Disability Rights Washington

11/05/2025

In October 2025 Disability Rights Washington became an organizational member of the Washington State Immigrant Solidarity Network. In doing so we affirm our commitment to the disabled community and organizations supporting those currently being profiled due to their race, ethnicity, and/or national origin and aim to support local efforts to defend immigrant and migrant communities. We look forward to deepening our understanding of what is happening in Washington state, strengthening relationships with those working on the front lines to protect due process and prevent violence against our community, and sharing the perspectives of people with disabilities to help inform this important work.

In October 2025 Disability Rights Washington became an organizational member of the Washington State Immigrant Solidarity Network. In doing so we affirm our commitment to the disabled community and organizations supporting those currently being profiled due to their race, ethnicity, and/or national....

10/20/2025

DRW is hiring for two staff attorney positions. One is a Prisoners' Rights Impact Litigation Attorney, and the other is a Deinstitutionalization Impact Litigation Attorney. View these and all of our job listings here: https://disabilityrightswa.org/employment/

10/03/2025

Are you participating in Week Without Driving? Share your photos and stories below!

Nearly one in three Washingtonians does not drive, a reality that presents serious challenges in a state largely built around car travel.

09/19/2025

Disability Rights Washington is saddened to share that Mike Raymond passed away this week.

Mike lived at the Rainier School until he was 20 and has long advocated for the closure of state-run residential habilitation centers for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
After leaving Rainier School he lived an independent life with his wife, also a former Rainier School resident, and they welcomed a child together.

He helped found People First of Washington, and worked with Self Advocates of Washington (SAW), Allies in Advocacy, PAVE, Northwest Services for Independent Living, and many other advocacy groups. Hear Mike’s story in his own words in DRW’s video: Mike’s Story from Isolation to Independence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nevg5F686B8

Mike is credited with naming our 2021 Advocacy Report, “Shut Them Down”: It’s time to close Washington’s dangerous Residential Habilitation Centers. https://disabilityrightswa.org/reports/shut-them-down-its-time-to-close-washingtons-dangerous-residential-habilitation-centers/ “Shut Them Down!” was his catchphrase when discussing the RHC’s. He was the 2017 DRW Breaking Barriers Advocacy Award recipient. Mike served on DRW’s Board of Directors, and Disability Advisory Council.

He was known and loved by so many and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

09/17/2025

How Would You Get Around If You Couldn’t Drive Yourself?
Communities Across WA Host Week Without Driving to Highlight the Needs of Nondrivers

Washington State, September 29 to October 5, 2025 — Imagine your life without driving. Could you navigate your daily routines, reach your workplace, doctor’s office, or connect with loved ones? This year, community organizations, public officials and transit agencies across Washington State are planning walk/roll events, transit bingo and bus ride-alongs, speaking events, proclamations and even bench installations as part of this year’s celebration of the Week Without Driving.

In 2021, disabled advocates at Disability Rights Washington launched the Week Without Driving to increase the visibility of nondrivers. Now in its fifth year, Week Without Driving will take place from September 29 to October 5 and has grown to include more than five hundred co-hosting organizations across all fifty US states, Canada and Australia.

Week Without Driving has helped advocacy organizations and elected leaders broaden coalitions and push for policies that support access for nondrivers across both rural and urban communities — and everywhere in between.

Why the Week Without Driving?

Thirty percent of Washington residents are nondrivers — disabled people who can’t drive, people who can’t afford a vehicle or gas, have suspended licenses or lack documentation to get a license, people who are too young to drive, choose not to drive or who have aged out of driving.

But nondrivers are largely invisible — more often measured in absences. Nondrivers are the people who didn’t make it out from wildfires or flash floods, who missed doctors or court appointments because the bus never showed up. Nondrivers are the parents that couldn’t get to the school play and the kid who couldn’t sign up for the soccer team because there just wasn’t a good way to get there.

https://disabilityrightswa.org/how-would-you-get-around-if-you-couldnt-drive-yourself/

09/12/2025

Tacoma! Seattle! This is the weekend that the Journey to Justice bus tour rolls through. Full details here: https://journeytojusticetour.com/schedule/

Their mission is to grow our national network of change-makers committed to human rights, justice, and ending torture. Their focus is on ending solitary confinement, a practice recognized as torture by the United Nations. They’ve designed a tour that blends traditional advocacy with creative “artivism” experiences to make activism accessible and deeply human. Through our mobile hub—a traveling bus equipped with interactive exhibits—and engaging events, they’re bringing together students, survivors, and community leaders to spark dialogue and foster transformative empathy.

