FDDC Connections January 2026: Register for DD Day Feb. 10, Tell Your Story, and More!

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FDDC Connections: January 2026

Stay connected with the most important news from the FDDC!

DD Day is Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in Tallahassee.

This is your chance to tell your story!

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) invites you to share your positive experience with legislators by completing the "My Story" form online. These personal stories will be hand-delivered to the Capitol on DD Day, and the FDDC will continue sharing them with legislators even after the day ends.

Take a moment to submit your story through the online "My Story" form; click the button below.

Learn More Here

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Legislative Priorities for 2026

Each year, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council develops and approves a Legislative Priorities identified by stakeholders, family members, and self-advocates.

2026 Legislative Priorities - English

2026 Legislative Priorities - Spanish

Introducing the FDDC’s Weekly Legislative Briefing! The FDDC is launching a new weekly legislative briefing for the 2026 Legislative Session to keep Floridians informed about issues impacting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

The session begins January 13, 2026, and our weekly briefings will start January 30, 2026, sharing updates on key legislation, the Council’s positions, and ways you can stay engaged.

In this newsletter, icons will be used to quickly show the Council’s level of engagement with legislation and the status of bills as they move through the legislative process. Together, these icons help readers easily understand which bills the Council is supporting, opposing, monitoring, and whether legislation has passed or failed.

Advocacy Resources for 2026

FACT SHEET

Provides key information and statistics
Serves as a leave behind for legislators and legislative aids
Offers a helpful resource for those who want to learn more

Fact Sheet

TALKING POINTS

Developed from FDDC’s priority and fact sheet
Provides a personal way to highlight your positive experience
Serves as a guide to help you effectively share your personal story

Enrolled

Pre-Enrolled

MY STORY

An opportunity to share your own positive experience with legislators
Included on the back of the Talking Points and available on the FDDC website (link below)
Can be shared in person, e-mail or through social media

Enrolled

Pre-Enrolled

WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING

Developmental Disabilities Day!

Enjoy some images from last year's DD Day and be sure to register to attend. Click the button below to learn more.

Learn More Here

MEDIA

"Our Work Matters" Podcast Series

Our Work Matters: Podcast Series 🎙️

Whether you are a self-advocate or a family member/caregiver of an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), this podcast has tools to help you advocate for the developmental disabilities community and promote inclusion in your state and local community.

Join Dr. Christine Reeve, a Program Director at the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) as she interviews project partners, family members, caregivers, and self-advocates about ways to help advocate in your community and resources available from the FDDC. Join our community to help build inclusive environments and opportunities for those with developmental disabilities in Florida.

Listen Now

"Our Care Matters" Video Spotlights

The "Our Care Matters" series has now reached over 863,000 video plays, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Your views, shares, and comments are helping ensure these stories—of Floridians with developmental disabilities and their caregivers—are amplified across Florida and beyond.

Thank you for standing with us and for being part of the change we’re working toward together.

Want to hear the stories from people in your community? Click the link below to watch the "Our Care Matters" videos and see how individuals from counties across Florida are sharing their experiences.

Watch ALL "Our Care Matters" Videos

In The News

Recent stories from our social media feeds:

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