We are in the final days of the state legislative session, with three key bills waiting to be called to the House floor for a vote.
Together, the bills address the foundation needed to ensure stable and accessible community supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
SB 6190 refines the DD Community Trust (also called the Dan Thompson Memorial Land Trust) so it can better manage and invest funds to benefit the developmental disability community. UPDATE: the House voted an amended version off the floor 95-2, with 1 excused. The bill goes back to the Senate for agreement on changes
SB 6419 sets up a framework to implement recommendations in the Ruckelshaus report to the legislature, “Rethinking Intellectual and Developmental Disability Policy to Empower Clients, Develop Providers, and Improve Services”
SB 6040 helps project demand for two of the Developmental Disability Administration waivers (Individual and Family Services, and Basic Plus) and provide funding that is predictable and meets need.
We urge you to contact your legislators and share your thoughts on these three bills.
You can call the Legislative Hotline: 1.800.562.6000
Or you can send an email.
- You can find your legislator and state legislative district here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
- You can find a roster of all legislators here, with their contact information: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rosters/members
- You can also comment on each of the bills using the legislature's Comment on This Bill function. (Links above)
If your representative is on Rules, now is a good time to reach out.
If you like to use sample messaging, you can edit and share the following. This was written with House members in mind; the Senate has already voted on these bills. (A thank you to senators would be nice!) Information about DD is at the bottom.
Sharing your story is always best practice.
Educating legislators about DD is also important. We provide some basic information below.
--------------SAMPLE MESSAGING
Dear,
I am writing to urge support for three key bills that together will help Washington build the foundation needed to ensure stable community supports for individuals with developmental disabilities (DD).
SB 6190 refines the DD Community Trust so it can better manage and invest funds to benefit the developmental disability community. It has been voted on by both House and Senate. Thank you!
SB 6419 sets up a framework to implement recommendations in the Ruckelshaus report to the legislature “Rethinking Intellectual and Developmental Disability Policy to Empower Clients, Develop Providers, and Improve Services”
SB 6040 helps project demand for two of DDA waivers (Individual and Family Services, and Basic Plus) and provide funding that is predictable and meets need
Community-based, long-term supports and services are preferred by most people with developmental disabilities and their families and are highly effective … when those supports are stable and accessible.
Washington, however, is 41st in investment for DD community supports, a legislative decision that leaves many in our community cycling in and out of crisis.
There is much work to do, but Washington has experienced community partners eager to take it on. What we need is stability and commitment to community support by the legislature. This includes both access to waiver slots and a well-trained, fairly compensated workforce of providers and direct support professionals
Please support all three bills. Individuals with developmental disabilities deserve the opportunity for a full life in their community where they can live, learn, work, and socialize.
Sincerely
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About DD
Developmental disabilities in the context of DDA waiver services* are severe, chronic disabilities due to mental and/or physical conditions that start in childhood and are expected to continue indefinitely. They result in substantial limitations in three or more areas. Using this definition, the federal government arrives at a prevalence rate of 1.58 percent.
That means there are about 119,000 people in Washington (35,000 in King County) with significant disabilities that impact childhood development and that continue across a lifetime. The DDA has about 49,000, clients, but many of these individuals sit on a No Paid Services list (about 14,000). Only about a third of the 119,000 get services.
People with developmental disabilities often require community-based long term supports and services (LTSS) to live as independently as possible. This includes assistance with daily activities, such as getting dressed, taking medication, preparing meals, job coaching, residential supports, and managing money.
You can learn more about The Arc’s position on Long Term Supports and Services here. We are committed to working on this at the national, state, and local levels.
* The Centers for Disease Control uses a broader definition of developmental disability, with incidence rates in the teens. While this definition would likely qualify children for special education services under IDEA, only a fraction of the CDC-identified children would qualify for DDA waiver services.
