Project Description:
The primary role of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council (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. 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), and the UCEDD.
The Washington State DDC has historically met four times a year in rotating locations around the state with additional meetings as necessary. During the past year the meetings moved to the Zoom platform with meetings on a more frequent basis. The focus of the DDC since early 2020 has been the implications of the pandemic on the lives of individuals with IDD and their families.
The UCEDD and the DDC collaborate to identify and work on issues facing individuals with IDD. These issues are addressed through policy recommendations as appropriate as well as through advocating for further research, training, and services. In addition, the UCEDD, DDC and Disability Rights Washington (AIDD network partners) have committed to the ongoing support of the Allies in Advocacy initiative. Additional collaborative activities that will continue include parents with developmental disabilities, access to and use of technology, criminal justice reform within the Department of Corrections and Juvenile Rehabilitation, and strengthening the advocacy partnership with state agencies in Washington State. We hope to continue our collaborative efforts at criminal justice reform.
All these collaborations support UCEDD s mission to work on systems change through collaborating with individuals with IDD and advocacy groups.
