Washington Statewide Parent Coalitions
2024 Legislative Priorities
Capture and fund Supervision/Safety Support needs in all settings
·
Individuals with Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities (IDD) have a right to be safe in their homes and
communities, and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) has a responsibility to provide that support wherever an
individual lives, including the family home.
·
The CARE assessment should be adjusted to
capture and reflect safety support needs for every individual.
·
Overtime exemptions should be allowed for
individual providers (IPs) who provide supervision in addition to personal care.
End the Provider
Shortage
·
Individuals with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities deserve a well-trained provider
workforce, who are paid professionals making a livable wage, able to meet individual
support needs and prevent harm and neglect.
·
Implement DDA’s
study in HB 1694 to Pay parent care-providers of individuals under the age of
18 who have medically and behaviorally complex needs.
·
DDA services and
Providers must be developed in all areas of the state.
Develop Adult Day
Services across the State
·
Develop statewide
DDA Adult Day Programs in community settings that end isolation and support
personal choice, individual goals, social engagement, habilitative goals, and
personal care needs.
·
Make Adult Day
Programs/Adult Day Health a separate waiver service (aside from respite and Day
Services) with its own dedicated funding.
·
Fund the upfront
development costs, staffing, and implementation of statewide DDA Adult Day
Programs in community settings across the state.
·
Support rate
parity across DDA Day Services (Community Inclusion, Community Engagement,
Supported Employment, Adult Day Programs, and Respite). to build a robust
provider network and more equitably distribute DDA funding.
End Isolation and
Restraint in Schools
·
Continue legislative
work toward reducing and ending the use of restraint and isolation in schools.
Increase Access
to Housing and Residential Supports for Adults with IDD
·
Individuals with IDD have a right to
affordable, accessible, and sustainable housing in an individual’s chosen
setting with their needed level of services and support and regular access to
the community. Services and funding should follow the person, wherever they
choose to live, including their own family home.
·
Reduce eligibility barriers to DDA
Core Waiver services and prioritize Core waivers for individuals whose family
caregivers are aging.
·
Develop wrap-around life-transition
planning services for adults with IDD who have aging caregivers or who want
to change where they live. Planning should include housing, residential
supports, access to the community, financial planning, and long-term
sustainable care. Expand access to the Family Mentor Project for individuals
with aging caregivers.
