dds

Department on Disability Services

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A. Why Use D.C. Department on Disability Services’ (DDS) Housing Resource Guide?

DDS’s Housing Resource Guide (The Guide) has two missions. First, to provide a comprehensive housing guide for persons with disabilities. The Guide empowers readers with information and training to actively participate in decisions impacting their housing goals. The Guide accomplishes this via a 10-step process that gives an overview of how to prepare, search, rent, buy and sustain affordable and accessible housing in D.C.

The second mission is to ensure that persons with disabilities are informed about available, affordable, and accessible housing opportunities. There are links to housing resources throughout The Guide and in the Resource Section.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Person-Centered Thinking

Person-centered thinking is a philosophy behind service provision that supports positive control and self-direction of people’s own lives. DDS is working to implement this through training sessions and other agency wide initiatives.

Employment First Initiative

Two people clasping hand, one in wheelchair

Under the Employment First philosophy, competitive, integrated employment is the first and overwhelmingly preferred option for working-age youth and adults with disabilities.