Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)
Latest News
Mobility: Making Connections - This video provides information about Washington's Statewide Transportation Plan, 2040 And Beyond.
The Individual and Family Services (IFS) Waiver renewal approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - CMS approved the DSHS’ Development Disabilities Administration’s IFS waiver renewal effective September 1, 2019. This five-year waiver renewal:
- Removed the minimum age eligibility, age three
- Removed Therapeutic Equipment and Supplies as a stand-alone service. These benefits are now included as Specialized Equipment and Supplies (formally named specialized medical equipment)
- Added Behavioral Health Stabilization Services – Crisis Diversion Bed Services.
- Align the waiver calendar to match DDA’s other four waivers (September 1 – August 31).
The entire 615 page approved waiver renewal application is posted online (PDF, 12.7 MB).
Staff Retention Survey - DSHS' Developmental Disabilities Administration and the University of Washington partnered to create a survey about staff retention, and motivation of direct-support professionals. The survey is meant to be a tool for agency administrators to assess direct-support professionals’ motivation across seven different categories. The survey, completed by direct-care professionals, takes approximately ten minutes to complete. For more information, contact the Roads to Community Living Behavior analyst.
A new Care Provider Bulletin on Wildfire Prevention has been released. More DDA Care Provider Bulletins.
What We Do
The DDA Mission: Transforming lives by providing support and fostering partnerships that empower people to live the lives they want. Read more about the 2019-2021 DDA strategic plan.
The DDA Vision:
- Supporting individuals to live in, contribute to, and participate in their communities;
- Continually improving supports to families of both children and adults;
- Individualizing supports that will empower individuals with developmental disabilities to realize their greatest potential;
- Building support plans based on the needs and the strengths of the individual and the family; and
- Engaging individuals, families, local service providers, communities, governmental partners and other stakeholders to continually improve our system of supports.
DDA Values:
- Respect gained through positive recognition of the importance of all individuals;
- Person-Centered Planning to support each person to reach his or her full potential;
- Partnerships between DDA and clients, families and providers in order to develop and sustain supports and services that are needed and desired;
- Community Participation by empowering individuals with developmental disabilities to be part of the workforce contributing members of society.
People with developmental disabilities and their families are valued citizens of the state of Washington. The Developmental Disabilities Administration strives to develop and implement public policies that will promote individual worth, self-respect, and dignity such that each individual is valued as a contributing member of the community.
The Residential and County Guidelines documents were used as the basis to create this single Developmental Disabilities Guiding Values document.