Mayor Bowser has been sworn in, and I’m hearing straws in
the wind that Laura Nuss may stay, but still nothing official. Whoever the
director is, it’s critical for DDS to follow through on three fundamental reforms that affect the framework for disability
services in the District. The first of
these is to meet the remaining requirements needed to close the Evans lawsuit. Two
others, which I’ve also discussed in earlier posts, involve close collaboration
with the D.C. council to ensure changes in legislation and adequate budget
support:
-
Expand
eligibility for services to those who may not have an intellectual
disability but who do have other types of developmental disabilities. As a council member, Muriel Bowser co-sponsored
the DDRA, and as mayor she should follow through to see that this set of
constituents is well served by the city.
-
Eliminate
court commitment for people with a significant intellectual disability,
an outmoded and disrespectful practice that no longer exists anywhere else in
the country.
Beyond these essential reforms, there are important actions
on which DDS and partner agencies within the Bowser administration need to make
further headway in the New Year, in order to improve further the city’s delivery
of services for citizens with disabilities:
-
Keep systems
serving people rather than the reverse
o
Reinforce training in person-centered thinking so
DDA staff don’t lose sight of the individual in their focus on paperwork and
process requirements.
o
Get person-centered training going in RSA as
well.
o
Underscore to service coordinators and other staff
the expectation that they should welcome and facilitate involvement in decision making by
designated family and other unpaid supports.
o
Streamline overly burdensome financial systems in
order to facilitate payments to DDA by individuals’ designated representatives.
-
Increase
professionalism and effectiveness of service delivery
o
Attract even more new service providers to D.C.
to increase choice and improve the quality of services.
o
Redouble efforts to get provider staff trained
in and focused on person-centered approaches.
o
Move ahead on requiring RSA providers also to be
qualified with DDA, so that people don’t have to change providers if funding shifts
between the two arms of DDS.
-
Make information
more accessible
o
Keep improving the DDS website so that information
is easy to find for people who don’t know the technical terminology or processes.
o
Hold more public outreach meetings outside of
work hours. Whenever meetings take place,
enable teleconference or webinar participation and provide a means of follow-up
for those unable to attend.
o
Institute a variety of mechanisms and efforts to
bring information to people where they are.
-
Enhance
internal communications
o
Keep emphasizing to DDA service coordinators and
RSA vocational specialists serving the same individual that they are on the
same team. It’s not happening even
though they’re all located within DDS and under one roof.
o
Within DDA, make sure that different departments
don’t contradict or undermine one another.
Poor internal communications only create more barriers for people who
are trying to apply for services or obtain services for which they have been
found eligible.
New year, new administration – an opportunity for great
strides to be made on behalf of D.C. citizens with developmental disabilities. Let’s do it.
Well said. Good job, Carol.
ReplyDeleteHigh praise coming from you, Mat, and much appreciated.
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