Since 2014, Washington State’s Developmental Disabilities community Services (DDCS, formerly DDA) has continued to strengthen its guiding values, centering services around people, relationships, and community. These values emphasize listening to individuals and families, supporting choice and independence, and ensuring people are recognized as full members of their communities. The current DDCS Guiding Values booklet explicitly names values such as inclusion, status and contribution, relationships, power and choice, health and safety, and competence.  

In recent years, this has included deeper engagement with self-advocates and families, along with a stronger focus on equity and addressing systemic barriers. DDCS's current Family Advisory Council page describes the council as representing family perspectives and experiences in navigating DDA services, while DDCS’s person-centered planning materials emphasize helping people live the life they want through listening, learning, and building community around their goals.