Brandi Monts, WADDC Executive Director
Hello everyone, I hope July is starting off well for you. We are excited and busy here at the DDC! Our Quarterly Council Meeting will be held in SeaTac on July 11 and 12, with our annual Development Day happening on July 10. This year, our Development Day work focuses on our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion project, which launched earlier this spring.
Learn more about that initiative and our partner organization, Offshootz, later in this newsletter. We also launched our Advocacy Leadership Development Cohort project (ALDC) last month. The Training Team for that project is a super cool collaboration of three different organizations that focus on advocacy training in our state: Arc of Snohomish, Open Doors for Multi-Cultural Families, and PEACE NW. Learn more about the project on our website and stay tuned for information about the nine community teams that make up the cohort in coming newsletters. As always, if you have a question about the Council or any of this information, please send a message to our general email box, info@ddc.wa.gov. Take good care and have a great July.
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July 2024 Washington DD Council Meeting: July 10, 11, and 12 SeaTac Radisson Hotel, or online via Zoom. Meetings are open to the public (July 10 is a Council Development Day).
Pacific Northwest Employment Forum: Sept. 23-25, Tacoma.
As we bid farewell to our esteemed Council members who are terming off this month, we take a moment to honor their dedication, insights, and the lasting impact they've made. Their contributions are instrumental in advancing our mission and improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities in Washington. In their own words, they share their most memorable moments, proudest achievements, and hopes for the Council's future. Join us in celebrating their service and wishing them well in their next endeavors.
Thanh Kirkpatrick
I have had the privilege to serve two terms on the Washington Developmental Disabilities Council. During that time, I had the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated group of Council members committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I helped advocate for policies and programs that promote DEI and community integration. I collaborated with various stakeholders, including self-advocates, families, service providers, and policymakers, to identify and address the needs and challenges faced by the developmental disabilities' community. One of the highlights of my tenure was working with fellow council members to draft WADDC's five-year 2022-2026 State Plan, aimed at improving the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. My experience serving on the council and taking on the leadership position as first vice-chair has deepened my understanding of the systemic barriers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities encounter and reinforced my commitment to fostering a more inclusive society for all. I've also been a voice on the council to advocate for immigrant communities, especially for communities of color, such as the Vietnamese community. The Council's work in promoting self-advocacy and empowering individuals to have a voice in decisions affecting their lives was particularly inspiring and rewarding. I would highly recommend serving on the Washington Developmental Disabilities Council. I am hopeful for the Council's future and wish everyone the best. Thank you for this amazing experience.
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Phil Tracy
Feeling grateful and empowered. I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude for the opportunity to have served on the Developmental Disabilities Council from 2020 to 2024. I joined the council to help my daughter, who has developmental disabilities, and others like her. I did not like the direction of the state when I saw family and friends losing their opportunities in group employment. Needless to say, when I joined, I
wanted to represent a voice that I thought was not being heard in Olympia. I appreciate the education I received on the state and federal partnerships and the complexity of laws and regulations designed to serve individuals with developmental disabilities. I also appreciate the Council's constant search for voices from all over the state and keeping those voices diverse to reflect our community as a whole at the state level. I had the opportunity to learn from others, professionals, parents, and self-advocates.
I was born with a developmental disability, and I appreciated the support and sense of belonging I felt from the staff and other Council Members. Working together to educate legislators and ourselves helped me to feel empowered to help make local changes. Due to family commitments, I am no longer on the council. Yet, the skills and knowledge I gained from this experience have helped me to support individuals and local advocacy efforts. I will be forever grateful for the experience and encourage others to consider joining the Developmental Disabilities Council.
Photo: Phil and his dog, Luke.
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Adana Protonentis
My time on the Council has been very rich – the years truly have flown by. I joined the Council in December of 2020. We were deep into the pandemic and were holding all of our meetings over Zoom. I was immediately impressed by how the Council staff, at the time, were so thoughtful about finding ways to help people feel connected in a virtual setting. Navigating uncertainty and transition was a big theme throughout my Council service. In my four years, we’ve had two executive directors (and an interim executive director), we’ve transitioned from online meetings to hybrid meetings, and had the usual changes in leadership as Council members move in and out of their co-chair and vice-chair roles.
When I reflect on my Council service, the most valuable parts are the relationships that have grown along the way, but there are also specific experiences and achievements that stand out. I will never forget visiting the Yakima Valley School and the deep conversations we had as a Council following that visit. Much of our work can feel theoretical and experiences like visiting the Yakima Valley School are a crucial reminder that the DDC exists to serve real people who need consistent and respectful support and who deserve to be treated like valued members of our community. One way that I’ve been able to help the Council in making that support a reality is by advocating for changes to our contracting and RFP processes. As the organizations that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities become more diverse with new emerging groups, it’s crucial that the Council has ways of advertising and distributing funding that are fair and accessible. It’s been exciting to see the Council contracting with new organizations who reflect the diversity of our vibrant intellectual and developmental community.
I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for the DDC and I’m leaving the Council feeling grateful for the experience and energized for what’s ahead. I’ll be rooting for you!
Photo: Adana, left, and her son Langston.
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The DDC’s Diversity, Equity and, Inclusion (DEI) Project with Offshootz
Brenda Suazo, Social Equity Consultant with Offshootz
Offshootz LLC is excited to partner with the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council (WADDC) to offer learning sessions for Council members and staff focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These sessions serve as a starting point for the Council to discuss DEI collectively, learn more about it, and implement tangible steps towards equity for everyone in Washington’s
disability community. We aim to empower advocacy, increase awareness, and create a more inclusive culture – allowing all voices to contribute to a more resilient and healthy community. By working together, we can better understand and support the different needs and voices within our community, and address systemic inequities faced by the developmental disabilities community, particularly individuals with multiple historically marginalized social identities. This project is an essential step for the Council to align its DEI goals with its mission, values, and future plans.
 Informing Families: Providing life-changing intellectual and developmental disabilities resources and support for families across Washington
Sarah Forster, Informing Families Media and Communications Specialist
Informing Families is a statewide resource provided by the WADDC, in partnership with the Developmental Disabilities Administration. The mission of Informing Families is to offer reliable information, resources, and news to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families throughout all stages of life. Informing Families offers support throughout the state with our group of wonderful coordinators. Our coordinators connect with families and professionals throughout the state, attend in-person and virtual events, and provide valuable insight on content for our resource library.
Along with the team of coordinators, Informing Families is supported by an advisory committee that includes family members and representative from a variety of agencies. Informing Families provides information to individuals, families, and community members throughout an extensive online library of content, e-news, social media, videos, and our coordinator support. We aim to provide supports to individuals across the state – not just today but into the future.
Washington State DD Council
Who We Are: The Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) advocates for better services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families in Washington.
What We Do: We advocate for improved services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, guided by our core values including self-determination and inclusion. Collaborating with various agencies and organizations, we train leaders, promote better policies, and coordinate efforts towards enhancing the lives of those with developmental disabilities. Our Five-Year State Plan guides our work, ensuring we address critical community needs and uphold specific goals. Through public policy advocacy and active participation in state-wide activities, we strive to enact positive change and foster inclusivity for all.
Council Membership: Council members are appointed by the Governor to serve three-year terms. At least 60% of our members are required to be people with developmental disabilities and family members of people with developmental disabilities. Other members are representatives from state agencies and other organizations we work with. Council membership must reflect the diversity of communities across Washington. This includes geographic location, disability identity, and racial/ethnic identity. Each year there are openings on the Council, and we are always accepting applications.
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