The Arc of King County

02/27/2026

To register: https://bit.ly/Register_EvalGroup
For more information: https://bit.ly/EvaluationsGroup

Join us for a discussion on special education evaluations on March 26th at 6:30pm! This interest group convenes self-advocates, parents, and professionals navigating special education evaluations to discuss recent legislative changes and real-world impacts. Our goal is to learn from one another and work collaboratively to strengthen and improve the evaluation process. We will discuss Legislative updates on HB 2557, the impact of timelines, rights, and requirements, and experiences navigating the evaluation process to inform continued advocacy. Click the link to register and request accommodations, or contact Pam Phillips at pphillips@arcofkingcounty.org.

The Arc - Washington State The Arc of Tri-Cities The Arc of Snohomish County The Arc of Spokane The Arc of Cowlitz County The Arc of Grays Harbor

PEACE NW League of Education Voters Equity in Education Center Disability Rights Washington Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council Kitsap County Parent Coalition Thurston County Developmental Disability Coalition

02/26/2026

Register here👉: https://gowise.org/training/seat/
ADVOCATES, TAKE YOUR SEAT: Fridays in March, 11 am to noon.
We are SUPER excited to partner with Wise on this series about advocacy and taking a seat on boards. The series is for people with developmental disabilities by people with developmental disabilities.

Eric Matthes from our Public Policy and Civic Engagement team is kicking off the series March 6, and board member Joey Wilson is a panelist on March 27. Joining them are a bunch of other GREAT advocates we often partner with.

We love helping people make the world more inclusive and work better for folks with disabilities. 💞(heart emoji)

The Arc - Washington State The Arc of Grays Harbor The Arc of Tri-Cities The Arc of Snohomish County The Arc of Cowlitz County The Arc of Spokane

Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council People First of Washington Self Advocates In Leadership Allies in Advocacy

The Skills Empowerment and Advocacy Training (SEAT) is a series developed and led by people with developmental disabilities to prepare others to serve on boards, advisory councils, commissions, and work groups. As the true meaning of Nothing About Us Without Us indicates, being a part of decisions made at the local, state, and national level is vital.

Join us every Friday in March at 11am PST! Register and learn more about the sessions here: gowise.org/training/seat

Thank you to the Kuni Foundation, Clallam County DD Program, Clark County DD Program, and Kitsap County DD Program for funding this awesome series!

[Image Description: A graphic with a white background and an illustration of people seated around a circular table. The text reads "SEAT, Advocacy Training. Session Descriptions. March 6th with Eric Matthes, SEAT at the Table: Your Journey Starts Here. March 13th with Daman Wandke , SEAT at the Table: Board Service on Your Terms. March 20th with Taylor Crisp, SEAT at the Table: How Boards Work and How to Participate. March 27th (Panel) with Tammy Bowen – Advocacy Support Specialist, Lizzy Johnston - Advocate/Board Member, Joey Wilson - Advocate, Danna Summers - Parent and Council Lead, SEAT at the Table: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What Comes Next. gowise.org/training/seat"]

02/25/2026

Mark your calendars! Seattle/King County Clinic is offering FREE dental, vision, and medical services to anyone who struggles to access or afford healthcare on April 23-26, 2026, at Seattle Center. No ID is required, and interpreters will be available.
Learn more: seattlecenter.org/patients

02/25/2026

The House and Senate budgets were released this week. While we are relieved to see the governor’s proposal to cut people from long-term care is not in these budgets, there are still proposals that could impact access to services and supports. Two key issues you can talk about with your legislators:

1) Included in the House budget is a proposal to cut physical, occupational, and speech therapies for adult Medicaid recipients. These therapies are medically necessary for people who are sick, injured, or have chronic conditions.

2) We are relieved to see cuts to therapies for babies are not in the proposal. As negotiations on the budget continue, make sure your legislators know you want to maintain these supports. No cuts to early support for infants and toddlers.

If this matters to you, contact your representatives in the House and Senate. Let them know that:
-These therapies are medically necessary
-Maintain services for babies
-No cuts to healthcare

Link to legislators: https://leg.wa.gov/legislators
Call 1-800-562-6000

02/23/2026

Sign in here👉 https://bit.ly/StableFunding (by 7 am Tue 2/24!)
Washington needs to strengthen our revenue base to provide the support we all need.

Our state has had deep cracks in its financial foundation for years, and budget writers often struggle to fund and stabilize services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Now, the state is also looking at losing billions in federal Medicaid funding over the next 10 years.

We need to secure our financial foundation with progressive revenue to cover the care and social safety net Washington needs to thrive.

