Your Voices Are Being Heard

/in , /by Sarah

Your Voices Are Being Heard

Spring is in full swing, and so is our advocacy work—both at the state and federal levels. We are over halfway through the 105-day state legislative session. At this point in the year, when the sun starts coming out more but the long slog of reading news and testifying on bills starts to feel dreary, it’s essential to reflect on how much we’ve already accomplished together. The bottom line is this: your advocacy is making a difference.

Thanks to your support and the dedication of our network of hundreds of members of The Arc:

  • Hundreds of disability rights advocates signed in to support crucial bills aimed at consolidating Residential Habilitation Centers (RHCs) (HB 1472 / SB 5393).
  • More than 1,000 community members wrote letters to elected officials in response to our Medicaid Matters alerts, amplifying the call for Medicaid protections.

Your stories are being heard by at the highest levels of government. Julie Clark, Chair of the Developmental Disabilities Council, was invited to share her story at a press conference hosted by U.S. Senator Patty Murray in Olympia this week, and she absolutely rocked it!

“I lived in a shared house. I love that in my own home…I can go anywhere I need or want, but I require a caregiver for safety,” Julie said in her speech. “Everyone deserves to have a quality of life – to work and to live in their own home in their community. Medicaid cuts would be very harmful to myself and those like me. Cuts would affect my living situation drastically because I would be forced to live in an institution.”

Julie’s advocacy reached many this week, and we invite you to watch her impactful story: Watch Julie Clark’s Story

Senator Patty Murray/ Julie Clark

Share Your Medicaid Matters Story

Your voice is powerful and can influence change just like Julie. We are collecting stories from our community of how cuts to Medicaid would impact your life. Please, consider submitting your Medicaid Matters story as a video or a written story here: Medicaid Matters Story Submission Form

Keep the Pressure on Congress

Your Congressional delegation needs to hear from you about the critical importance of Medicaid. You may feel like you’ve already taken action many times, but remember—Congress keeps track of every call and message, and that data plays a role in decision-making.

If you want to help keep the pressure on, make yourself a reminder to call multiple times a week. Sharing that you care about Medicaid over and over again is one of the most important ways we can advocate to avoid cuts:

Call the Hands off Medicaid Hotline to reach Congress: 866-426-2631

Or send an email using our tool: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-medicaid-is-a-lifeline-for-people-with-disabilities

Budget Updates: Stay Alert, Stay Engaged

We anticipate the State Senate and House budgets will be released next week, and we’re eager to see how legislators plan to address the $12-$14 billion budget shortfall. Key questions remain:

  • What mix of cuts and new revenue (income) will they propose?
  • How will essential services be impacted?

We are deeply concerned about potential cuts to critical services. Our message remains clear: Cuts Cause Crisis! Take care of yourself this week and we’ll all be ready to advocate when the time comes.

Follow our budget tracker for the latest updates:
View Budget Tracker

Stay Informed on Key Legislation

Bills are still making their way through the legislative process. Keep track of them here:
View Bill Tracker

Thank you for your continued passion and advocacy. Together, we make a difference!

– Cathy Murahashi

Welcome to the 2025 Legislative Session!

/in , , /by Sarah

Welcome to the 2025 Legislative Session!

Our first live Advocacy Day since the pandemic took place on Wednesday, the 15th. We were thrilled to see 90 advocates in person and 30 more joining us online! It was wonderful to see your enthusiasm and commitment to advocacy.

The day was filled with excitement, including the inauguration of our new Governor, Bob Ferguson. In his inaugural speech, Governor Ferguson outlined his key priorities: providing free school breakfasts and lunches for all public school students, increasing law enforcement presence, protecting reproductive freedom, and expanding housing opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of bipartisanship and collaboration, earning a standing ovation. We hope this is a positive sign for the days ahead.

The inaugural gala was a night of celebration that shined, sparkled, and rock & rolled.  Now that all new legislators have been sworn in, it’s time to get down to the business of lawmaking and budget planning.

Advocacy and Budget Challenges

With a new governor, staff, and legislators, there will be a learning curve on developmental disabilities (DD) issues. If you have a new legislator representing your district, take the opportunity to introduce yourself and share your story—early impressions tend to stick with them.

The state faces a projected $12-14 billion deficit over the next four years. The causes of this deficit vary depending on perspective, but key factors include increased caseloads, new programming that was started with pandemic-era federal funding and inflation. This leaves the legislature with two primary options: cutting services or raising revenue—both of which are unpopular. Agencies have already been instructed to freeze hiring, limit travel, and restrict equipment purchases. Unfortunately, the annual DD Community Summit has been canceled due to budget constraints. Advocacy will be essential to protect our vital services.

Given these financial limitations, new programs requiring significant funding are unlikely to be approved. Instead, policy bills with minimal or no fiscal impact have a better chance of progressing.

Proposed Institutional Closures

In response to the budget deficit, Governor Inslee has put forward a bold proposal to close Yakima Village School and Rainier School. Rainier is a Residential Habilitation Center (RHC), while Yakima Village provides nursing care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). 18 other states have closed all their institutions entirely, while Washington still retains 4.  Currently, 10% of the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) budget serves those in RHCs, despite them making up less than 1% of DD clients.

Legislation has been introduced in both chambers to support these closures:

It is critical that with the closure of RHCs, adequate investment in Community Services must be made to ensure a smooth transition to the community. In particular Supported Living needs rate increases so they are prepared to receive new residents.

Key Legislative Bills to Watch

  • HB 1130– Prioritizes individuals for DDA waivers when availability is limited, particularly those aged 45 and older, addressing the need for aging parents to secure long-term supports for their children.
  • HB 1200 & SB 5211– Allows parents of minor children with high support needs (E and High B categories) to be paid care providers.
  • HB 1344– Expands access to respite care by adding it as a service under the Basic Plus Aggregate services.

Several important education funding bills aim to increase special education funding by raising the cap, adjusting multipliers, and enhancing inclusive education. You can track all the bills we are following here: Bill and Budget Tracker

Get Involved!

There are many ways you can participate in advocacy efforts:

If you missed our “Medicaid Matters” town hall, you can view the recording here.

Thank you for your commitment to advocacy. Your voice matters, and together, we can make a difference!

Cathy Murahashi