The Arc of Washington and other Arc chapters in our state receive Washington State funds from the Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) each year for salaries, benefits, travel and other expenses.
This is disturbing for many reasons but particularly because they receive state dollars for “advocacy” yet they do not advocate for a full continuum of care for our many citizens with developmental disabilities. In fact, their advocacy actually causes harm to many with the highest support needs.
We need a full disclosure regarding their advocacy and a statement regarding the fact that they do not advocate for the families and individuals with high support needs who choose to live in supportive communities, campus communities or in congregate care communities. The lack of disclosure together with the impression given that The Arc is the spokesperson for people with developmental disabilities has caused many problems. If there was disclosure and their biases against true choice as written under Olmstead* were clear, I believe we would see a much more united and effective advocacy movement to better serve the continuum of needs.
DDC Payments to The Arc of WA – table of payments for the dates August 2010 – July 2011
*Olmstead – see 1999 US Supreme Court Decision of Olmstead
Because We Care - Beyond Inclusion 
This is news to me! Although I support a continuum of care of services, for many of our high needs / dual diagnosed clients, Fircrest and our RHCs have worked. So many community placements WILL NOT TAKE residents with high needs. If they do, it’s only for a short time. For us, Fircrest was the place of “last resort” and thank God for it. Many guardians and caseworkers spend the majority of their time relocating residents from one place to another. That’s a shame when there’s so much institutional experience and knowledge available to families at a living wage.
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Thank you – yes it is right that almost all the studies that speak to “community” living and better outcomes only deal with those who are higher functioning with less intense support needs. There are no studies that show benefits of “community” lving for those with behavior issues, PICA and SIB, , Mental Illness or medically fragile – these are the the people who no one wants or they are not able to staff and care for them safety. If they do move to the community from a supportive community, they are usually not there long before they end up where they were safe. Why add trauma to these people ? Makes no sense.
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