We are pleased to announce that the District of Columbia now has a new law that recognizes and promotes the decision-making rights of its residents who live with disabilities!

The Disability Services Reform Amendment Act of 2018 became official law on May 5, 2018.  This important law will move the District forward in respecting the rights and dignity of all of its residents by reforming civil commitment for people with intellectual disabilities, recognizing Supported Decision-Making Agreements across the lifespan, and requiring the DC Department on Disability Services to create a formal complaint process that can be accessed by people receiving services and supports from the Developmental Disabilities Administration.

For more information, please see the attached joint press release issued by a disability rights coalition that was instrumental in this reform effort.  Coalition members include Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities; DC Association for Special Education, DC Developmental Disabilities Council; DC Metro ADAPT; Disability Rights DC at University Legal Services; Project ACTION!; Robert Dinerstein, Professor of Law at American University Washington College of Law; and the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development.

Please help us spread the word about these new reforms, which will impact thousands of District residents with disabilities.

Click here to see more information: The Disability Services Reform Amendment Act of 2018