Promoting, Dignity, Equality and Self-Determination
Washington Protection & Advocacy System
Home ׀
About WPAS ׀
News ׀
Self-Advocacy
׀ Public Policy
׀ Publications
׀ Contact
WPAS
E-Mail Updates
׀ Support WPAS
׀ Search
WPAS Updates:
News from the Washington Protection and Advocacy System
March 18, 2002
The staff at WPAS continues to work to advocate for the civil rights of people with disabilities in Washington state. There are many issues and a whole host of strategies employed in seeking our goal - dignity, equality, and self-determination for people with disabilities. Here are some of the projects that WPAS has been busy with:
Mental Health Ombuds - WPAS has been working with other advocates for the past two years to pass a law requiring the Mental Health Ombuds (consumer advocates) to be independent from the Department of Social And Health Services (DSHS). It has been an uphill struggle, and when the bill failed to pass this year, things looked bleak. However, the perseverance of the bill's prime sponsor (Senator Jim Kastama of Puyallup) and the hard work of advocate groups (WPAS, NAMI-Washington, and the state's Long-term Care Ombuds) finally prevailed. A paragraph was inserted into the budget which will start the ball rolling on the creation of an independent ombuds system.
Personal Assistance Services and the new Homecare Quality Authority - WPAS has been active in promoting Personal Assistance Services (PAS) that are managed and directed by users of those services. That is why WPAS objected to Initiative 775 last fall, because PAS users could lose ground in their quest to be in charge of their own service provider(s). Since the initiative has now become law, WPAS continues to be active hoping to share with the new Homecare Quality Authority the need for consumer participation. WPAS has been talking with PAS users, advocacy groups, and agency folks who will be involved in PAS issues.
Access to WorkSource Centers for People with Disabilities - WPAS is involved in efforts to help people with disabilities overcome barriers that prevent them from finding jobs. Last year, WPAS successfully advocated for a new law that allows those who find jobs to "buy-in" to the Medicaid program. This year WPAS is reaching out to Washington's WorkSource Centers - where job seekers go to get help finding the right job. WPAS is working to make the Centers accessible for people with disabilities.
Telecommunications Consumer Bill of Rights - WPAS is working with a coalition of other consumer groups to write a "Bill of Rights" for telephone users, including reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Learn more about this project by reading this article: Telecom Bill of Rights.
To learn more about these issues contact WPAS by email, snail mail, or telephone. The address and phone numbers for WPAS are printed at the bottom of this page.
● Back to Envoy Archives ● Back to Envoy Online ● Back to Home Page ●