This is more than a tour; it’s a movement. It’s a call to action for each of us to build a future free from the horrors of solitary confinement and show that a different world is possible.

We’re excited to welcome the Journey to Justice Tour — an 18-stop national bus tour dreamed up by coalition leader Christopher Blackwell, Executive Director of Look2Justice and author of the new book Ending Isolation: A Case Against Solitary Confinement.

The tour comes to Tacoma on Sept 12 and Seattle on Sept 13–14. Join us for powerful nights of film, storytelling, and community action featuring people directly impacted by the system.

Learn more and register here: www.endsolitarywa.org/news-events

09/10/2025

We are sad to share the passing of Kyle Matheson. Kyle was a tireless advocate and has worked with DRW for decades, including facilitating CDAN meetings this last year. He worked at DRW when it was still the Troubleshooters. Kyle assisted members of the Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds Advisory Board, Helped build the Nothing About Us without Us Coalition, and worked with DRW on countless projects

He was dedicated to building the self advocacy movement in Washington including positions in SAIL, and People First of Washington leadership. His advocacy reflected his knowledge, experience, and humor, and he inspired countless others along the way. Kyle was dependable and was often the first person at a meeting and the last to leave. Kyle had years of experience with the Legislature, and generously helped other self-advocates raise their voices in hearings, protests, and other forums.

Kyle also built a full life beyond advocacy—maintaining employment refereeing youth sports, traveling, and building friendships across the country.

His passing is a tremendous loss to our community.

08/25/2025

The Journey to Justice Tour: PNW Edition is coming to Tacoma and Seattle this September as part of an 18-stop nationwide bus tour to end solitary confinement. Join us for powerful nights of film, storytelling, and community action featuring people directly impacted by the system. Reserve your spot and spread the word!

📍 Tacoma – Friday, September 12
🎬 The Strike – Film Screening & Conversation
📅 Sept 12, 6:00 PM
📍 The Grand Cinema, 606 Fawcett Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402

🎟 Reserve your seat here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-strike-film-screening-tickets-1553664224519?aff=oddtdtcreator

📍 Seattle – Saturday, September 13
🎤 Journey to Justice: The Case Against Solitary Confinement
📅 Sept 13, 6:00 PM
📍 Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue Seattle, WA 98101

🎟 Reserve your seat here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/journey-to-justice-tour-the-case-against-solitary-confinement-tickets-1479163651299?aff=oddtdtcreator

📍 Seattle – Sunday, September 14
⛪ Journey to Justice: Rainier Ave Church Edition
📅 Sept 14, 6:00 PM
📍 Rainier Avenue Church, 5900 Rainier Avenue South Seattle, WA 98118
🎟 Reserve your seat here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/journey-to-justice-road-map-to-ending-torture-rainier-avenue-church-tickets-1560472789119?aff=oddtdtcreator

The nationwide Journey to Justice Tour is led by Look2Justice in coordination locally with EndSolitaryWA.org, amplifying voices of people who have survived solitary confinement and calling for an end to this inhumane practice. Learn more at journeytojusticetour.com.

In addition to being at each event, the bus will be at Westlake Park for maximum visibility. Come show some love!

📍 Seattle – Saturday, September 13
🏙️ Journey to Justice: In the Park
📅 Sept 13, 10:00 AM -5:00 PM
📍 Westlake Park, 401 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Help us spread the word!

08/07/2025

A huge THANK YOU to everyone shopping and donating through Haggen’s Inspiring Change Together campaign! 🙌

Your support directly impacts our work to defend the rights and dignity of people with disabilities in Washington State.

Let’s keep the momentum going — you have until August 12 to round up or donate at Haggen stores. The Olympia location has chosen DRW as their recipient of funds raised.


We couldn’t do this without you!

07/18/2025

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Seattle City Council Candidate Forum on Disability Issues Monday night!

Over 70 people showed up to remind the candidates running in Seattle's 3 city council races that our perspectives matter. People with disabilities asked candidates how they planned to address some of the biggest issues facing the disability community from federal budget cuts and housing to recreation and the arts. Disability Rights Washington cosponsored the forum with 15 other organizations representing disabled and elder communities.

Missed the forum? Check out the candidates' responses to the forum's questionnaire to learn more about where the candidates stand on disability issues: https://www.wacda.com/general-7

Photo: A man in a wheelchair asks Seattle City Council candidates a question next to a woman holding a microphone