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2025 DDC Legislative Priorities: Empowering Washington's IDD Community
The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) is committed to advancing policies that protect the rights and well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Council’s 2025 Legislative Priorities focus on ensuring equitable access to home and community-based services, removing barriers to support systems, and upholding human and civil rights. Key areas such as workforce challenges, the elimination of restraint and isolation, and improving access for underserved communities are at the forefront of this effort. We invite you to explore the full 2025 Legislative Priorities to learn more about how the DDC is advocating for a more inclusive future for people with disabilities in Washington.
2025 Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council Legislative Priorities
The Washington State DD Council supports proposals that:
- Appropriately fund home- and community-based services that support all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families throughout life.
- Remove barriers and improve access to local and community supports so that people can choose the types of services that best enable them to live meaningful and productive lives.
- Uphold the human and civil rights of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities to live lives that are integrated, inclusive, and free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation and discrimination.
- Address the needs of underserved communities, which are disproportionately impacted by gaps in services, including race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability status, socioeconomic level and age.
The Council is focusing on these topic areas this session:
- Workforce issues: People need to know there will be reliable help when they need it to reduce isolation and increase safety and independence. This includes but is not limited to job coaches and individual, residential, and community providers. We also support the use of creative technology solutions.
- Restraint and isolation: Eliminate restraint and isolation through the use of specialized and individualized supports, training and alternatives.
Things we're watching:
- Ambulance (Power Wheelchair Transport) in an emergency
- Flexibility in how and when personal care can be delivered so that people can move around freely in the community.
Voted on and approved by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council on October 18, 2024.
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 Washington State DD Council
P.O. Box 48314
Olympia, WA 98504-8314
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