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
This historic Olympia building, now the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, was once Washington’s capitol and housed the State Legislature. The DD Ombuds and other DD Advocates met here recently with Assistant Superintendent Glenna Gallo. The DD Ombuds asked about reduction of restraint use for students in special education. The DD Ombuds also
When you have a problem with the services you are receiving from DDA, often the first person to call or email is your DDA Case Manager. They may not respond immediately, but you can expect them to call or email you back within a day or two. Keep speaking up about your problem until it
People with developmental disabilities enjoy going out into the community and participating in activities just like everybody else. With the summer coming to an end we are going to highlight a few stories we heard from community members about how they used Community Guide and Engagement along with other DDA services to enjoy summer fun!
“After I was admitted to the hospital, my service provider said they would no longer serve me. Now I have no place to live!” DD Ombuds receives complaints from hospitals around the state for situations such as this. It is a big problem, not just in Washington, but around the country. For more info, check
