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History
State and National
Activities, Events and Policies
Impacting People with Developmental Disabilities
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(updated 3/13/09)
This pamphlet is dedicated to the thousands of people who have
committed their time, effort and leadership to create public
policies that help individuals with developmental disabilities have
access to the same quality of life that we all enjoy in this
country.
You can start at the beginning, or jump
to a certain year by clicking on it below:
1886
2000
1915
2001
1935 - 1939
2002
1950 - 1960
2003
1960 - 1968
2005
1970 - 1974
2006
1975 - 1979
2007
1980 - 1986
2008
1987 - 1993
1994 - 1999
1886
State
An Act to establish a school for the “deaf, mute, blind, and
feebleminded” youth of Washington Territory. “That a territorial
school be established to be known as The Washington School for
Defective Youth” located in Vancouver, Washington.
1915
State
A Territorial School is established at Medical Lake and serves 1530
people (now called Lakeland Village).
1935 - 1939
State
Children’s Benevolent League of Washington (The Arc of Washington
State) is established. A group of parents organize to “arouse public
interest in all mentally and physically handicapped individuals in
the State of Washington and the raising of the standards of care
which they receive.”
Western State Custodial School was established (now called Rainier
School).
Federal
Social Security Act adopted.
1950 - 1960
State
More families keep their children at home and establish “special
education programs.”
Families requesting more support than government provided (1,000
people on waiting list).
Yakima Valley School established.
Fircrest School established.
State funding approved to provide grants to agencies for sheltered
workshops and supervised work opportunities.
Establishment of Adult Developmental Centers for people with more
significant disabilities.
Federal
First meeting of the National Association of Parents and Friends of
Mentally Retarded Children (National Arc)
1960 - 1968
State
Legislative Budget Committee report explored the future of
facilities which served people with mental retardation—focus on
“prevention and expanded” services including half-way houses (group
homes) and sheltered workshops.
Epton Center Act to establish “Group Training Homes” was passed.
Washington adopted a mixed system of state and county services and
county developmental disabilities advisory boards were established.
Marks the highest number of people who lived at state schools
(4,200) – newspapers printed “horror” stories of conditions of
facilities and lack of staffing.
Federal
President’s Panel of Mental Retardation established.
1970 - 1974
State
Governor Evans consolidated the Department of Institutions, Health;
Public Assistance and Vocational Rehabilitation into the Department
of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and services for people with
developmental disabilities were placed there.
House Bill 90, “Education for All”, passed mandating special
education legislation in Washington State.
Francis Haddon Morgan Center established to treat children with
Autism.
The Mental Retardation Facilities Construction Act was adopted.
The Americans with Disabilities Administration was funded, providing
each state with University Affiliated Programs, Protection and
Advocacy and Developmental Disabilities Councils.
Establishment of Case Services Section within the Office of
Developmental Disabilities to provide and/or coordinate a
comprehensive community based care service program that was readily
accessible and responsive to the needs of people with developmental
disabilities.
Federal
Federal “Education for All” (Public Law 94-142) was adopted.
Federal Title XIX regulations were finalized and Washington began
accepting federal dollars.
Title XIX Amendment to the Social Security Act was passed,
establishing Medicaid services.
The Rehabilitation Act was adopted.
1975 - 1979
State
The Legislature authorized the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities
to formulate a plan to reduce the populations in current
institutions by moving people into community facilities that meet
new Title XIX requirements.
Home Aid program was established to provide family’s therapy
services and respite care both in and out of the home.
People First (a self-advocacy organization) created several chapters
in Washington.
1980- 1986
State
Funding was provided to establish “tenant support” residential
placements in the community.
Depicted as “the worst [year] in recent memory for disabled person.”
Budgetary cutbacks meant less money for support services in
education; staff decreases at state institutions; and fewer monthly
days of service at developmental centers.
Washington special education law amended to include preschoolers.
Child Abuse Amendments, which contained Baby Doe protections, were
adopted.
Federal
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act allowed the state to apply for
waivers to Medicaid to allow for federal Medicaid funds to be
utilized for community services. Washington applied for and received
a community alternatives waiver that provided Title XIX funding for
community services.
1987 - 1993
State
State Developmental Disability statutes were revised to include the
community services that had developed over recent years.
Title XIX surveyors decertified five of six state institutions and
several large community nursing homes. The Legislature agreed to
appropriate money to move people out of large facilities.
State Operated Living Alternatives (where state employees provide
community residential services) established.
Naive Offender legislation was passed.
The Legislature decided some parts of state institutions should be
certified as nursing homes.
