In 2022 and 2023, the Washington State Legislature funded the Council to conduct a study on the barriers to accessing supports and services for people with IDD from diverse populations with recommendations to increase meaningful inclusion. The Council contracted with Northwest Center and the Equity in Education Coalition to conduct a study and provide the report. This report will be used to inform future Council DEI efforts.

The DD Council recognizes that racism, ableism, poverty, geography and many other circumstances often impact people with IDD and their families disproportionately to the general population. The Council engages in DEI work, both internally and the community, to create a more inclusive and powerful society. The Council has contracted with Offshootz, LLC to work with the Council on implementing DEI best practices to make the Council more inclusive and powerful for ALL people regardless of background. Through tailored services, Offshootz facilitated DEI training sessions, a full-day workshop, and a Train-the-Trainer program to equip Council staff and members with the tools to build stronger relationships and foster a more inclusive environment. Resources like a Land Acknowledgment, Communication Guide, and Values Diagram were also developed to support WADDC's ongoing efforts.

The DD Council recognizes that racism, ableism, poverty, geography and many other circumstances often impact people with IDD and their families disproportionately to the general population. The Council engages in DEI work, both internally and the community, to create a more inclusive and powerful society. The DD Council worked with Wandke Accessibility to assess the Council functions and determine barriers to full participation by people with IDD and others with accessibility needs. The report provided helpful guidance. Recommendations from the report are being implemented.

The Council actively nurtures and promotes collaborations with community organizations and governmental agencies to create capacity, advocate and reform and improve systems. The Community Advocacy Coalition (CAC) is a grassroots coalition for Developmental Disabilities that provides a platform for advocacy organizations to share information, educate one another on issues of mutual concern, and coordinate their legislative agendas to give people with disabilities a stronger voice in government affairs. The CAC accomplishes this task by advocating with a common voice for meaningful community living at the state and local levels.

The Council partnered with the Snohomish County Health Department to develop resources that strengthen the public policy workforce and improve public health communication with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This project was partially funded by the Council’s federal partner, the Administration for Community Living. The result is a guide titled Guidance for Improving Accessibility of Public Health Communications: A Reference for Communicating with Snohomish County Residents with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. This resource has the potential to help public health systems better serve the IDD community—both in daily operations and during emergencies.

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The Council addresses the value of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging through the leadership project with Open Doors for Multicultural Families (ODMF). ODMF provides education, resources and opportunities for people with IDD and their families to advocate on the issues important to them from diverse communities.

Washington State Allies in Advocacy (Allies) is an activist organization whose mission is to improve the lives of all people with developmental disabilities (DD). They are governed and staffed by people with DD. They advocate for policies and programs in all aspects of society that increase the power of people with DD to make the decisions to live the lives they choose, the ability to access all the resources available to everyone else, the opportunities to build wealth and have an equal say in local, national, and international communities.

The DD Council with the other Network Partners are working to create Allies and the fourth DD Network Partner as model for inclusion in the DD Act. Fully funding self-advocacy/civil rights organizations in all the states and territories is a giant step toward equity and empowering the voices of people with IDD.

The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council is committed to addressing the pressing issue of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) residing in restrictive settings such as jails, prisons, and hospitals. With this Request for Proposals (RFP), we aim to engage qualified and passionate entities to explore the current landscape both nationally and within Washington State regarding this critical matter. We seek innovative proposals that not only analyze the existing challenges but also provide actionable recommendations and strategies to significantly decrease the number of individuals with I/DD in these restrictive environments. By fostering collaboration and creativity, we aim to drive meaningful change that enhances the quality of life and promotes inclusivity for individuals with I/DD across our communities. This RFP was awarded to the University of Washington's Institute for Human Development & Disability.

The Council contracts with the Arc of Washington to conduct the Advocacy Partnership Project. This project provides information, resources and training to people with IDD and their families to effectively advocate on the issues most important to them.

The Dementia Action Collaborative (DAC) is a group of public and private partners committed to preparing Washington state for the growth of the population living with dementia. The Council collaborates with the DAC on issues of concern to people with IDD and their families.

People with IDD who have mental health challenges often face extreme barriers to receiving appropriate supports and services. The Council is commissioned a report by the National Leadership Consortium on the barriers faced by people with mental health challenges and IDD. The results of this process will be the basis for Council action in the final years of this State Plan.

Self-Advocates In Leadership (SAIL) is a Council funded effort to empower individuals to engage with state government on crucial issues such as housing, transportation, employment, services, and healthcare. Through collaborative efforts and respectful teamwork, SAIL shapes public policy at both state and federal levels, working towards a better future for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) in Washington.

The Council contracts with the Arc of Washington to conduct the Advocacy Partnership Project. This project provides information, resources and training to people with IDD and their families to effectively advocate on the issues most important to them.

The Advocacy Leadership Development Cohort (ALDC) project, launched by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, was created to empower communities across the state to address barriers affecting individuals with developmental disabilities. The initiative supported the formation of Community Teams to lead advocacy efforts, develop innovative solutions, and drive meaningful policy change. The Council contracted with nine individuals or organizations to focus on local issues within their communities. These projects were supported through educational and training opportunities provided by Peace Northwest, Open Doors for Multicultural Families, and The Arc of Snohomish County.

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The goal of the Transition Collaborative is to improve transition planning activities for students who qualify for services from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). In 2020, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction released Transition Collaborative Summative Report the that includes research and data on transition, recommendations for improving transition outcomes for students with disabilities in Washington, and more.

In 2022, Washington State Legislature passed SSB5790, which strengthened critical supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by moving forward the Transition Collaborative's four recommendations: Expanding Statewide School to Work program, establishing a Transition Council, Interagency Transition Networks (ITNs), and data share agreement with OSPI, DDA & DVR.

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The Council is contracted by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) to provide accurate and relevant information to people with IDD and their families through the Informing Families Project. The Council works with the Arc of Washington to create and disseminate resources through social media and a website. The Council also employs Community Coordinators to distribute resources directly to people across the state.

The purpose of the Home and Community Based Services Quality Assurance Advisory Committee is to provide oversight and guidance for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) administered by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).

The NorthStar Project was created by the WADDC, it was a coalition (group) of people with disabilities, families, and service and advocacy organizations. This coalition was formed to try to create an omnibus (large) legislative bill to address the IDD community’s urgent needs. This project disbanded in 2023.

The Dan Thompson Memorial Developmental Disabilities Community Services Account was established in 2005 following the death of Dan Thompson—an advocate, Microsoft employee, and person with a developmental disability. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to seek recommendations from the Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) on how to allocate funds from the account. To guide this work, the DDC formed the Dan Thompson Advisory Committee to identify priorities and develop an application process. In collaboration with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), community organizations, and individuals with lived experience, the committee works to create and implement a process for making funding recommendations.