Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council

10/20/2026

Happening today! Share your voice for A Path Forward!

Two in-person focus groups are happening today, Oct. 20, to gather community input on the future of services and supports for people with developmental disabilities in Washington.

Shoreline: 2:30-4 p.m.
Fircrest Campus, Activities Building/Gym
15230 15th Ave. NE

SeaTac: 6-8 p.m.
The Arc of King County
2650 S. 200th St., Suite 101

Your experiences and ideas can help shape the future of services and supports!

Learn more and register:

Find help with food, cash, and housing. Browse trusted services, learn what’s available, and take the next step toward the support you need.

10/20/2026

Share your voice!

The Washington State Legislature has asked people to come together to create a long-term plan for the future of services and supports. Through A Path Forward, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is gathering community experiences and priorities to help shape the plan. There are several ways to share your thoughts and ideas!

-Online survey: Share your thoughts by Oct. 30, 2026. Support is available at local DDA offices or through Zoom sessions Oct. 26-30, from 10 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m. Zoom support link: https://dshs-telehealth.zoom.us/j/81395998335?pwd=CV1O6dcB0bCF9vCaCwjjKBnwlXo5N4.1

-In-person focus groups: Tell DSHS what is working, what needs to change, and what should happen first. Registration is required, and space is limited.

Learn more, take the survey and find focus group opportunities:
https://www.dshs.wa.gov/disability-services-and-support/developmental-disabilities-services/path-forward

Questions? Email [email protected].

Find help with food, cash, and housing. Browse trusted services, learn what’s available, and take the next step toward the support you need.

10/19/2026

You are invited to join the 2026 WSFN Annual Conference on Saturday, November 7th for a day of connection, encouragement, and empowerment.

This year's conference will feature a special dad's panel and a compelling keynote from Jeremy Kredlo on Fierce Advocacy, encouraging attendees to embrace their unique role as advocates and champions for their children and loved ones. Participants will gain practical tools, hear powerful personal stories, and connect with other male caregivers navigating similar journeys.

Limited seats available so grab your seat today!

Ticket Link: https://sherwoodcs.ejoinme.org/MyPages/WSFNConference/tabid/1603331/Default.aspx

If ticket cost is a barrier, there are limited scholarships available to attend at no cost. If you need a scholarship to attend please email [email protected].

10/19/2026

For , check out this practical resource for young adults preparing for employment!

The Pocket Resume from Independent Futures That Work provides a place to keep information you may need when filling out job applications, along with a checklist to help you prepare for job interviews.

Download the Pocket Resume:

A Pocket Resume is where young adults can put needed information for completing job applications. It also contains a checklist for things to know or do for a job interview. When printing, set the option for Booklet (found under Page sizing and Handling) and the document will print like a booklet.  ...

10/18/2026

Sharing from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN):

Workplace accommodations don’t have to be complicated.

Join JAN and EARN - Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability on October 22 at 11:00 a.m. PT for a free webcast exploring practical strategies for requesting and responding to workplace accommodation requests.

Learn what to expect, how to approach accommodation conversations, and ways to identify effective workplace solutions.

Register now and come ready to learn practical tools and strategies. https://AskJAN.org/events/register/Webcast-Series.cfm

10/17/2026

Sharing from Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University: The recording of the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities’ State of the Science webinar ‘Trainings for Professionals & Next Steps’ is now on YouTube!

Dr. Linda Long-Bellil and Dr. Liz Lightfoot share findings on whether training changes how attorneys, social workers, and child welfare workers support parents with disabilities.

Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/E9DXyV1z66c

Access presentation: https://heller.brandeis.edu/parents-with-disabilities/resources/webinars/index.html

Watch the Keeping Families Together training referenced in this webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSCkxfHNCK0

Can training actually change how attorneys, social workers, and chi...

10/16/2026

From the Washington State Health Care Authority:

Even if you don’t need Apple Health (Medicaid) yourself right now, you or someone you know may need it one day. Life circumstances can change.

A job loss, health crisis, or major life event could mean you or a loved one might qualify for Apple Health in the future. Knowing how it works now can make a difference when you need it.

If you or someone you know might qualify, don’t wait—visit hca.wa.gov/apple-health today to learn more and apply.

10/15/2026

Employers: If you’re exploring workplace accommodations to support a disabled employee, start with the Job Accommodation Network’s free Situations and Solutions Finder for access to more than 700 successful accommodation scenarios shared by JAN users.

Visit the Situations and Solutions Finder page: https://askjan.org/sitsol/index.cfm

10/14/2026

A Path Forward: Share your input!

Washington state is developing a long-term plan for the future of developmental disability services and supports, and they want to hear from you!

Take a short survey to share what is working, what needs to improve and what matters most to you.

The survey is open through Oct. 30, 2026.

Take the survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=q8TxnmB5Fk6PUJhIDPsQXzq_Pn0QSLNJlPxvMpm5vfpUQkpFRTA5VUlCRU1WWVU5SDJEWjI0RFhDQi4u

Learn more about A Path Forward and other ways to get involved: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/disability-services-and-support/developmental-disabilities-services/path-forward

10/13/2026

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) wants your feedback!

HCA is gathering input on its purchasing strategy to improve equitable access to high-quality, whole-person health care for people in Washington.

Share your thoughts by completing the survey by Oct. 30, 2026.

Take the survey: https://hca.servicenowservices.com/assessment_take2.do?sysparm_assessable_type=31b7b7dc3b630710513ce60864e45a89

Learn more about the purchasing strategy and watch a recorded webinar: https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/who-we-are/our-purchasing-strategy