Council on Developmental Disabilities previews draft five‑year plan emphasizing access, navigation and behavioral‑health gaps
June 05, 2026 | State Department of Education, Departments and Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Connecticut
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Walter Glomb, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities, briefed the State Advisory Council for Special Education on the council’s draft five‑year strategic plan during the May 20 meeting.
“Our mission is to ensure that people with developmental disabilities can live their lives in their own homes, in their own communities, with the supports and services they need, without the need for institutionalization,” Glomb said, outlining three priority areas the council proposes to fund with FY27 grants beginning Aug. 1.
Glomb described three central objectives in the access‑to‑specialized‑services goal: consolidate or reduce gaps across Connecticut’s multiple HCBS waivers and Medicaid programs, assist DDS with implementation of recent legislation (House Bill 5557), and fund consultants to help align eligibility and services. “Connecticut has 10 different HCBS waivers…there's big gaps between these silos,” he said.
On navigation, Glomb said the council will explore both proven organizational models (for example, Area Agencies on Aging) and technology options, including a planned grant to a Yale‑linked startup developing AI‑assisted navigation tools. He cautioned about AI limits but said tech could play a role in helping families find available services.
Behavioral health within the adult DD service system was highlighted as a pressing gap. Glomb said the DD system lacks capacity for people with severe behavioral‑health needs and called for integrated behavioral supports tied to specialized DD services.
The plan’s second goal focuses on bolstering self‑advocacy through an Advocacy Academy and organization development supports for third‑party groups that receive council grants. The third goal calls for improving access to generic community services—health care, neuroaffirmation for autistic residents, employment, transportation and housing—so people with developmental disabilities can use the same community infrastructure as others.
Glomb invited comments and publicly posted the draft for review; he told members the council expects to issue grants beginning Aug. 1 under the FY27 cycle. Brian K. Smith (Connecticut Developmental Services) and Bryan Klimkiewicz (CSDE) thanked Glomb for collaboration and said agencies will continue to coordinate on overlapping priorities.
Contact information and a PDF of the draft plan were placed in the meeting chat for public comment, and Glomb encouraged interested groups to reach out if they can help implement specific objectives.
“Our mission is to ensure that people with developmental disabilities can live their lives in their own homes, in their own communities, with the supports and services they need, without the need for institutionalization,” Glomb said, outlining three priority areas the council proposes to fund with FY27 grants beginning Aug. 1.
Glomb described three central objectives in the access‑to‑specialized‑services goal: consolidate or reduce gaps across Connecticut’s multiple HCBS waivers and Medicaid programs, assist DDS with implementation of recent legislation (House Bill 5557), and fund consultants to help align eligibility and services. “Connecticut has 10 different HCBS waivers…there's big gaps between these silos,” he said.
On navigation, Glomb said the council will explore both proven organizational models (for example, Area Agencies on Aging) and technology options, including a planned grant to a Yale‑linked startup developing AI‑assisted navigation tools. He cautioned about AI limits but said tech could play a role in helping families find available services.
Behavioral health within the adult DD service system was highlighted as a pressing gap. Glomb said the DD system lacks capacity for people with severe behavioral‑health needs and called for integrated behavioral supports tied to specialized DD services.
The plan’s second goal focuses on bolstering self‑advocacy through an Advocacy Academy and organization development supports for third‑party groups that receive council grants. The third goal calls for improving access to generic community services—health care, neuroaffirmation for autistic residents, employment, transportation and housing—so people with developmental disabilities can use the same community infrastructure as others.
Glomb invited comments and publicly posted the draft for review; he told members the council expects to issue grants beginning Aug. 1 under the FY27 cycle. Brian K. Smith (Connecticut Developmental Services) and Bryan Klimkiewicz (CSDE) thanked Glomb for collaboration and said agencies will continue to coordinate on overlapping priorities.
Contact information and a PDF of the draft plan were placed in the meeting chat for public comment, and Glomb encouraged interested groups to reach out if they can help implement specific objectives.
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