“When you see something that’s not right, not fair, not just, do something about it.” – Rep. John Lewis, 2016 Commencement Speech at Washington University.

Advocacy. Advocacy is the core of Quality Trust’s work for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Advocacy for services and supports based on what a person wants and needs. Advocacy for self-determination and decision-making rights. Advocacy for a community where all people with IDD are respected belong, contribute, are valued, and shape their own present and future.

Throughout the year, we advocate for individuals, helping them and their families solve problems impacting their lives – problems with staffing, healthcare, employment and residential supports, and more. At this time of year, it’s important to take a step back and look at the broader systems that exist to provide those day-to-day services and advocate for both things going well and those things that need to change.

In February every year, the DC Council holds hearings about each agency and how they’re doing. While many agencies across the District play a role in the day-to-day lives of people with IDD, the Department on Disability Services (DDS), which includes the Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the Medicaid agency called the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), as well as the school system, including the DC Public Schools (DCPS), DC Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB), and Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), play some of the largest roles in setting policy and providing services for children and adults with IDD.

You can watch the DC Council hearings on TV and online and even sign up to testify at the hearings. The hearing for DDS will be on Thursday, February 16. There are two hearings for DHCF, one to hear testimony from the public and one to hear testimony from the government. The public testimony will be on Friday, February 17, and the government testimony will be on Wednesday, February 22. The hearing for the school system will be on Wednesday, March 1. You can learn more about the hearings and how to sign up and watch hearings online on the DC Council’s website.

Some issues that people may want to share about DDS and DHCF include:

• DDA’s new eligibility rules – Are you getting help filling out the application and collecting the documents you need? How long is it taking to make a decision? Are you getting the services you want and need? How long is it taking for the services to start?
• Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) – DSPs are the people who are paid to provide direct services to people with IDD. They are often not paid very well, and especially after COVID, it has been hard for providers to hire enough DSPs to support the people they serve. Do you have the staff you need? Do they have the training they need? Do we need to do more to make sure there are enough DSPs so that people with IDD can live the lives they want in the community?
• Employment – People with IDD often want to work but very few of them do. They sometimes have a hard time getting the supports they need to find and keep a job that is right for them. Do you want a job? Is your team getting you the supports you need to find a job? If you have a job, is it a good fit for you? Are you getting the supports you need to keep it?

One of the biggest issues facing children with disabilities in DC right now is getting to school. The Washington Post wrote an opinion story on the problems that parents are having with their children’s school buses. If you are having problems with your child’s bus, Advocates for Justice and Education is helping families prepare testimony for the DC Council hearing and ask for reimbursement if they paid to send their child to school when the bus didn’t come. You can reach AJE at (202) 678-8060 or information@aje-dc.org.

And, don’t forget, if you are having issues getting services or issues with your current services from DDA, please reach out to Quality Trust at (202) 448-1450 or info@dcqualitytrust.org to see if we can help!