ODR and DDS Budget Hearing Took Place on April 23

 

On April 23, Facilities Committee chair Janeese Lewis George hosted the budget hearing for the Office of Disability Rights and the Department on Disability Services (see this page for important organization and terms you need to know).  Here's the video clip from the DC council website: https://dc.granicus.com/player/clip/10515.

The first hour of the video focuses on ODR, including testimony by interim director Peter Stephan, with witnesses for DDS starting about one hour in and Andy Reese's testimony and Q and A starting about 2 hours and 15 minutes into the video. Much of the focus from advocates, and in the Q and A, was about: ensuring the 3% increase in DDS funding is sustained as a floor; how to avoid a waitlist in FY2027; and how to ensure adequate coverage of administrative fees for providers.

I strongly encourage you, at a minimum, to watch the government testimony and Q and As, which are often driven by earlier testimony by public witnesses.  It's worth your time if you want to know where things are headed for DC residents with disabilities! 

More Scheduling Shifts on the DC Budget Front

Since I last wrote, timing has changed again with respect to the DC, and the DDS, budget.  Release of the mayor's budget was delayed further to allow for CFO Glen Lee's review, so the budget reached the council on April 14. That has pushed the council's hearing dates later, as well. 

For us this means:

-    The April 23 DDS/ODR hearing before the Facilities Committee (that name needs to change!) will now be not just for government witnesses, but also for public witnesses.  So sign up here (LINK) to testify!

-    The DDS budget briefing that was supposed to happen on April 6 is now going to take place this Friday, April 17, 12-1:30.  You should be able to join the event at this link, or contact Charlisa Payne at Charlisa.Payne2@dc.gov.