The Legislature appropriated funding for students who were leaving
public schools and transitioning into jobs or day programs.
The Legislative Budget Committee funded three different studies to
review services and costs provided by the Division of Developmental
Disabilities.
Interlake School at Medical Lake was closed.
Federal
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed federally.
Federal Title XIX regulations were revised.
1994 - 1999
State
SB 5800 was passed which allows any savings in the Division of
Developmental Disabilities system to stay in the system to be used
for the unserved.
The Birth to Three project was placed under DDD management.
Management of adult family home funding for people with
developmental disabilities was transferred from Aging and Adult
Services to DDD.
SB 6751 was passed which calls for a choice driven service system
and a long-range plan to serve all people with developmental
disabilities over the next 6 years.
Management of foster homes for children with developmental
disabilities, who were not under child protective services, was
transferred from the Children’s Administration to the DDD.
SB 5693 established the Developmental Disabilities Endowment Trust
Fund.
The Arc of WA State filed a suit against the state of WA claiming
discrimination against people with developmental disabilities in
receiving Medicaid services.
The Allen lawsuit, filed by WA Protection & Advocacy System was
settled.
Federal
On June 22nd the US Supreme Court issued the “Olmstead v. L.C.”
decision, re-affirming the right of persons with disabilities to
move out of institutions and receive care in the community.
The Federal Rehabilitation Act was reauthorized for five more years.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education for All Act (IDEA) was
reauthorized.
2000
State
4 cottages were closed in the state institutions.
SHB 1218 expanded nurse delegations to group homes.
SJR 8214 amended the state Constitution to allow trust fund monies
in the DD Endowment Trust Fund to be invested in a portfolio.
SSB 6502 added additional training requirements for adult family
homes, boarding homes and group homes that serve people with
developmental disabilities.
The Attorney General of Washington signed onto an amicus brief
supporting the ADA against attack in the Garret case heard before
the Supreme Court.
Providers of adult family homes for people with developmental
disabilities were finally paid the same as providers for the aging
population.
Federal
The federal Developmental Disabilities Act, including a family
support section, was reauthorized for another 7 years.
H.R.4074 was offered in Congress – The Developmental Disability
Endowment Act, to create tax-exempt status.
2001
State
DDD received a 12.1 per cent increase in its budget, raising it to
$1.18 billion.
H.B. 2230 Ticket to Work maintains medical coverage for people who
go to work.
SSB 5184 gives DSHS responsibility to notify relevant agencies of
investigative outcomes.
SHB 1320 has DSHS develop a program to mitigate dislocation of
residents of adult family homes.
Arc vs. Quasim lawsuit settled.
2002
State
Passage of HB 1444 anti-bullying legislation. This law requires
school districts to develop policies that prohibit harassment,
intimidation, and bullying on school grounds and at school
activities.
Legislature appropriated $14 million as first phase of Arc vs.
Quasim wait list suit.
Legislature converted $21 million of DDD state Family Support and
Transition service dollars into a “cash subsidy” (SSP).
Legislature eliminated state SSI supplement and other important
state funded services due to economic downturn associated with
September 11 attacks on World Trade Center and the passage of
several Washington state initiatives that reduced state revenue
sources.
2003
State
State faced a $2.6 billion dollar shortfall; unemployment second
highest in USA. Adult Medicaid dental cut by 25%, eliminating
essential dental coverage; children’s health care premiums used to
balance the budget; no new funding for graduating high school
transition students to receive employment services.
Budget provided funding to “downsize” Fircrest.
$2.5 million increase in community residential for up to 14 persons
in crisis.
$17.3 million to provide a 75 cent wage increase for home care
workers.
Waiting list for Family Support grew to 8,000.
Judge dismissed The Arc of Washington State, et al v. Quasim
lawsuit; Arc appealing.
Federal
President’s Committee on Mental Retardation changed its name to
President’s Committee on Intellectual Disabilities.
2005
State
In the closest
Governor's race ever, the Secretary of State and Legislature
certified democrat Christine Gregoire, Governor of the state.
State faced a projected
$2.2 billion deficit.
2SHB 1791 - Creating
community developmental disabilities trust account (aka the Dan
Thompson Memorial Trust Account) with proceeds from unused property
at Rainier School and Lakeland Village.
SHB 1711 - Revising
marking requirements for parking places for persons with
disabilities to remove "disabled" language. This is
legislation initiated by Self Advocates in Leadership (SAIL).
SHB 1876 - Expanding the
voting rights of persons under guardianship.
ESHB 2126 - Providing
accommodations to dependent persons who are victims and witnesses.
