Executive Director update
We hope you are feeling strong and ready for a new year with new possibilities. The overall goal of our newsletter this month is to help inform and prepare you for how to support and impact our developmental disabilities community during legislative session.
Our Council has had a longstanding focus on legislative work, especially through a program we contract with the Arc of Washington on, the Advocacy Partnership Project. Through our agreement with the Arc of WA, our community has access to important events like Advocacy Days, a live bill tracker and the Legislative Notebook. That program also sponsors the Community Advocacy Coalition (CAC) to help elevate the voices in our community and ensure we are working together and informing our elected officials about our needs.
Another key program the DDC funds is called Self Advocates In Leadership (SAIL). That organization is run by and for people with developmental disabilities and focuses on informing and helping people with disabilities impact legislation. They have recently released their 2026 Legislative Priorities.
We hope you use these resources over the next few months! They are built for our community with the goal of helping you shape the systems and services needed to have meaningful lives in the community. Please reach out if you’re looking for a specific resource or need help participating in legislative session. We hope to see you there!
Brandi Monts, WADDC Executive Director
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The 2026 Legislative Session is here! This 60-day session will focus on budget decisions that affect existing programs and services. With limited funding available, maintaining current supports for people with IDD will be a major focus. There are some ways that you can take action this session, including following bills of interest, sharing your story with legislators and submitting your testimony.
Emily Rogers, WADDC Public Policy Director
 WADDC’s History and Visioning Project: 50 Years of Advocacy
The Council’s History & Visioning Project shares stories, documents and reflections that trace the disability movement in Washington State and how it continues to shape the Council’s work today.
In December, we added new historical documents, personal stories and interviews focused on Washington's disability movement in the 1960s and 1970s — a time of major change that helped lay the foundation for disability rights and community-based supports. We invite you to explore the new content and connect with us as we continue to reflect on Washington’s shared history and where we’re headed.
In January, we will share content from the 1980s and early 1990s, and we’ll continue adding stories and materials from each decade leading up to the present as we approach our 50th anniversary in April 2026.
Staying connected
We invite you to stay connected with the Council and continue being part of this story. Explore ways to stay involved, get updates and join us in shaping the future of disability advocacy in Washington.
Family Support Conference
The Washington State DD Council was proud to sponsor the 2025 Family Support Conference, hosted by the Spokane Disability Collaborative. This free, one-day event brought together parents and caregivers of children with disabilities, along with the professionals who support them, for a day of learning and connection. The conference featured keynote speakers, breakout sessions and a resource fair connecting families with local organizations, with a focus on practical tools, fresh strategies and building stronger community connections.
January 2026 Quarterly Council Meeting
Date: Jan. 15, 2026
Time: 9 am – 4 pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Advocacy Days
Advocacy Days, part of our Advocacy Partnership Project, are held during each legislative session to involve individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), their families and their service providers in the legislative process, giving them opportunities to make their voices heard by their Legislators and to have an impact on policy and budget legislation that affects the services and supports available to them.
Protect Our Right to Community Living - Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026
- 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Advocacy Days: Protect Our Right to Community Living (United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Ave SE)
- 12 p.m. – CRSA/SAIL Rally (Capitol)
Protect Our Right to Employment - Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026
Save the date for the 2026 Virtual Community Summit on June 3, 2026
The 2026 Community Summit is an annual one-day virtual conference bringing together self-advocates, families, friends, partners and allies to collaborate in building more inclusive communities. This year’s conference will be on June 3, 2026, please save the date!
The Community Summit is now accepting presentation proposals focused on self-advocacy, employment, technology, community-building, policy trends and stories of success. Proposals are due by Jan. 30, 2026.
People First of Washington Advocacy Trainings
People First is hosting a series of advocacy trainings on Zoom. To join, simply visit the People First Zoom Room at the scheduled date and time of each session.
- Jan. 15, 2026 – Practice your message
The Vietnamese Family Autism Advisory Board (VFAAB) is a community-led program that supports Vietnamese families raising children with autism and other developmental delays. Sponsored by HopeCentral Pediatrics, VFAAB offers culturally responsive education, family support, care coordination and advocacy in Vietnamese, all at no cost to families. Their work helps families navigate medical, educational and social service systems while honoring cultural values and lived experience.
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