2017 Statewide Legislative Priorities

WA State Parent Coalitions for Developmental Disabilities

The Developmental Disabilities Administration  (DDA) is a SYSTEM IN CRISIS. We need to meet the assessed needs of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), and their families, by maximizing tax payer dollars.

Services are not services if you can't access them!

-Lack of service providers creates unmet need. the state should be accountable for recruiting, retaining and reviewing qualified providers of all state and federal funded services for individuals who have I/DD.

-The legislature needs to adequately fund Supported Living Services. With a 50% to 70% turnover rate in staff, individuals with I/DD are living in a state of crisis, being traumatized, and put at risk of homelessness and institutionalization.

-Support adequate funding and policies for the Early Intervention system to identify and serve all eligible children.

-Fund an automatic increase in the DDA budget supporting employment services for students transitioning from high school, providing them the opportunity to be contributing citizens and tax payers.

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Our state Legislature "recognizes the state's obligation to provide aid to persons with developmental disabilities through a uniform, coordinated system of services to enable them to achieve a greater measure of independence and fulfillment and to enjoy all rights and privileges under the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Washington."

RCW 71A.10.015

Issues contributing to DDA system crisis:

-Washington State is 41st in the Nation for fiscal effort in funding services for DD.

-Individuals are waiting for a requested community residential placement out of  Residential Habilitation Centers (RHC).

-Lack of capacity in Supported Living and Adult Family Homes as community residential options for individuals with I/DD.

-Eligible individuals are waiting for paid services from DDA (No Paid Services Caseload). Currently 11,000 individuals are waiting.

-There are no DDA Case Resource Managers (CRM) for the No Paid Services Caseload.

-DDA CRM have client rations far higher than those in other states. CRM do not have manageable caseloads to ensure proper coordination of their client's assessed services.

 

The Parent Coalitions represent thousands of families in Washington State. 

We strive to identify the needs of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families and work toward solutions to meet those needs.