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!