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.
