ACTION ALERT – PROTECT DISABILITY FUNDING
The good news first: your advocacy made a difference. Following significant advocacy efforts from the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community, the Washington State Legislature is protecting:
- Current functional eligibility requirements for Developmental Disabilities Community Services (DDCS) waivers ✅
- Current funding levels for Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) ✅
This is a victory, and the fight for funding continues.
The House and Senate operating budgets (HB 2289 / SB 5998) propose significant cuts to disability services.
- The House and Senate budgets both include an over $32,000,000 cut to DDCS programs including Supported Employment, Community Inclusion, and Individual & Family Services (IFS) ❌
- The House budget includes an over $41,000,000 cut eliminating Medicaid coverage for Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy services for adult Medicaid recipients ❌
- The House budget includes an over $3,000,000 cut to Medicaid school-based services ❌
Here’s the bottom line: cuts cause crisis. The need for disability services does not disappear when funding disappears. These proposed cuts would be devastating to Washington’s disability community.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW
The Legislature is in session until March 12. The budgets are still being negotiated. Take action today to urge the Legislature to protect critical funding. Any Washington State resident can participate.
📞 CALL the Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000
✏️ COMMENT on the House budget and Senate budget
📧 EMAIL budget leaders: Senator June Robinson – June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov | Senator Derek Stanford – Derek.Stanford@leg.wa.gov | Representative Timm Ormsby – Timm.Ormsby@leg.wa.gov | Representative Mia Gregerson – Mia.Gregerson@leg.wa.gov | Representative Nicole Macri – Nicole.Macri@leg.wa.gov
TELL THE LEGISLATURE
- Oppose cuts to Medicaid services. Protect Medicaid adult therapies and Medicaid school-based services.
- Oppose cuts to DDCS programs. These are not surplus dollars, these are active service funds.
- Do not close waiver enrollment to new eligible individuals.
- Protect employment, residential, and family support services.
- Honor Washington’s legal and moral commitment to individuals with developmental disabilities.
This is a matter of public health, disability rights, and prevention of costly and harmful crises.
Your advocacy is essential to protecting disability services. Please act today. Thank you for making a difference.
Contact The Arc of Snohomish County
Rachel Kube | Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator | 425.258.2459 x107 | Rachel@arcsno.org
Courtney Criss | Leadership and Advocacy Manager | 425.258.2459 x102 | Courtney@arcsno.org
Leigh Spruce | Self-Advocacy Coordinator | 425.258.2459 x103 | Leigh@arcsno.org