Sean Barrett
The state of Washington and, especially, Snohomish County have well-proven programs that assist people with developmental disabilities in moving from dependency to self-sufficiency. One could argue that helping move people toward independence is a basic purpose of all government.
In the closing days of the last legislative session, lawmakers dismantled programs that have helped move thousands of this state’s people with developmental disabilities from dependency to self-sufficiency. Fortunately, these changes are not final; they are currently sitting on Gov. Gary Locke’s desk awaiting his approval — or hopefully his veto.
Services that helped people with development disabilities secure job training and meaningful employment were replaced with a welfare-like program of direct cash payments. As a result, people with developmental disabilities risk losing the gains they have made in becoming active and vibrant members of our society. The agencies that provide these services will likely receive far less funding and face drastic cutbacks or closure.
Society is enriched when people from different walks, with different perspectives, with different views are allowed to interact with and both learn from and teach society around them. The legislative changes will dramatically reduce the ability of people with developmental disabilities to participate in this process. They will be cut out of society, potentially making them second-class citizens without the services needed to thrive.
How did legislators do this? They did it by severely distorting the concept of "self determination." Even the strongest supporter of self-determination will tell you that self-determination does not come without a strong base of professional services that are there to guide and support efforts. These services will be in major trouble with these changes.
People with disabilities receive monies to assist with the additional costs of being a person with a disability. In this case, people with developmental disabilities also receive services that work to increase their independence. What does not make sense is to trade these services for cash payments. We have a word for the trading of needed services for cash. It’s a word we’re all familiar with. It’s called w-e-l-f-a-r-e.
Years ago, this state and nation undertook a massive overhaul of the welfare program. We realized that in many cases cash payments do not work as well as supportive services. In fact, this state and Snohomish County have for years understood this was particularly true for people with developmental disabilities.
Changes to welfare rules that strengthened supportive services and provided work incentives enabled us to move thousands of people from dependency to self-sufficiency. With the changes made to the developmentally disabilities budget, the state Legislature is saying that people with developmental disabilities should be treated fundamentally differently than what we know works for people as a whole — those with and without developmental disabilities.
That is wrong. It’s a proven bad choice. It risks creating an entirely new welfare state. It puts at risk a statewide group of people who have worked long and hard to become increasingly more vibrant contributors to society.
People with developmental disabilities, families, friends, professionals and concerned citizens urge Gov. Locke to provide the leadership necessary to keep us moving forward in our treatment of developmentally disabled people and veto these damaging sections of the of the developmentally disabilities budget.
Sean Barrett is the manager of the disAbility Resource Center located in Everett. The center is an affiliate of the Washington Coalition of Citizens with disAbilities. The disAbility Resource Center promotes independence by providing information and assistance, advocacy, and skills training.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
