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
To show our support for accessibility for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we have created this icon. The image depicts one individual in a wheelchair on a ramp, and one individual standing behind them, using a railing. Both individuals are going up the ramp to a platform where the words “I BELONG ON THE
The Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) has a new publication to help people understand services for children, youth and young adults and how to access them. DDA HCBS and HCA Medicaid benefits for children, youth, and young adults. DDA and the Health Care Authority created this one-page document to show the range of treatments and services
Medicaid Matters: How to Take Action and Stay Informed The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, The Arc of Washington State and Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL) have created a campaign to help people understand and participate in potential changes coming to their Medicaid services. They have a new webpage and series of videos dedicated
