Community Advocacy Coalition Legislative Breakfast Recap

On September 24, 2025, we gathered as the Community Advocacy Coalition for Developmental Disabilities (CAC) with legislators, advocates, self-advocates, families, and community partners for our annual Legislative Breakfast. Together, we celebrated the progress made during a challenging legislative session and reaffirmed our shared vision: Many Voices, One Vision for full participation and belonging in our communities.

Celebrating Legislative Wins

This year’s legislative session brought important progress for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD):

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• Housing: $50 million invested in the Housing Trust Fund DD Set-Aside to expand affordable, community-based housing options.
• Workforce: Rate increases for Supported Living, home caregivers, and Adult Family Homes to sustain a trained, stable direct support workforce.
• Special Education: Historic reforms, including removing the enrollment cap, extending eligibility through age 22, and more resources for inclusive practices.
• Employment & Community Inclusion: Expanded access by lowering the eligibility age from 21 to 19 and removing unnecessary driver’s license requirements for non-driving jobs.
• Family Support: Higher respite rates, more supports for senior families, and continued investment in peer-to-peer programs like Parent to Parent and Informing Families.
• Mobility Repair: A new right-to-repair law for wheelchairs and mobility devices, ensuring timely access to essential equipment.
• Community Living: Steps toward reducing reliance on institutions by halting new admissions to Rainier and investing in community-based supports.

Gratitude and Next Steps

We are deeply grateful to the legislators who joined us, including Representatives Cindy Ryu, Darya Farivar, Debra Entenman, Janice Zahn, Lisa Callan (represented by staff), and Sam Low, along with Senators Claire Wilson, Javier Valdez, and Noel Frame. We also acknowledge Representative Jamila Taylor, whose leadership has been instrumental even though she was unable to attend. Our gratitude extends as well to our member organizations, and to the many advocates, families, and self-advocates who continue to raise their voices for change. Finally, we thank the organizers and volunteers who worked behind the scenes to make this event possible.

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As we look ahead to the 2026 legislative session, our work continues. The Notebook Meeting on December 1, 2025 and Advocacy Days every Wednesday during session are the next opportunities to come together, set priorities, and advance the rights and opportunities of people with I/DD in Washington.