DDC History and Visioning

1945-2025: Self-Advocate Mike Raymond's Story

Mike Raymond’s journey from life inside Rainier School to becoming one of Washington’s most influential self-advocates helped shape the state’s disability rights movement and continues to guide efforts toward community-based supports today.

1960s: Exposing the Abuse of Civil Rights

In the 1960s, national exposure of civil rights abuses in institutions—including Willowbrook, Pennhurst, and the documentation in Christmas in Purgatory—helped launch the modern disability rights movement.

1976 Editorial on Special Education

This 1976 article describes how special education programs in Washington pioneered accountability systems—using clear goals, measurable objectives, and progress tracking—that later influenced broader public school practices.

1976 Education for All

Together, these 1976 documents outline federal expectations, implementation steps, advocacy roles, and legislative context for the Education for All Handicapped Children Act as states prepared to ensure every child with a disability received a free, appropriate public education.

1979 Deinstitutionalization Lawsuit

A 1979 AFSCME complaint and accompanying federal guidelines reveal significant concerns about Rhode Island’s failure to provide required job protections for employees affected by deinstitutionalization, prompting calls for stronger state and federal enforcement.

1981 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)

The 1981 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act changed Social Security disability rules in ways that made benefits harder to qualify for and reduced protections for people with disabilities — including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

1984: Rights, Advocacy, and Putting People First

In the early 1980s, changes to federal disability policy strengthened self-advocacy, accountability, and people-first values, helping shift services toward individual rights, independence, and full participation in community life.

1985 AFSCME Report on Deinstitutionalization

A 1985 AFSCME publication reprints investigative reporting on the dangers and systemic failures that accompanied rapid, under-resourced deinstitutionalization in Ohio, highlighting its impact on people with developmental disabilities.

1985 Victims of Change

A 1985 investigative series examines the human and system impacts of rapid deinstitutionalization when community supports and oversight were insufficient.

1987-1988: From Institutions to Community Living

In 1987–1988, Washington State accelerated its shift from institutions to community living after federal decertification exposed serious failures in institutional care, leading to expanded community supports and new Residential Services Guidelines shaped with input from the Developmental Disabilities Council and people with lived experience.

1988 Values, Policies, and Practices: Closing the Gaps in Community Integration

A 1988 paper explores the progress and remaining challenges of community integration for people with developmental disabilities, emphasizing values-based policy and meaningful inclusion.

1990: Bridging School and Work

In 1990, federal education laws began strengthening the connection between school and work by requiring transition planning and expanding job training and work-based learning opportunities for students, including those with disabilities.

1992: County Guidelines adopted

In 1992, Washington State’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (now DDCS) adopted the County Guidelines, establishing core values and responsibilities to support community inclusion, choice, and integrated employment for people with developmental disabilities.

1995: Redirecting Savings to Community Services

In 1995, Washington passed Senate Bill 5800 to require that savings from changes in the developmental disabilities program be reinvested in community-based services for people with developmental disabilities.

1990's

1998: Choice in Services

In 1998, Senate Bill 6751 affirmed Washington’s commitment to choice in living and service options for people with developmental disabilities and began a strategic planning process to assess and improve services statewide.

1990's

1999: The Olmstead Decision

In 1999, a Supreme Court decision called Olmstead v. L.C. confirmed that people with disabilities have the right to receive services in their communities instead of institutions when appropriate.

1990's

1999 DDC Packet - May

This agenda outlines the May 21, 1999 meeting of the Developmental Disabilities Council’s Planning & Public Policy Committee, covering legislative updates, budget review, policy decisions, and preparation for upcoming Council work.

2003 Rise of the No Paid Services Caseload

In 2003, Washington’s Family Support waitlist grew to approximately 8,000 families, highlighting rising demand for community services and laying the groundwork for today’s No Paid Services caseload.

2004: Preliminary Transition Plan to Downsize Fircrest School

In 2004 Washington State developed a plan to downsize and close Fircrest School, and in 2005 the phase-out was temporarily halted for legislative study amid statewide debate over institutional and community services.

2006: Creation of the Washington State Autism Task Force

In 2006, Washington State created the Autism Task Force to study service gaps and recommend improvements to supports for individuals with autism and their families.

2006: The Working Age Adult Policy (WAAP) is Implemented

In 2006, Washington implemented the Working Age Adult Policy to prioritize integrated, community-based employment as the primary service outcome for working-age adults with developmental disabilities.

2007: Training Standards for In-Home Care Providers

In 2007, Washington strengthened and standardized training requirements for in-home care providers, improving quality and consistency in community-based services.

2009: Modernizing Disability Language in State Law

In 2009, Washington State began updating its statutes to replace outdated terminology with “intellectual disability,” reflecting a broader shift toward respectful, person-centered language.