The DDC works with people with developmental disabilities, family members, service providers, state agencies, policy makers, and other community members across Washington State to fulfill our mission.
The DDC leads a variety of activities to help us meet the goals and objectives in our 5-Year State Plan. You can learn more about some of those activities below.
*New* Transition Collaborative Project
This project is a collaboration of several partners to improve transition planning for special education students who qualify for services offered by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).
Our work has three main goals:
- To review and recommend existing resources for school districts to improve transition planning for all students with disabilities in Washington State
- To minimize gaps in transition services from school to post-school life for students with disabilities
- To develop recommendations to support students with disabilities and their families, stakeholders, and service providers in successfully navigating the transition process in Washington State
2022-2026 State Plan
The Council is required to create a 5-Year State Plan to address the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families. We use our plan as a road map to keep track of the priority areas that are most important to people, and to talk about the specific goals and objectives we are trying to meet.
Advocacy Partnership Project
The Advocacy Partnership Project supports advocacy efforts that provide opportunities for self-advocates, family members, and other advocates to effectively participate in advocacy efforts, especially during the legislative session.
Dan Thompson Advisory Committee
The Dan Thompson Memorial Developmental Disabilities Community Services Account was created in 2005 after the death of Dan Thompson. He was an advocate, a Microsoft employee, and a person with a developmental disability. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is required to get recommendations from the Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) on how to spend the funding. The DDC created the Dan Thompson Advisory Committee to identify priorities and create an application process.
Dan Thompson Memorial Account Update
About this ProjectHCBS QA Advisory Committee
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).
Informing Families
Informing Families is a resource provided by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, in collaboration with the Developmental Disabilities Administration and other partners throughout the state. Informing Families provides trusted news and information to individuals and families that empowers them to be active participants in planning and building a network of support and opportunities.
Institute for Community Inclusion State Data
StateData.info offers publications and data related to employment and disability. It builds off of decades of research conducted at ICI about the work of state intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) agencies, vocational rehabilitation agencies, and community organizations providing employment support to people with IDD.
Local Leadership
The local leadership project trains and supports individuals in leadership skills and systems advocacy about people with developmental disabilities and their families. The project prepares participants to get involved in advocacy at the local, state and federal level.
National Core Indicators
The National Core Indicators is a voluntary effort by public developmental disabilities agencies to track their own performance. It is a combined effort of the Human Services Research Institute and The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services.
North Star Project
Northstar is a coalition (group) of people with disabilities, the families who love and support disabled loved ones, and service and advocacy organizations. Together we are trying to create an omnibus (large) legislative bill to address our community’s urgent needs. We are working together to create a vision for everything we need, from transportation to residential services to health care.
The Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL)
The Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL) project brings self-advocates together to identify the issues that are important to them and to take leadership roles in developing their own legislative agenda and policy that improves quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.
Transition Collaborative
The Transition Collaborative is a collective effort of several entities working to improve transition planning and outcomes students with disabilities who qualify for services offered by the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), and would give all school districts the opportunity to participate.
Contact Us
Mailing Address:
PO Box 48314
Olympia, WA 98504-8314
Physical Address:
2600 Martin Way E, Ste F
Olympia, WA 98506