SB 5311 - Creating an
Autism Task Force.
SHB 2124 - Increasing
state participation in public transportation.
$4.1 million to support
600 students graduating from high school.
$2.5 million for 1,500
low income families to be served by Family Support pilot.
$4.2 million to expand
community residential services for 39 people.
$182,000 to create a DD
Advisory Council to the Governor to study a "preferred continuum of
developmental disabilities residential services."
Fircrest was "downsized"
to 190 residents.
Ninth Circuit rules on
Arc vs. Quasim lawsuit that the state has the right to limit the
number of people on the Home and Community based waivers.
2006
State
For the first time in
several years, the state did not face a deficit. Instead, it
had a $1.5 billion surplus, though most of it needed to go to
entitlement programs, collective bargaining agreements and pension
funds.
Significant
legislation passed:
HB 1107 - Mandates
school district participation in birth-to-three early intervention
services for children with disabilities by the year 2009.
SB 6630 - Puts DD
Community Protection Program policy into state statute.
HB 2479 - Requires all
counties to provide disability access voting 20 days prior to (and
including the day of) an election. It also requires county
elections advisory councils that include people with disabilities.
HB 2475 - Gives
independent providers the right to collectively bargain over
personal care hours.
SB 5305 - Prohibits
vaccinating pregnant women and children under three with vaccines
that contain murcury.
HB 2914 - Imposes fines
and actions against DD residential service providers who are out of
compliance with certification standards.
HB 1080 - Expands the
definition of criminal mistreatment to include the withholding of
basic necessities of life by a person responsible for providing
those necessities.
HB 2759 - Allows public
bodies that have purchased or improved properties under Referendums
29 and 37 to transfer those properties to non-profits serving people
with disabilities.
Budget Highlights:
$1.4 million to support
250 students graduating from high school.
$1.4 million for
additional case management support.
$2.0 million Supported
Living rate increase.
$784 thousand to expand
community residential and support services for 12 individuals.
$483 thousand to provide
community residential and support services for 7 clients.
$300 thousand to fund DD
Community Protection legal services for clients entering or
receiving services in this program.
$1.1 million to respond
to a Special Education lawsuit.
2007
State
State again finds itself
with surplus funds.
Significant
legislation passed:
SB 5467 - Individual &
Family Services, also known as the Lance Morehouse Jr. bill - Puts
in state law the Individual and Family Services Program.
Program is without regard to parental income and allows the
provision of respite to Medicaid Personal Care Parent Providers.
HB 1050 - Graduation
Ceremonies; also known as "Kevin's Law." Allows students
receiving Special Education services to participate in graduation
ceremonies with their peers.
HB 2284 - Training for
In Home Care Providers; creates a committee to develop the
curriculum and hours necessary to be an individual provider.
SB 5320 - Creates a
pilot program using public guardians.
SB 5340 - Definition of
Disability; reinstates a group of individuals with a disability back
into the ADA definition.
Budget Highlights:
$5.0 million for
employment of 748 graduates and other adults.
$1.1 million for 40
adults living with senior parents.
$4.9 million for 1,300
families to receive Family Support.
$14.2 million for 236
individuals to be supported in the community.
$125 thousand to create
a DVD for professionals and parents of children with autism.
$60 thousand for Autism
Parent Support in Eastern Washington.
$8.8 million for 112
individuals needing community protection.
$500 thousand for legal
services.
$15.3 million for
provider wage increases.
Other:
A very controversial
medical intervention provided to a 6 year old girl with profound
disabilities was performed. It consisted of high doses of
estrogen to bring about permanent attenuation of her size, removal
of her breast buds, and a hysterectomy.
The American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that all pregnant women,
regardless of age, be given a prenatal test to detect Down Syndrome.
2008
State
Adds excess property
identified at Francis Haddon Morgan Center, Yakima, Lakeland and
Rainier Residential Habilitation Centers to the Dan Thompson Trust
account. Proceeds in the account provide Family Support and
Employment services to unserved individuals.
Establishes October for
Disability History month established in K-12 and higher education.
Recommend an autism
supplement for educational plans regarding autism.
Awareness of autism
through Childfind.
Direct OSPI to submit a
plan for teacher training on autism by November 2008.
Establishes an access
coordinator for the administrative office of the courts.
Budget Highlights
$1.9 million to create
an Intensive Behavior Support program to provide in-home services
that assist families with children with behavior issues to avoid out
of home placement.
$15 million dollars
appropriated to implement "shared living" lawsuit settlement.
For more
information contact
The Arc of Washington 888-754-8798.
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