Bill would allow employment and inclusion together

Do you think DDA clients should be able to get BOTH employment and community inclusion support?

If that is either a strong yes or no, then consider stating your position or testifying for HB 1980 - Removing the prohibition on providing employment services and community access services concurrently.

HB 1980 is being heard Thursday, January 20, at 1:30 pm, by the House Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans.

If you weigh in, your position will become part of the official bill record and shared with committee members. It will help them decide whether to pass the bill out of committee.

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This is an issue we hear about frequently. A common theme is someone is only working a few hours a week (or hasn't found a job yet, or lost their job) and so can't use all of their support hours available. Or, they would benefit greatly by engaging in the community as well as the workplace - not either/or. And sometimes community inclusion can lead to employment. Right now, state law says you can't use both - it has to be one or the other.

Who supports this effort? Removing the ban is a priority of the North Star grassroots effort, which in turn is supported by various self-advocacy groups, The Arc of Washington, The Arc of King County, and most other chapters of The Arc in Washington. The Washington State Parent and Family Coalitions also prioritzes ending the ban on concurrent supports.

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