Improving transition services for students

• Transition survey

The state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is partnering with the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to improve transition services for students and young adults.

“Transition” is the phase when students move from high school to job or college. All students with IEPs should have a transition plan. Some students will continue past traditional 12th grade in a transition program, up to age 21. When they leave high school or their transition program, students with disabilities may qualify for different DSHS services – for instance help finding a job through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)  or supported employment through the Developmental Disability Administration (DDA). King County contracts with the state to offer supported employment services locally and administers them through its Developmental Disabilities Division.

DSHS and OSPI have a survey out on ways to support students who are potentially eligible for services through the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). These services are the Medicaid long-term services and supports offered through the state’s “waivers” – Basic Plus, Core, Individual and  and others. A popular service is supported employment, which is offered through the Basic Plus and Core waivers, and administered locally by King County.

• You can access the survey here.

If you want more information about transition, DVR and DDA, Informing Families has a family-friendly explanation.

The survey states that participants will:

• Learn more about the secondary transition proviso in the 2017-18 supplemental education budget and the proviso work group;
• Identify current supports and barriers affecting post-school outcomes for students with disabilities;
• Provide feedback and additional input on proposed activities and resources related to the proviso work group; and
• Share additional comments, questions, and input

Let's talk budget! Senate releases its proposal

• Side by side: Governor and Senate Budgets

The big difference between proposals so far? The governor's budget has more revenue (and Senate funds mental health WAY more)

The state Senate released its operating budget proposal March 21 and - as expected - in areas outside of K-12 education and mental health it made cuts, or didn't include increases that advocates sought.

While the Senate proposal does include a new state property tax, that revenue is used to offset a proposed cap on local taxes for schools. It also offsets loss of extra funding that property-poor districts get. So while the Senate puts a new tax in play, there isn't new revenue for non-K-12 education areas.

In contrast, the governor included a revenue package to support his proposal. It includes a mix of changes, including expanding the state's business and occupation tax to include service businesses, and adding a capital gains tax. You can review it here.

For complete budget proposals:

• Governor's 2017-19 budget proposal
• Senate 2017-19 operating budget proposal
• 2017-19 Interactive (lets you easily review departments and compare allocations) 

Also:

• Developmental disabilities budget detail 
• Special education budget detail 

The Arc of Washington does a great summary in chart form (see link at top) that compares budget choices for areas that are specific to disability services.

Overall, the Senate puts about $2.4 billion more into the Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS), though in part that is because the governor pulls out funding for a proposed Department of Children, Youth and Family Services. The Senate also funds Mental Health at a substantially higher rate. ($1.7 billion more.) The governor put more into Developmental Disabilities, including $45 million to fund a wage increase for community residential providers.

Some highlights:

FIRCREST: The Senate pushes forward on plans to close or consolidate the state residential habilitation centers (RHCs, also simply called "institutions"), and allocates funds to transition Fircrest School residents to community settings, nursing options, or another RHC. CONCERN: The Senate does NOT make the needed investments in community residential care to absorb new clients.