This year there were important successes for the Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds. HB 1390 “Repealing the Community Protection Program” passed and was signed by the Governor. This has been a priority for the DD Ombuds since we released the Community Protection report “No Way Out” in 2021. Over the next year participants will transition
The DD Ombuds office is hiring a temporary, part-time position. The position is for an Office Assistant. Please share with your networks and encourage people with disabilities to apply. Click here.
Senator Leonard Christian, R-4th Legislative District, speaks on the House floor in archive photo. Image source: https://leonardchristian.src.wastateleg.org. Disability Rights Washington (DRW) and The Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds (DDO) condemn Senator Christian’s recent use of the R word during the floor debate on HB 1390, a bill to eliminate the Community Protection Program (CPP). We are outraged that
The 2026 Washington State Legislative Session HAS started! This session is currently scheduled to hold hearings virtually and in person at the state Capitol in Olympia. This year is what is considered a short session that will go until March 12th, 2026. The Governor’s budget was released. You can read a summary of the Governor’s
The DD Ombuds staff along with Advisory Committee members attend the statewide People First of Washington Convention in Spokane. The DD Ombuds office hosted a resource table and participated in two workshops at the convention. At our resource table we talked to people about how they are doing, passed out resources, and had people fill
We are very saddened and sorry to share that Mike Raymond passed away on 9/17/2025. Mike has been a dedicated self-advocate, founding member of People First Washington, and a DD Ombuds Advisory Board member. Mike grew up at Rainier School where he and his wife left Rainier school in their twenties and never looked back.
Using social media can sometimes be overwhelming and hard to navigate. PAVE has recently developed a guide to help people with disabilities understand the positive and negative features of social media. Brief Overview · Social media helps people with disabilities connect, express themselves, and find support—but it also comes with risks that users need to
The Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS) have started a reimagining project to change how the department is structured. The new structure has two new administrations: Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA). HCLA administers all home and community-based services formerly provided by Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA).
April was Autism Acceptance Month—a time to celebrate neurodiversity and uplift the voices of autistic people. Governor Bob Ferguson signed a proclamation declaring April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month in Washington State. The DD Ombuds celebrates Autism acceptance and pride all year long. As part of his proclamation, Governor Ferguson encourages “All Washingtonians to educate
Tabletop roleplaying games (like Dungeons & Dragons) are games where you and friends sit around a table and tell a story together. You create characters and go on adventures by talking about what happens and rolling dice. These games can be fun and helpful for everyone. Here’s why you might enjoy them: Make Friends and