02/23/2026

Bills are moving FAST in the WA legislature. Here is a snapshot of key bills that affect the disability community. Bills must pass out of their policy committees by Wednesday 2/25. Then they must pass out of fiscal committee by March 2.

You can look up any bill here https://leg.wa.gov/ (just type in the number, leave off "HB" or "SB"). The bill page will link you to comment forms, videos of hearings, list of sponsors, and more :)



The Arc - Washington State

02/23/2026

02/22/2026

The assumption behind proposals to cut IDD support seem to be:
1 - people do not really need them. They are not essential to safety and well-being
2 - Families can absorb any caregiving needs.

Call 1-800-562-6000
Email
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_Senate
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_House

Message: Don't cut services for people with IDD and their families. They are critical to health, safety and well-being.

The assumption is that families will absorb cuts and save the state money, but it is at best a false promise. | Opinion

02/22/2026

Action Alert: Healthcare Advocates — Prevent a Shift to Crisis Care

Call 1-800-562-6000
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_Senate
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_House

The legislature is developing the state budget now, and proposed cuts to home and community-based services will have serious consequences for patient care. Reductions in preventive and long-term supports for individuals with IDD will not eliminate healthcare needs — they will shift costs and responsibility to emergency rooms, hospitals, and crisis systems.

Healthcare advocates understand what happens when community supports disappear: preventable conditions escalate, hospitalizations increase, and patients experience avoidable decline.

If community-based services are reduced:
• Emergency room visits and hospital admissions could rise
• Patients will experience greater risk of neglect, injury, and health deterioration
• Overall healthcare costs will increase due to preventable crises

Lawmakers need to hear from healthcare advocates about the real system-wide consequences of these decisions.

Take Action Today:

Contact your legislators and explain how these cuts will shift care from prevention to crisis. Your clinical expertise matters. Speak up. Protect community-based care. Prevent avoidable suffering and higher costs.

Call 1-800-562-6000
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_Senate
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_House

Tell Your Legislators:
•Home and community-based services prevent avoidable hospitalizations.
•Stable supports reduce complications and secondary conditions.
•When community services are reduced patients miss medications, therapies, and routine supports, chronic conditions worsen, behavioral health crises increase, and hospitals become the default safety net.
•Investing in community-based care reduces emergency utilization and improves patient outcomes and quality of life.
•I urge you to protect funding for home and community-based services.
•Do not shift costs from preventive care to crisis systems.

02/22/2026

Town halls are a great way to advocate. Here's our toolkit.
https://bit.ly/TownHallToolkit

link to list of town halls: https://bit.ly/2026_townhalls

Our priorities:
Protect services
Pass progressive revenue
End Isolation & restraint

02/21/2026

We will know if legislators in the House choose to cut services to infants and toddlers when they release their budget proposal, expected by Monday morning. Hearings on the operating budget proposals will be held in the House and Senate Monday at 4 pm.

The ESIT program provides services like speech and occupational therapy to thousands of Washington kids under 3 with developmental delays or disabilities.

02/21/2026

Action Alert: Protect Housing Access for the IDD Community — Act Now

Call 1-800-562-6000
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_Senate
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_House

Budget writers in the state legislature are finalizing proposals right now. In the coming days, lawmakers will make critical decisions about housing development and funding residential supports and other community-based services that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) rely on to live independently.
Proposed budget cuts could reduce access to rental assistance, community-based residential services, and supportive housing.

For individuals with IDD, stable housing is not optional. It is the foundation for independence, safety, and dignity. Cuts to housing support will not eliminate need. They will increase instability and limit opportunities for community living.

If housing supports are reduced or harder to access:
• Individuals may lose safe, stable housing
• More people could face homelessness or institutional placement
• Caregiving or wrap-around support needs could go unmet
• Independence and community inclusion will be undermined

Lawmakers need to hear directly from people with disabilities, families, and housing advocates about what these decisions will mean in real life.

Take Action Today:

Call or email your legislators and explain why housing support is essential for independence and community living. Personal stories influence policy decisions. Speak up. Protect housing access and residential support. Defend dignity and stability.

Call 1-800-562-6000
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_Senate
https://bit.ly/ProtectIDD_House

Tell Your Legislators:
•Housing support allows people with IDD to live safely in their communities.
•Without stable housing, employment, health, and community participation are at risk.
•Without housing, people end up crisis situations, including homelessness, jail, and hospital emergency rooms.
•If housing funding is reduced individuals could lose rental assistance or supportive services, waiting lists for community housing will grow, and community stability and long-term independence will suffer.
•Stable housing improves health and employment outcomes, it supports independence and self-determination, and it builds stronger, more inclusive communities.
• I urge you to protect funding for residential support for people with IDD
• Please do not reduce access to community-based housing programs. Protect independence, stability, and dignity