Hello everyone,

Thank you for checking out what the DDC is doing this month.

First, thank you to everyone who helped plan or attended our History and Visioning event on April 15. The event gave us a chance to reflect on where we have been and think about where we are headed. Please visit our History and Visioning project and event recap pages as we continue to add information. We will also share more at the Community Summit, including the vision developed by the community. We hope you will join us!

We are nearing the end of our current Five-Year State Plan, and we want you to understand what this means and how to participate. The Council creates a plan every five years to guide our work. Our current plan ends in September 2026 and includes goals focused on increasing access for underserved communities in developmental disabilities systems. We are now developing the next plan and are asking for your input. You will see a focus on preventing crisis and incarceration, and on building supports in the communities where people live. Please see the article below for ways to share your feedback as we finalize the plan and prepare to submit it to our federal partners later this summer.

A new State Plan also brings new contract opportunities. Later this month and throughout the summer, we will release requests for applications and proposals for organizations interested in working with the Council as a contractor. Please watch for these opportunities through email and social media and help us share them with organizations that can support our community.

Finally, I want to pause and recognize all that has happened in the last year and how far we have come. In the last year, we have worked hard to educate our elected officials on the importance of systems and supports like Medicaid. Through the Medicaid Matters campaign and several other collective efforts, we are able to say today that our advocacy is working. While we are still sometimes shocked and disheartened to hear ignorant comments or watch harmful legislation be considered, our community knows how to respond and act. The collaboration and advocacy that our community has recently practiced will continue to be important. We will keep working at this together because we make the best impact when we do it collectively. Please take good care and thank you for your advocacy.

Brandi Monts, WADDC Executive Director

CAC Federal Issue Papers: Tools for Community Advocacy

The newly released 2026 Community Advocacy Coalition (CAC) federal issue papers are tools you can use to share information with policymakers, community members, and others about key issues that affect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The papers cover civil rights, home and community-based services, and inclusive, responsive, and accessible education. You can use them to support conversations, share federal priorities, and explain how national policies affect everyday life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Emily Rogers, WADDC Public Policy Director

Council Member Spotlight: Monica Burke

Monica Burke serves as an agency representative on the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council through her role with the Department of Health. Since joining in 2020, she has contributed to the council’s Public Policy Committee and Membership and Governance Committee. She also helped shape the council’s five-year state plan and strengthen connections between DOH and the broader developmental disabilities community. “Being on the Council helps me to hear directly from families of children with IDD and self-advocates about their experiences and priorities.” She values the opportunity to bring those perspectives into her work and support more responsive systems.

Community Summit registration now open

Registration is now open for the 2026 Community Summit, a one-day virtual conference on June 3, 2026. The Summit brings together self-advocates, families, friends, partners, and allies to share ideas and build more inclusive communities.

You can join the Summit online or attend a local watch party. Watch parties will be held in several counties across Washington, including Benton-Franklin, Clark, Grant and Adams, Jefferson-Clallam, Kitsap and Pierce, and Thurston-Mason. Each location may have different capacity and registration steps.

People First Convention Registration Now Open

People First of Washington is hosting its 48^th annual convention Friday, October 2, through Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Kitsap Conference Center, 100 Washington Ave., Bremerton, WA 98337. This statewide event brings together self-advocates and community members for learning, connection and leadership development under the theme “Growing Stronger Together.” Registration includes lodging options, and scholarships and accommodations are available. Registration closes August 31, 2026.

Agency Spotlight: Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network

The Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network (IPTN), part of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, helps schools across Washington build more inclusive classrooms. IPTN supports educators, students, and families so students receiving special education services can learn alongside their peers in general education settings. Through training, coaching, and resources, the network works to improve access, strengthen teamwork, and support inclusive practices in schools statewide.