In the early 1980s, disability policy in the United States was beginning to shift away from viewing people with disabilities as passive recipients of services and toward recognizing them as individuals with rights, goals, and voices of their own.

In 1984, Congress reauthorized and amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, strengthening vocational rehabilitation programs and reinforcing the idea that services should support independence, productivity, and full participation in community life.

In Washington State, these changes helped reinforce a growing movement toward self-advocacy and accountability. A key provision required every state to establish a Client Assistance Program (CAP), giving people with disabilities and their families a formal way to raise concerns, appeal decisions, and assert their rights.

The amendments also advanced people-first language, reflecting a broader cultural shift toward seeing individuals beyond labels.

During this period, the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council supported advocacy and systems-change efforts that promoted individual rights, informed choice, and meaningful participation in education, employment, and community life.

The impact of these changes continues today, shaping expectations around self-advocacy, accountability, and person-centered planning.