

The consultation activities are available at no charge to any business with one or more employees through the State. One of the Iowa OSHA consultation's goals is to reduce the incidence of injury or illness to workers by enhancing the employer's ability to identify and control safety and health hazards.

The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health (IOSHA) applies OSHA standards as adopted by Iowa Workforce Development, Division of Labor. This agency investigates safety and health complaints in construction and general industry and performs general scheduled inspections. Iowa OSHA follows federal OSHA's Compliance Letters, Memos, Instructions and Directives as guidelines to provide assistance to compliance officers, employers and employees on the enforcement of OSHA standards.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

The Dependent Adult Abuse program, Iowa Department of Human Services, provides evaluations and assessments of alleged abused dependent adults. The program attempts to provide services and makes referrals to assist abused dependent adults acquire safe living arrangements. Protective Service Units are available in all Department of Human Services County offices. People can report abuse, neglect, and exploitation of Iowa's vulnerable adults, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the hotline number: 1-800-362-2178.

Protection and Advocacy

Another advocacy source is the Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council. The Council identifies, develops and promotes public policy and support practices through capacity building, advocacy, and systems change activities. The purpose is to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families are included in planning, decision making, and development of policy related to services and supports that affect their quality of life and full participation in communities of their choice.

The Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc., is a federally funded program that will protect and advocate for the human and legal rights that ensure individuals with disabilities and/or mental illness a free, appropriate public education, employment opportunities and residence or treatment in the least restrictive environment or method and for freedom from stigma. Iowa Protection and advocacy Services will support people with disabilities to secure their rights and full participation as citizens through a program of self advocacy, education, information and referral, non-legal advocacy and legal and systems advocacy.