We know good information leads to good choices and decisions for people with developmental disabilities, yet recent survey data in Washington shows that many families say they do not get enough information to effectively participate in planning services for their family members. This is of grave concern to many advocacy and support organizations. We believe clear, concise information from trusted sources is critical to every family’s ability to access resources and care for individuals with developmental disabilities.

That’s why the Developmental Disabilities Council and the Division of Developmental Disabilities are forming a new partnership with other key state and local organizations to improve communication. The goal is to share information about changes in the DD delivery service system before those changes happen and in a manner that families can understand.

This ongoing effort to improve communication and access to information is called Informing Families, Building Trust. An editorial board representing families and key organizations will direct the effort. We will be working to help translate government language that many people find difficult to understand. We will also focus on creating materials, such as e-mails, letters, brochures, websites or other resources, that families can use to learn about changes in the system before they happen. Our materials will include the Informing Families, Building Trust logo, and families can be confident that others have reviewed the information to ensure it is accurate and straightforward.