For Princess Klus, serving on the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council wasn’t just a civic responsibility—it was a deeply personal mission rooted in love, advocacy, and the desire to make sure rural families are heard. As a parent of two adult children with developmental disabilities, she brought a powerful lived experience to the Council, and she leaves with a legacy of leadership and growth.
“I am proud to be able to represent the small county I live in—Pacific County,” Princess said, reflecting on what the opportunity meant to her. “This is a big opportunity to have a rural area represented.” Throughout her six-year term, she played an active role in shaping policy, including contributing to the Council’s five-year plan. She found purpose in offering insight drawn from her own family’s journey, sharing that “you have the wonderful opportunity to support and share your life examples, and they will mean so much. Be open, be heard, and be proud to serve.”
Princess first learned about the Council through her DDA caseworker, an introduction that sparked a sense of possibility. “We have a wonderful DDA caseworker who shared with me about the Council and I was so excited,” she said. “Being a parent of two adult children who I advocate for all the time, this makes me able to advocate for others.” That excitement turned into action—and a deeper understanding of how statewide systems work. “You will learn so much about our Developmentally Disabled community and where funding sorts out through Washington State,” she said.
One of the most surprising lessons for Princess was learning about the national scope of this work. “I was surprised in general that every state has a Developmental Disabilities Council, and that even though we are made up in structure somewhat the same, we all have a goal and make it happen through a different path.”
She credits the Council’s staff with helping members thrive in their roles. “The Council has a staff that is awesome and they make our jobs so much easier,” she said. Over time, Princess’s advocacy evolved from personal to community-wide. “I have to say that my advocacy has grown immensely,” she reflected. “I am fully 100% sharing with our community in a stronger, accepting way and am able to teach parents and self-advocates to be heard and know they matter.”
As she finishes her term, Princess says she’s hopeful about the future—and ready to step up again if the opportunity arises. “I will hopefully be able to serve on a board again that represents our families within the state,” she said. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve and wish that if a chance was to come up again, and rules were changed for term lengths—I would be so on board.”
Her parting words are simple, but heartfelt: “I have grown so much and met the best people that I served with.”
