Thurston Mason Developmental Disabilities Coalition

08/15/2026

Mason Developmental Disabilities Coalition sharing to let you know we will be tabling this event! Hope to see you there.

08/10/2026

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOC/bulletins/4231559

Make sure to attend and make the IDD voices heard!

Meeting notification: Department of Housing Task Force Washington State Department of Commerce sent this bulletin at 08/05/2026 09:00 AM PDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it online AUG. 5, 2026 Meeting notification: Department of Housing Task Force Members of the public can attend online T...

08/07/2026

Washington Wildfire Emergency: Support and Resources Washington State Department of Commerce sent this bulletin at 08/06/2026 12:31 PM PDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it online Aug. 6, 2026 Washington Wildfire Emergency: Support and resources from the Department of Commerce Washington is...

07/30/2026

Public Charge Final Rule: What Advocates Need to Know
When: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PT/2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET

This webinar will be most important for legal and aging services providers who work with older immigrants and immigrants with disabilities on public benefits issues or immigration-related matters.

07/29/2026

What is Olmstead?

Did you know that people with disabilities have the right to live in their communities—not just in institutions?

The Olmstead Supreme Court decision helps protect that right. It says people with disabilities should have the opportunity to live, work, and participate in their communities with the supports they need.

This plain language cartoon explains:
✅ What Olmstead is
✅ Why it matters
✅ How it helps protect the rights of people with disabilities

Here's what the infographic says:

What is Olmstead?
Olmstead is a Supreme Court decision that says people with disabilities have the right to live in the community, not just in institutions.

Before Olmstead:
Many people with disabilities were put in institutions, even when they didn't want to be there.

The Olmstead Decision (1999):
The Supreme Court said that unjustified isolation in an institution is discrimination based on disability.

"People with disabilities should be able to live where they want, and the government must provide services in the community when it is appropriate."

What it means:
• People have the right to live in the most integrated setting that is appropriate.
• States must provide services and supports in the community.
• Institutional care should only be used when it is the right choice for the person.
• People get to make choices about where they live and who supports them.

Why it matters:
Olmstead helps people with disabilities live with more freedom, dignity, and connection in their communities.

We all belong in our communities.

📢 Share this post to help others learn about Olmstead and why it matters.



Image Description:
A colorful cartoon infographic titled "What is Olmstead?" features illustrations of people with disabilities living and participating in their communities. The cartoon explains the Olmstead Supreme Court decision, compares community living with institutional settings, and highlights the right of people with disabilities to choose where they live and receive supports.

07/29/2026

Family caregivers aren't a backup plan — they're the backbone of Washington's care system. The Arc of Washington State proudly stands with the Parent Coalitions in fighting for the paid caregivers who keep loved ones in community, healthy, and thriving. 💙

07/28/2026

Update: the number of signatures to the letter mentioned below reached 60 legislators. Wonderful show of support for this pretty incredible program!

https://www.wwvdn.org/file_download/inline/2bcb72a6-467d-477a-9331-96226c7872c8

On behalf of the Thurston Mason DD Coalition, we would like to thank Rep. Travis Couture for his immediate response to the recent news of the potential discontinuation of the Parent to Parent contract in WA state. His bipartisan letter to DSHS & Gov. Ferguson was signed by 43 of his colleagues who represent constituents across WA and support the continued funding of P2P. Thank you for your leadership and your support of our WA state I/DD community!

Michelle O’Dell &
Coleen McKenna Solman

07/17/2026

A new Medicaid law adds work requirements starting in 2027. Learn who's exempt, what could go wrong, and what you can do now.

07/16/2026

Do you currently have Apple Health? Read more…

Did you know that there's a way to have the flexibility of private health insurance and get reimbursed for premiums from Apple Health (Medicaid)? The Washington State Premium Payment Program may provide reimbursement for private health insurance coverage for those receiving Apple Health Medicaid.

07/15/2026

Our Coalition's invitation to current or prospective elected officials inviting them to 2026 South Sound DD Legislative Forum.
_____________________________
Dear Legislative Candidates:

You are invited—and strongly encouraged—to attend a community legislative forum on October 20 focused on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and the policies that directly impact their lives.

As a current or prospective elected official, your decisions will directly affect our community. This forum is an opportunity for you not only to listen and learn, but for our community to understand who is prepared to represent self-advocates and families with the urgency and knowledge this moment demands.

Families across Thurston and Mason counties are facing increasing pressure from policy decisions and narratives that devalue their role and destabilize critical supports. Among our most urgent concerns:

Claims that family caregivers are merely being paid for typical parental responsibilities, disregarding the complexity and intensity of care required. Family caregivers are truly valued and require support, not cuts to services.
Federal and structural shifts involving the Department of Education, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice that could erode home- and community-based services (HCBS) that help people to live and thrive in the community, and move us backward toward institutional care.
The well-documented reality that institutional and nursing home placements are significantly more expensive—and less humane—than supporting individuals in their homes and communities.
Our community is informed, organized, and engaged. More than 170,000 Washington families live with I/DD, alongside a broad network of advocates and voters who are paying close attention to where candidates stand.

We expect leaders who are willing to show up, listen, and engage with the real impacts of policy decisions. And while we have your attention, please complete the WA Legislative Candidate Questionnaire on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities here if you haven’t already done so: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5HFZiSzRD-F503LU8PmX5CwuDpMhhH9uKyX4n3wIKsG-Tlw/viewform

Event Details:
October 20
6PM - 8PM
ESD113, Tumwater
Light refreshments will be provided.

We ask that you mark your calendar and confirm your attendance. This is a meaningful opportunity to hear directly from those you seek to represent—and to demonstrate your commitment to informed, responsible leadership.

We also recognize that many of you are currently in the midst of the midterm election season. We wish you the best in your campaigns and look forward to meeting with those elected in October.

Please respond to confirm your participation.
Registration link to attend will go live in early September.

Sincerely,

Michelle O’Dell, Coordinator
Thurston Mason DD Coalition
____________________________

**To find out if your legislative candidate has completed the questionnaire, click the link and scroll down to "2026 Candidates": https://arcwa.org/advocacy/2026-elections/ **

The outcomes of the 2026 elections will have a great impact on how our state and our country move forward. The Arc of Washington State wants to ensure that you have the information you need to decide which candidates will best represent you, and those you love who may have a developmental disability...