Board & Commission Profiles

Member Requirements: The Council’s composition shall be consistent with the Act and include representatives from the agencies and programs designated in the Act. Agencies and programs represented on the Council shall include those responsible for: (1) Rehabilitation Act – Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; (2) Older Americans Act – DSHS – Aging and Long Term Support Administration; (3) Medicaid Title XIX – DSHS – Developmental Disabilities Administration; (4) Medicaid Title XIX – Health Care Authority; (5) Social Security Title V – Department of Health/Maternal Child Health; (6) IDEA – Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction /Special Education; (7) University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities; (8) State Protection and Advocacy System; and (9) Representative of local and non-governmental agencies and non-profit agencies concerned with the services of individuals with developmental disabilities. Representatives from the agencies and programs must have sufficient authority to engage in policy planning and implementation on behalf of the department, agency, or program they represent.
Consistent with the Act, not less than 60 percent of the Council membership shall consist of (i) individuals with developmental disabilities; (ii) parents or guardians of children with developmental disabilities or (iii) immediate relatives or guardians of adults with developmental disabilities who cannot advocate for themselves. At least one member shall be a person who resides or has resided in a large state developmental disability institution, or a parent or guardian of a person who resides or has resided in one.