At the direction of the Administration on Community Living (ACL), the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council (Council) is making changes to three objectives contained within the 2022-2026 State Plan. The changes are described below. The Council will be accepting comments from the public until July 7, 2022. We invite all who are interested to review and comment. Relevant input will be included in the final changes submitted to ACL. Please submit your comments to Brian Dahl at brian.dahl@ddc.wa.gov .

Objective 1.2

This objective addresses a Targeted Disparity population and is required by the DD Act. A Targeted Disparity is an objective that addresses a gap in services, supports, information or resources for a specific population. This objective addresses gaps in services and supports experienced by people with developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health or other mental health and behavioral challenges. ACL is requiring this objective to be rewritten for clarity.

Objective 1.2 Original Language

Supporting People with Co-Occurring DD and Mental Illness or Other Mental/Behavioral Health Challenges Identify and share information about evidence-based practices that are culturally relevant and focused on helping individuals and families access services for co-occurring developmental disabilities and mental illness or other mental/behavioral health challenges.

Objective 1.2 Proposed Change

Support people with developmental disabilities who have co-occurring mental health or other mental health/behavioral challenges and their families to access information and services that are:

·       Evidence based

·       Culturally relevant; and

·       Specific to people with intersectional identities of developmental disabilities and mental illness and/or mental/behavioral health challenges.

Objective 3.4

Like Objective 1.2, ACL is requiring this objective to be rewritten for clarity. This objective was also identified as a Targeted Disparity in the original draft of the State Plan. ACL determined the population addressed by this objective is too broad to be a Targeted Disparity. Since the Targeted Disparity requirement is being met by Objective 1.2, the Council decided to rewrite this objective for clarity and remove the Targeted Disparity designation. This will allow the Council to keep the original intent of addressing diversity, equity and inclusion.

Objective 3.4 Original Language

Advocating for People Who Are Most Impacted Apply a framework of intersectionality to identify and advocate with and for multiply marginalized people with developmental disabilities that are disproportionately impacted by gaps in services (i.e. "the most impacted") because of their position at the intersections of ableism, racism, and other forms of discrimination.

Objective 3.4 Proposed Language

Support people with developmental disabilities and with multiple intersectional identities who are disproportionately impacted by gaps in services to advocate on the issues important them. Apply a framework of intersectionality to identify and remove barriers to supports and services for people with developmental disabilities and other marginalized identities based on ableism, racism and other forms of discrimination.

Objective 2.5

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ACL requested all Councils to include an objective addressing “emerging needs”. Such an objective would allow Councils to meaningfully and quickly respond to crises. In response, the Council is proposing the following objective be added to Goal 2: Leadership and Advocacy:

 Objective 2.5 Emerging Needs (New Language)

Fund and support projects that address emerging needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families as a result of unexpected events in Washington State.

 Thank you for your time and participation. The State Plan is the primary document to direct the work of the Council. The Council has endeavored to include the opinions, suggestions and other input from the public, people with developmental disabilities, families and other stakeholders in all parts of the State Plan development process. Your input is essential to creating a document that is clear, useful and meaningful to the community of people with developmental disabilities in Washington State. If you have any questions, would like additional support to participate or need the material in another format or language, please contact Brian Dahl at (253) 208-1642 or brian.dahl@ddc.wa.gov .