Kitsap County Parent Advocacy

03/09/2026

I have sometimes been asked about resources surrounding grief. I receive Kids Mental Health News Letter and gleaned this from them. Check out their website for all their wonderful programs they are working on for families and teens.

03/04/2026

Join us TODAY 3/4/2026 at 10:00 a.m. for Advocacy Days!

The topic covered will include What Can You Do Now: How do we ensure that people with I/DD are protected from budget cuts?

Make your voice is heard every Wednesday during the legislative session by joining The Arc of Washington State. Stay informed and speak out on policies and budget decisions that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Register now for this week and any week of Advocacy Days at this link: https://arcwa.org/advocacy/advocacy-days/

Join us TOMORROW at 10:00 a.m. for Advocacy Days!

The topic covered will include What Can You Do Now: How do we ensure that people with I/DD are protected from budget cuts?

Make your voice heard every Wednesday during the legislative session by joining The Arc of Washington State. Stay informed and speak out on policies and budget decisions that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Register now for this week and any week of Advocacy Days at this link: https://arcwa.org/advocacy/advocacy-days/

03/03/2026

Just when we thought we could breathe…

Last week, we shared good news:

✅ The House and Senate budgets do not change eligibility for services.
✅ Funding for Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) was protected.



That remains true.

But buried deep in both budgets is something extremely concerning — an item labeled an “underspend” sweep from Employment, Community Inclusion, and Individual and Family Services (IFS) Waivers.

It sounds harmless. Responsible. Even prudent.

It is not.

Here’s What’s Really Happening

Budget writers are proposing to “claw back” $33 million from DDCS waiver programs under the assumption that these funds will go unused.

However, the actual projected underspend is estimated to be between $0–8 million — not $33 million.

This is not trimming excess. This is cutting into active, needed service dollars.

The Impact Would Be Devastating

To absorb a $33 million sweep, DDCS would have no choice but to:

Close the front door to waiver services by reducing enrollment caps
Make serious cuts to existing services
Cut or destabilize residential, employment, Community Inclusion, and therapy services
Potentially eliminate statewide navigation and family connection supports
This isn’t confined to one program. The cascading effect impacts ALL waivers and services statewide.

Waivers could effectively close to newly eligible individuals.

Programs that serve families who receive no paid services — such as Parent to Parent, Informing Families, and BenefitU — could be among the first cut.

Who Will Be Hit Hardest?

High school graduates with I/DD, who rely on the Basic Plus Waiver for employment supports
Families in crisis, who will find no available waiver slots
Taxpaying adults with disabilities, who depend on employment supports to stay employed
DDCS will also be placed in an impossible position:

Either shut down or restrict services before the end of FY26 to avoid overspending in FY27
Or risk violating federal Medicaid waiver requirements
This is not an abstraction. These are real people. Real families. Real jobs. Real futures.

CALL NOW! 1-800-562-6000
WHAT YOU CAN DO — RIGHT NOW
Budget negotiations are happening NOW.

Session ends March 12.

The timeline is extremely short.

Contact Budget Leaders TODAY:

• Senator June Robinson — June.Robinson@leg.wa.gov

• Senator Derek Stanford — Derek.Stanford@leg.wa.gov

• Representative Timm Ormsby — Timm.Ormsby@leg.wa.gov

• Representative Mia Gregerson — Mia.Gregerson@leg.wa.gov

• Representative Nicole Macri — Nicole.Macri@leg.wa.gov

Call Your Own Legislators and the Governor’s Office:

📞 Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000

Tell Them:

• Oppose any “underspend sweep” from DSHS DDCS programs — these are not surplus dollars. They are active service funds.

• Do not close waiver enrollment to new eligible individuals.

• Protect employment, residential, and family support services.

• Honor Washington’s legal and moral commitment to individuals with developmental disabilities.

We cannot allow an accounting maneuver to undo decades of progress.
Please act today.
Thank you for your advocacy, we couldn't do it without you.
Cathy Murahashi

03/02/2026

Kitsap County Aging and Long-Term Care
A A A
Help shape our services by taking the survey.

2026 Aging & Disability Community Survey

Kitsap County Aging and Long-Term Care, the local Area Agency on Aging, develops an Area Plan every four years that describes the priorities for discretionary funding and services to support older adults and adults with disabilities living in the community. Your survey responses will help with the development of the 2027-2030 Area Plan for Kitsap County.

Participation is voluntary, responses are anonymous, and any question may be skipped. This survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.

If you have questions, need assistance with taking the survey, or need to request translation assistance, please contact our office at (360) 337-5700 or 1-800-562-6418 or email tweintra@kitsap.gov

Kitsap County Aging and Long-Term Care, the local Area Agency on Aging, develops an Area Plan every four years that describes the priorities for discretionary funding and services to support older adults and adults with disabilities living in the community. Your survey responses will help with the d...

02/28/2026

Celebrating Rare Disease Day 2026

02/28/2026

The Skills Empowerment and Advocacy Training (SEAT) is a series developed and led by people with developmental disabilities to prepare others to serve on boards, advisory councils, commissions, and work groups. As the true meaning of Nothing About Us Without Us indicates, being a part of decisions made at the local, state, and national level is vital.

Join us every Friday in March at 11am PST! Register and learn more about the sessions here: gowise.org/training/seat

Thank you to the Kuni Foundation, Clallam County DD Program, Clark County DD Program, and Kitsap County DD Program for funding this awesome series!

March 6th with Eric Matthes, SEAT at the Table: Your Journey Starts Here.

March 13th with Daman Wandke , SEAT at the Table: Board Service on Your Terms.

March 20th with Taylor Crisp, SEAT at the Table: How Boards Work and How to Participate.

March 27th (Panel) with Tammy Bowen – Advocacy Support Specialist, Lizzy Johnston - Advocate/Board Member, Joey Wilson - Advocate, Danna Summers - Parent and Council Lead, SEAT at the Table: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What Comes Next.

gowise.org/training/seat

02/27/2026

Mark your calendars for Kitsap County's Annual Resource Fair. It will be a wonderful experience for all those whose youth are looking to start understanding what life after high school can look like. What services look like that I am not familiar with. How I might receive support that I was not aware of both as a person with a disability and as a parent or carrgiver.

April 24, 2026
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Central Kitsap High School

02/25/2026

Prior Written Notice (PWN) is an important document that ensures parents are informed about proposed changes or refusals in their child's special education services. Understanding PWN helps parents stay engaged and protect their child's educational rights.

02/23/2026

Here is a personal testimony from a friend of mine, .pnw.realtor.brooke about Buddy Ball.

Happy Monday!

02/18/2026

Today is Advocacy Day! You can go to The Arc of Washington's website and register to be a part of todays topic, Protect Our Students Right yo Education: How do we ensure that every student has the right to inclusive education.

Join us this Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. for Advocacy Days! The topic covered will include Protect Our Students Right to Education: How do we ensure that every student has the right to an inclusive education?

Make your voice heard every Wednesday during the legislative session by joining The Arc of Washington State. Stay informed and speak out on policies and budget decisions that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Register now for this week and any week of Advocacy Days at this link: https://arcwa.org/advocacy/advocacy-days/

02/17/2026

Inspiration for today! This is what Peer to Peer mentoring is about.

02/14/2026

Tools 4 Success Conference — a FREE, in-person event designed for youth and young adults who experience disabilities, along with their families and support teams.

📅 March 24, 2026
🕗 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Tacoma Community College

This inspiring event focuses on envisioning your future, building skills, and exploring college and career opportunities.

🔗 Learn more & register: https://www.tools4successconference.org/

We hope to see you there! 💚