Project Description:
<p>The Washington State DDC meets approximately six times a year in rotating locations around the state. The primary role of the DDC is to make public policy recommendations to the Governor and state policy makers on issues of importance to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. </p><p>The Council is comprised of 27 members appointed by the Governor, at least 60 percent of whom must be individuals with IDD, parents or other family members, or guardians. Also serving on the Council are representatives of service providers and principal state agencies that provide funding to or services for individuals with IDD, and the state Protection and Advocacy organization, Disability Rights Washington (DRW). </p><p>The UCEDD and the DDC collaborate to identify and work on issues facing individuals with IDD. These issues are addressed through policy recommendations as well as through advocating for further research, training, and services. Currently, the UCEDD is participating with the DDC in the Community of Practice: Supporting Families over the Life Course, a multi-year federal project exploring ways to improve the service delivery system to better meet the needs of the IDD community in the future. In addition, the UCEDD, DDC and Disability Rights Washington (AIDD network partners) have committed to the ongoing support the Allies in Advocacy initiative. Additional collaborative activities for the next five years include parents with developmental disabilities, access to and use of technology, supports and services in Department of Corrections/Juvenile Rehabilitation, strengthening the advocacy partnership in Washington State. Recent new collaborations have included participation in a Community Forum on ID and Dementia and a workgroup on Supports to Parents whose adult children with IDD are living at home. The final recommendations on supports to parents with adult children with IDD at home will be presented to the state legislature in the 2019. All these collaborations support UCEDD's mission to work on systems change through collaborating with individuals with IDD and advocacy groups.</p>
