… because we believe all people have the right to thrive in their communities
- Please join us in celebrating this year's inclusion champions on Tuesday, July 16, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Renton Community Center
It is our pleasure to announce the 2019 Inclusion Awards, honoring eight leaders for their impact on the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
For promoting the rights of people with developmental disabilities:
Representative Eileen Cody, 34th Legislative District/West SeattleFor protecting the rights of people with developmental disabilities:
- Representative Noel Frame, 36th Legislative District/Seattle
- Senator Patty Kuderer, 48th Legislative District/Bellevue
For ensuring the needs of people with developmental disabilities are reflected in the budget:
- Senator David Frockt, 46th Legislative District/North Seattle
For commitment to inclusion/MVP freshmen:
- Senator Claire Wilson, 30th Legislative District/Federal Way
- Senator Joe Nguyen, 34th Legislative District/West Seattle
Community honorees
We will also be honoring two community members:- Community Change Champion: Joey Wilson, for his work to lift the income cap on Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities (HB 1199)
- Lifetime Award: Ed Holen, for his steadfast leadership of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council
The honorees will be celebrated at our annual potluck picnic for the King County Parent and Family Coalition on Tuesday, July 16, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at the Renton Community Center, 1715 Maple Valley Highway, Renton, WA 98057.
Collectively, this year’s recipients drove efforts to promote the interests of people with developmental disabilities in the areas of funding, health care, early learning, affordable housing, employment, juvenile justice, and legal rights.
Please continue reading for details on the specific work being recognized.
For promoting the rights of people with DD
Chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee
We are honoring Rep. Cody for her work to improve access to health care for working individuals with disabilities. Rep. Cody sponsored HB 1199, which ended income and age limits on the state’s Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities program. Prior to this legislation, individuals with disabilities often faced the very difficult decision to work less or risk losing their Medicaid long-term supports. Rep. Cody of West Seattle represents the 34th Legislative District.
For protecting the rights of people with DD
Representative Noel Frame
Vice chair of the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee
We are honoring Rep. Frame for a body of work that included:
- Efforts to end the state practice of allowing people with disabilities to be paid subminimum wages (HB 1706)
- Work on behalf of families and individuals accessing adolescent and children’s mental health care (HB 1874, and HB 1876, companion to SB 5903)
- Work to end noncriminal youth detention and to expand juvenile rehabilitation (HB 1434, companion to SB 5290)
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Senator Patty Kuderer
Majority assistant floor leader and chair of the Senate Housing Stability and Affordability Committee
We are honoring Senator Kuderer for her work on affordable housing and homelessness prevention that included:
- Work to help stabilize housing for vulnerable populations by increasing from 3- to 14-days’ eviction notice to pay overdue rent or vacate (SB 5600)
- Work to allow cities and counties to use real estate taxes to support affordable housing and homelessness projects (SB 5195, companion to HB 1219)
- Work to allow a local set aside of the sales tax to fund affordable or supportive housing (SB 5646, companion to HB 1406)
- A work session to help educate senators on the intersection of disability and housing instability
Senator Kuderer of Bellevue represents the 48th legislative district.
For ensuring the needs of people with DD are reflected in the budget
Senator David Frockt
Vice chair for the operating budget and lead on the capital budget on the Senate Ways and Means Committee
We are honoring Senator Frockt's work to help stabilize community residential supports and other services administered through the state Developmental Disability Administration and to protect the financial integrity of the Developmental Disabilities Land Trust.
Senator Frockt also sponsored legislation to enhance educational opportunities for vulnerable youth. (SB 5851)
Senator Frockt of North Seattle represents the 46th Legislative District.
MVP freshmen – Commitment to Inclusion
Two freshman senators from King County stood out for "getting it" when it came to how people with disabilities experience the world and the type of public policies that will promote inclusion.Senator Claire Wilson
Vice chair of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee
We are honoring Senator Wilson for a body of work that includes:
- Expanding high quality, inclusive early learning opportunities (SB 5437)
- Establishment of a developmental disability-inclusive LGBTQ commission (SB 5356)
- Work to affirm the rights of clients of the state Developmental Disabilities Administration (SB 5843)
Senator Wilson of Federal Way represents the 30th Legislative District.
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Senator Joe Nguyen
Vice chair of the Senate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee
We are honoring Senator Nguyen for his steadfast support and behind-the scenes assistance in promoting bills that benefit individuals with disabilities. This includes pulling bills like HB 1706/subminimum wages out of the Rules Committee for consideration by the full Senate, and for co-sponsoring a body of bills that collectively promote the interests of people with developmental disabilities, including:
- Required school resource officer training (SB 5141)
- Wrongful injury or death of adult children (SB 5163)
- Lifting the income cap on Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities (SB 5754)
- Language access for families of public school students (SB 5606)
- Rights of DDA clients (SB 5843)
Senator Nguyen also led on a body bills addressing juvenile justice diversion and support that will benefit youth with disabilities, who as a class are disproportionately incarcerated.
Lifetime Award
Community Change Champion
He went on to meet his legislator, and convince her of the importance of his cause. That led to another legislator taking up the issue and introducing a bill to address it. Joey kept up his advocacy, traveling to Olympia several times to support and to lend a face and voice to the cause.
To the joy of many adults in Joey's shoes, HB 1199 passed. When she first heard the bill in committee, the chair of the Senate Ways and Means spontaneously called it a great bill. We agree, and we thank Joey for pushing the issue and sticking with it.
