People First of Washington has a youth leadership program called Student First, where individuals with disabilities learn advocacy and life skills. Leaders and experts from the community such as Brian Nichols of Spokane County speak to the Student First membership at their yearly conference in Spokane. There, the students learn important information about transitioning to
The DD Ombuds will be active during the Washington state legislative session informing the legislature about the work of the DD Ombuds and the issues that affect individuals with developmental disabilities. The DD Ombuds set priorities for the 2019 session, they include: Identify and close gaps in mental health services for people with developmental disabilities.
Check out the link below to hear from Kate Walters of KUOW about the latest on individuals with developmental disabilities in Washington being stranded at the hospital and what Washington State is doing to address the issue. Scroll down and play the second segment titled “Ombuds report on people with developmental disabilities”. KUOW Report
In this report, the DD Ombuds describes its findings that individuals with developmental disabilities are dropped off and left at hospitals by service providers, after which their services are terminated. This has left many individuals at the hospital with no place to go for long periods, sometimes even months. This is a preventable problem. Have
Sexual Abuse can happen to any person regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other personal trait. It is not the fault of the person who was abused. If you or somebody you know is experiencing abuse you can contact End Harm at 1-866-ENDHARM (1-866-363-4276) or online at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/report-concerns-involving-vulnerable-adults The DD Ombuds
Recently the DD Ombuds had the opportunity to attend a class led by Shirley Paceley and Linda Sandman about trauma informed advocacy. What is “trauma informed advocacy”? Well, many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities will experience some form of trauma in their lives. This could be abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and it can come
Ombuds from across the country met at the National Consumer Voices Conference last week, where long-term care resident Penny Shaw told conference-goers she learned her unstoppable advocacy skills from the disability rights movement. Quoting former President Obama, she said, “We are the change we seek,” and encouraged everyone to speak up for the rights of
We may fear that speaking up will hurt someone’s feelings. The DD Ombuds works by your side to resolve complaints, and we keep what you share with us confidential. If you are afraid to complain, the DD Ombuds wants to hear from you. Fill out our online complaint form here: https://ddombuds.org/complaint-form/
When someone is looking for a place to live it is important to have all the details about your options in order to make an informed choice. In Washington State we have different options people can choose from when it comes to residential settings to receive support in. The options include: Supported Living Agencies, State
This year was People First’s 40th Convention since it was established in 1978. The convention was held in Olympia at the Hotel RL, and saw membership from across Washington attend. Members participated in a number of workshops, including a DD Ombuds presentation, “How to navigate Abuse and Neglect towards People with Disabilities”, and Sorretie Jaro’s
