Advisory council to assess developmentally disabled

  • Brooke Fisher<br>Enterprise editor
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 6:48am

With the adoption of the state’s 2005-07 budget, Gov. Christine Gregoire created an advisory council to assess the needs of developmentally disabled state residents.

Although details of the study are forthcoming, the soon-to-be-established council will conduct a broad study to assess not only the five state Residential Habilitation Centers (RHCs), including the Fircrest School in Shoreline, but the developmentally disabled population as a whole.

“This is not just limited to RHCs,” said Kari Burrell, Gregoire’s executive policy advisor for developmentally disabled issues. “It will look at developmental services for people with developmental disabilities, which is much broader than just the RHCs.”

The two-year budget, which Gregoire signed on May 17, takes effect July 1. Since the budget passed only weeks ago, Burrell said the governor’s administration is now “gearing up to implement it.”

The budget outlines basic parameters for the study, Burrell said, such as establishing an advisory council, securing funding and determining a time line. The state operating budget includes a proviso to fund the study for $182,000, Burrell said.

The council will be comprised of members from 13 different organizations, including the Legislature, representatives of individuals with developmental disabilities, residents of state-run residential centers and labor unions, according to a press release.

Sue Elliot, executive director for the ARC of Washington State, which advocates for people with developmental disabilities, said the proviso in the budget is very broad. The outcome of the study largely depends on what Gregoire wants and what parameters she gives to the advisory council, she said.

“I am hopeful that she gives a clear direction,” Elliot said. “The proviso line is very broad; it could mean anything.”

Ed Holen, director of the state Developmental Disabilities Council, said the organization is one of 13 that will be involved in the study. “We were named in the legislation as not only having a member on the commission, but will be actively involved with the study,” he said.

Holen said the first meeting of the advisory council has not yet been set. The study will need to be completed before the next legislative session, he said.

According to a press release from Friends of Fircrest, “In the coming weeks, Friends of Fircrest and other residential center supporters will closely follow the appointments to the advisory council and urge the governor’s office to appoint open-minded candidates.”

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