2018 Statewide Family Concerns

1- Person Centered Service Plans are not equitable across settings for the individual.

2- Communities lack the capacity to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

3- Families and individuals experience inability to access affordable, accessible housing and supports.

2018 Legislative Notebook

The 2018 Legislative Notebook is online.
Check it out at ....
http://arcwa.org/index.php/takeaction/washingtonstate/issue_papers/2018_legislative_notebook/

2018 Advocacy Days

This year's theme is "In Harmony" as we encourage legislators to champion bills/budget items that are important to people with developmental disabilities.

January 17th is the 37th annual Statewide Disability Legislative Reception.
Meet at the United Churches for the DD Briefing on this year's issues from 2-4pm. 
The Legislative Reception will be held in the Capitol in the Columbia Room from 5:30-7:30pm.

Advocacy Days are a great way to learn about the legislative process. Each Advocacy Day begins with an hour briefing at 10am. The briefing includes special speakers, tips for a successful day and current information on bills and budget issues. Participants are offered several ways in which to advocate during the afternoon. You can meet with your legislators and attend hearings or floor sessions. Be sure to make your appointments to meet with legislators well in advance of your trip to Olympia. Meeting places will be listed on the ARC of WA website at http://arcwa.org/index.php/takeaction/washingtonstate/advocacy_day

Advocacy Days Schedule 

Jan 15 - First Day of the 2018 Legislative Session 
Jan 17 - Annual Statewide Disability Legislative Reception
Jan 24 - Supported Living Day
Jan 31 - Self-Advocates
Feb 7  - Family Services
Feb 14 - Protections
Feb 21 - Supported Employment Day
Feb 28 - Budget Overview
Mar 7 - Take Notes!

Hot Tips Brochure - for information on Advocacy Days and More.....
http://arcwa.org/index.php/library/2017_hot_tips/

2017 Legislative Budget Comparison

The Washington State House, Senate and Governor's Office budget proposals are out. See the chart at the link below to see how they compare to each other. Over the next few weeks, the legislature will work on getting one budget that they can all agree on.

http://arcofkingcounty.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=abd8f7923c44ceabf9e016f2b&id=ed986801f2&e=d19147d1ca

2017 ARC Legislative Notebook

DDA data and agency position papers for this year's legislative session.

http://arcwa.org/index.php/takeaction/washingtonstate/issue_papers/2017_legislative_notebook/

2017 Legislative Advocacy Days

Statewide Disabilities Legislative Reception and Briefing - February 1, 2017

The 36th Disabilities Legislative Reception is designed to bring legislators and their constituents from all over Washington together to share their perspectives on issues important to individuals with disabilities.
A summary of the issues relevant to people with developmental disabilities will be provided in the afternoon from 2-4pm at The United Churches. Go have dinner and then join us at 5:30pm back in the Columbia Room on the first floor of the Legislative Building for the Disabilities Legislative Reception.


Advocacy Day Briefing 2-4pm United Churches, 110 Eleventh Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Legislative Reception 5:30-7:30pm Columbia Room, Legislative Building, Capitol Campus, Olympia

Advocacy Days

Advocacy Day is a great way to learn about the legislative process. Each Advocacy Day begins with an hour briefing at 10am. The briefing includes special speakers, tips for a successful day and current information on bills and budget issues. Participants are offered several ways in which to advocate during the afternoon. You can meet with your legislators and attend hearings or floor sessions. Be sure to make your appointments to meet with legislators well in advance of your trip to Olympia. Meeting places will be listed on the ARC of WA website at http://arcwa.org/index.php/takeaction/washingtonstate/advocacy_day

Advocacy Days Schedule 

Feb 1 - Legislative Reception and Briefing, Employment Rally
Feb 8 - Disability Protections
Feb 15 - Supported Living Rally
Feb 22 - Multi-Cultural
Mar 1 - Meet Your Legislators!
Mar 8 - How McCleary Affects You
Mar 15 - Family Services
Mar 22 - Budget Overview
Mar 29 - Self-Advocates 
Apr 5 - Take Note!

Hot Tips Brochure - for information on Advocacy Days and More.....
http://arcwa.org/index.php/library/2017_hot_tips/

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.