This 1976 proclamation by Governor Daniel J. Evans formally establishes Washington’s Developmental Disabilities Planning Council in alignment with federal requirements under Public Law 94-103. The document outlines the Council’s responsibilities, including overseeing statewide planning for developmental disabilities services, ensuring coordination across agencies, and submitting a state plan to the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare for approval. It emphasizes that the Council must include at least fifteen citizen members, representatives from state agencies, and individuals with lived experience, with staggered three-year terms to ensure continuity.

The order also clarifies that staff support will come from the Department of Social and Health Services, while the Council will maintain supervisory authority over its own staff and operations. By issuing this directive on April 27, 1976, Governor Evans established the foundational structure for Washington’s statewide disability planning and advocacy work—setting in motion the Council that continues today as the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council.

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