There are many ways to become involved with council activities, from joining council, attending a meeting, or becoming involved in advocacy.
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As part of achieving the Advocacy and Leadership Goal of the State Plan, the Washington State DD Council contracts with the Arc of Washington to create capacity in individuals and organizations to advocate on the issues important to them.
The Advocacy Partnership Project (APP) helps people with developmental disabilities, their families and guardians, and other community members get involved in shaping public policy. The project gives individuals tools, opportunities, and support to speak up about the issues that matter most to them.
Each year, more people connect with public policy through APP—sharing their stories, working with other advocates, and helping decision-makers better understand the needs of people with developmental disabilities.
Held weekly during the legislative session, Advocacy Days are open to everyone and make it easy to take part in the lawmaking process. Participants learn about important bills and budget issues, meet with their legislators, write messages to policymakers, and sometimes give public testimony. No prior experience is needed—just your voice and your story.
Legislators often hear from professional lobbyists, but what they value most is hearing directly from the people affected by their decisions. APP helps make sure those voices are heard.
APP helped increase voter education and candidate outreach. During the 2024 elections, The Arc sent policy questionnaires to candidates running for state and federal office, helping voters understand where candidates stood on key disability issues.
APP advocacy supported the expansion of Washington’s Parent to Parent (P2P) network, which offers peer support and education to families of children with developmental disabilities. By 2023, the network served all counties in the state and reached over 77,000 families—nearly four times as many as just five years earlier.
APP continued The Arc’s long-standing work to shift Washington’s developmental disability services toward community-based options. Through education and advocacy, the project has helped move public policy away from institutionalization and toward inclusion and independence.
