HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES-DRAFT2021 Jefferson County I/DD Advisory Board and DD Program
draft Legislative Priorities
1. Maintain the current eligibility standards for state Developmental Disabilities
Administration (DDA) paid services. This will ensure that people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities (I/DD) continue to have access to Medicaid State Plan and Waiver
services including employment, community inclusion, respite, personal care, and residential
services.
DDA has proposed changes to the eligibility standards that will reduce the number of individuals
who receive DDA paid services. These changes will impact approximately 8,100 individuals
statewide, over 2,900 of whom would lose employment and community inclusion supports.
When access to work and connection to the community is reduced, decades of progress for
equity for individuals with disabilities is threatened, and the economy is adversely affected.
Individuals who are currently employed are at risk of losing the support needed to maintain their
jobs if there is a change in eligibility. Over one-third of those receiving employment services
would be impacted. In FY19, DDA clients earned over $65.7 million (Data source: Department of
Social and Health Services Research and Data Analysis).
Additional potential impacts include:
• Cutting the state match of waiver funds would result in the loss of matching federal dollars;
• Eliminating employment services to people with I/DD would reduce their ability to provide
for themselves; and
• Isolating people with I/DD often leads to adverse health outcomes, which can increase health
care costs, hospitalizations, and impact other state and locally funded programs.
2. Protect Washington’s Employment First policy and maintain employment
funding
Washington State’s Employment First policy (link) and supported employment services ensures
that regardless of need or disability, people with I/DD have the opportunity to work. While 40
states invest more of their budgets on employment (Braddock, 2017), Washington leads the
nation with some of the best employment outcomes for individuals with I/DD. Many people
with I/DD are essential workers and contribute to the state’s economy.
3. Provide employment supports for high school transition students
The state should ensure access to the Basic Plus Medicaid Waiver Program to provide
employment services for all state DDA eligible students exiting high school in the 2021-2023
biennium. The state should leverage its investment in special education and ensure that
students with I/DD can access employment services in order to establish independence, create
a new generation of taxpayers, and reduce dependency on other long-term government
supports.