§15002 Definitions

Summary

Defines the key words used in this part of the law so people know what the programs must cover. American Indian Consortium — a group of 2 or more recognized tribes formed by each tribe that together have 150,000 enrolled residents and contiguous Indian lands in 2 or more States. Areas of emphasis — topics like quality assurance, education, early intervention, child care, health, employment, housing, transportation, recreation, and other services that affect quality of life. Assistive technology device — any item or equipment that helps a person with a developmental disability do more or stay independent. Assistive technology service — help with choosing, getting, adapting, repairing, coordinating, or using those devices, plus training for the person, family, or professionals. Center — a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Child care-related activities — work to help families get before-school, after-school, and other child care. Culturally competent — services given in ways that respect people’s beliefs, language, and styles. Developmental disability — a severe, long‑lasting disability from a mental or physical problem that appears before age 22, will likely continue, and causes major limits in three or more areas such as self‑care, language, learning, mobility, self‑direction, independent living, or economic self‑sufficiency; it requires ongoing, coordinated, individually planned services. Infants and young children (birth to age 9, inclusive) who have big delays or certain conditions may be treated as having a developmental disability if they likely will meet those criteria later without services. Early intervention, education, employment, health, housing, transportation, recreation, and quality assurance activities — work to help people get needed supports in those areas, change systems, and build community capacity. Family support services — help that keeps families as the main caregivers, avoids unnecessary out‑of‑home placement, and reunites families when possible; includes respite, rehab and assistive technology, personal assistance, parent training, help for aging caregivers, vehicle and home modifications, and help with extraordinary expenses. Inclusion — full acceptance and participation with friends, nearby living, access to community activities and jobs, and shared community resources. Individualized supports — person‑centered supports that promote choice, independence, productivity, and community life and that include services like early intervention, respite, personal assistance, family support, supported employment, aging‑caregiver supports, and rehab/assistive technology. Integration — equal access to the same community resources. Not‑for‑profit — an organization whose earnings do not go to private owners. Personal assistance services — help from people to do daily tasks at home or work and increase control over life. Prevention activities — actions to reduce causes or worsening of disabilities, find problems early, and lessen effects over a lifetime. Productivity — work that makes income or contributes to a household or community. Protection and advocacy system — the system set up under section 15043. Quality assurance activities — work to monitor and protect people from abuse, neglect, exploitation, improper restraints or seclusion, and to train self‑advocacy and improve agency coordination. Rehabilitation technology — using technology and engineering to remove barriers in education, employment, transportation, independent living, and recreation, including assistive devices and services. Secretary — the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Self‑determination activities — supports that help people make choices, control services and resources, join community life, and develop leadership and advocacy. State — includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. State Council on Developmental Disabilities — the council set up under section 15025. Supported employment services — help that lets people with significant disabilities do competitive work in regular workplaces when they need intensive or ongoing supports. Unserved and underserved — groups like racial or ethnic minorities, disadvantaged people, those with limited English, people in underserved areas, and others (including those who need assistive technology) who lack adequate services. Transportation-related activities — work to increase access to transportation.