As session winds down, we wanted to share a brief update about the Dan Thompson Memorial Account. Some decisions about the funding for the Account have not yet been finalized. Current budget proposals would move $2 million out of the fund, while allowing $2 million to be spent. The funds that are able to be spent will be used to fund state grants to community organizations that benefit people with IDD.
A scoring committee will score proposals from these organizations and decide how the funds are distributed. The majority of the application review committee in the last round of scoring had lived experience. 78% of the committee were people with developmental disabilities and immediate family members of someone with developmental disabilities, helping to decide where and how the money should be spent.
This is a truly innovative program that benefits the disabilities community. Dan Thompson grant funds have impacted over 81,000 people thus far in 19 counties in WA between 2022-2025. Since the fund was established in 2005, approximately $45.7 million has been awarded in grants. These grants have helped create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to try new things, build community, and grow their confidence.
People with I/DD had some great things to say about the projects that have been funded by the Dan Thompson Memorial Account:
Family members have also said that the Dan Thompson Memorial Account funds have impacted their family members in positive ways:
Providers also have had very positive things to say about the grants provided by the Dan Thompson Memorial Account:
There is an idea to use some of the funds in the Dan Thompson Memorial Account to create a long-term plan for the disability community. At the time of writing this update, the legislature is deciding if they will include this idea in the budget for the next fiscal year. More on that idea to come!
While it is not ideal that $2 million will be moved out of the account, there will still be funds in the account to continue to encourage new ideas and help to make the disability community stronger. The Dan Thompson Memorial Account is something that can give us hope!
