GCPD is one of fifty-six Developmental Disabilities Councils in the United States and territories that work to empower people with I/DD. The Councils are agents of the DD Act, tasked with achieving its vision for Americans with disabilities and guided by three fundamental principles:
Advocacy
Promoting positive individual and community awareness and identity to encourage people with I/DD to lead their own lives and advocate for themselves and others.
Capacity Building
Expanding the skills of people with I/DD and their families, and improving the efficacy and competence of support frameworks to enable communities to include people with I/DD as active citizens.
Systems Change
Transforming and meaningfully repairing service delivery, policy, and institutional structures to eliminate barriers and achieve better outcomes for the lives of people with I/DD and their families.