CLARKSTON, WA – The Department of Social and Health Service’s Developmental Disabilities Administration and the Developmental Disabilities Council have provided an update regarding the status of awardees and expenditures from the Dan Thompson Memorial Developmental Disabilities Community Services Account. In this region, Asotin County/COAST Transportation Clarkston has received $293,250.
To date, DDA has awarded just over $9 million on 35 executed contracts across the state. Four additional contracts are currently pending, and many more signed contracts are expected to be finalized later in the upcoming months.
“Each application is so unique, and we are very excited about the variety of supports and services across our state to meet gaps identified by our stakeholders,” said Debbie Roberts, DSHS Assistant Secretary for DDA.
The Dan Thompson Memorial Developmental Disabilities Community Services Account was created in 2005 after the death of Dan Thompson. He was an advocate, a Microsoft employee, and a person with a developmental disability.
From Nichole Jensen / Chief, State Operated Programs, Transitions and Training Office
DDA HQ Lacey / Developmental Disabilities Administration
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
We have had the privilege of partnering with organizations from Walla Walla to Port Angeles to Bellingham. As more contracts are being signed, we are starting to see trends in the types of executed contracts. Some areas of themes and examples include:
1. Adaptive/accessible equipment
Sports and general recreation: helmets, softballs, basketballs, recumbent tricycles, adaptive climbing equipment, harnesses.
Sensory gym (pictured here): climbing wedge, sensory tilts, mirrors, balance beam set, sensory tent, noise reducing headphones.
Technology equipment to enable Direct Support Professionals to better support clients.
2. Training and system development
Trauma-informed care training for direct support professionals.
Expansion of healthy relationships curriculum for young adults.
Creation of a digital resource library of training materials for DDA eligible Clients and
their families.
3. Supports directly impacting underserved populations
Deliver first ever annual transition symposium to include professionals, Clients, and employers from two rural counties.
Provide inclusive preschool/daycare, after school, and camp programs, and additional community resources.
Cultural navigation and support for Vietnamese families with children diagnosed with Autism.
Autism navigation for families whose primary language is Spanish.
4. Housing…housing…housing!
Multifamily apartment complex: 22 unit in Bremerton (12 Low income 10 I/DD units) rent to people up to certain income level.
Group Home purchased from the seller that supports 6 individuals with I/DD and 1 low-income tenant who is the primary care giver that lives in the home to help support one individual with extensive needs – Port Angeles.
Purchase 10 single family home, 3–4-bedroom homes serving Pierce, King, Kitsap, and Thurston counties.
3 existing homes already owned that require significant modifications (12 beds total) Pierce County.
Looking to acquire a single-family home with a minimum of 2-3 beds (Clark County).
DDA is steadfast in our continued efforts to execute contracts with those proposals received by the Developmental Disabilities Council in 2022 and will continue to provide updates as the number of signed contracts grows, along with the total amount of expenditures. The DDA and DDC have learned a lot through this process and want to continue to hear feedback from the community. If there is additional funding obtained during the 2023 Legislative Session, we would love to hear about ideas for the future.
Fully Executed Contracts as of 1/27/23:
Organization Name/Organization Location/Total $ Contracted
Ashby Family Care and Support Vancouver $319,500
Arc of King County Seattle $250,000
Arc of Spokane DEAI Spokane $145,000
Arc of Spokane Resource library Spokane $80,000
Arc of Washington (P2P) Olympia $230,000
Asotin County/COAST Clarkston $293,250
Brave Warrior Project Wenatchee $24,712
Cascade Community Connections Port Townsend $40,000
Cascade Community Connections Port Townsend $10,000
Cascade Connections Ferndale $126,928
Children’s Therapy Center Kent $170,874
Clallam Mosaic Port Angeles $27,888
Courageous Connections Tulalip $12,500
Dad’s Move Tonasket $49,876
Emma’s Exceptional Equipment Federal Way $10,000
Engage thru Tech Bellevue $35,000
Kindering Support Bellevue $30,000
Kindering Bellevue $125,445
Kittitas Interactive Management Yakima $154,825
Life Works Longview $11,108
Lopez Island Family Resource Center Lopez Island $180,000
Manos Unidas International Bothell $170,230
Max Higbee Center Bellingham $259,100
Open Doors for Multicultural Families Kent $263,748
Partners 4 Housing Woodinville $3,458,632
Special Olympics (Equipment) Port Orchard $16,000
The Arc of Snohomish Everett $125,000
The Spirit of You Chehalis $3,000
The Yoga Collective Yakima $7,800
Outdoors for All Seattle $74,830
Valley Residential Services Walla Walla $52,054
Vietnamese Family Autism Advisory Board
(VFAAB) Seattle $651,000
