Our Proud 45-Year History

In the late 1960s, the State of Missouri passed legislation referred to as Chapter 205.968 through 205.972 of the Revised Missouri Statutes which permitted counties to establish a mill tax for the purpose of developing and expanding sheltered workshops, residential, and support services for their citizens with developmental disabilities.

In August of 1978, the voters of Jefferson County established the Jefferson County Commission for the Handicapped through the passage of Proposition S – “The Special Ones.” On August 17, 1978, pursuant to Section 205.968 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, the Jefferson County Court County Commissioners established and appointed the first handicapped facilities board consisting of nine members, four board members related to handicapped persons and five members unrelated.

Through the passage of Proposition S, a 10 cent levy was assessed on each one hundred dollars of property evaluated.  The funds collected from the 10 cent levy are used to develop community-based supports for developmentally disabled citizens of Jefferson County.  In June 1980, the Jefferson County Commission for the Handicapped established a non-profit corporation: “Exceptional Ones, Inc.”  Exceptional Ones was established and administered by the Jefferson County Commission for the Handicapped (JCCH).  The JCCH served as the board of directors for Exceptional Ones. The Director of Exceptional Ones reported directly to the Executive Director of the Jefferson County Commission for the Handicapped.  The board of directors for the Jefferson County Commission for the Handicapped voted to change the name of Exceptional Ones, Inc. to “Developmental Services of Jefferson County, Inc.”  The name change was filed with the Secretary of State and became effective July 1, 1991.

In 1985, the 10 cent levy was rolled back to 6 cents as a result of reassessment. With the passage of Proposition H in 1988, the levy increased by 4 cents restoring the levy back to the original amount of 10 cents on each one hundred dollars of property evaluated.

In 2003, the JCCH Board of Directors voted to change the name to Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Resource Board (JCDDRB).  The name was changed to better reflect the individuals being served and the mission and purpose of the board.

In June of 2016, to be in compliance with Conflict-Free Case Management regulations, the board voted unanimously for a separation of the JCDDRB and NextStep for Life effective July 1, 2017.

In 2017, NextStep for Life and the JCDDRB officially separated and began operating under two different Board of Directors and Executive Leadership.

In 2018, JCDDRB officially changed the agency name to Developmental Disability Advocates.