This early 1970s planning document outlines Washington State’s effort to assess and transform its large residential institutions for people with developmental disabilities. It describes the declining institutional population, the expansion of group home programs, and the need to clarify state laws to better protect individuals’ rights and reduce unnecessary confinement (page 1) . The report identifies major deficiencies in institutional facilities and programs and calls for a coordinated plan to bring them up to accreditation standards, develop community-based alternatives, and address substandard conditions that had persisted for years.

The document proposes a detailed process that includes surveying all physical facilities, convening planning sessions with families, community leaders, and agency staff, updating guidance for regional centers, and rewriting state laws related to admission, treatment, placement, and discharge (page 3) . It emphasizes the need for smaller residential settings, improved service quality, and collaboration across state agencies. Handwritten notes on the pages reflect internal discussions about resource allocation, staffing, and next steps, capturing a moment when Washington was beginning to seriously evaluate and redesign its institutional system.