Huge annual legislative forum on developmental disabilities set for Nov. 23 in Southcenter
Published 1:16 pm Tuesday, November 10, 2009
On the evening of Monday, Nov. 23, it is anticipated that hundreds of King County community members, King County legislators, Olympia staff, and congressional staff will gather at The Doubletree Guest Suites at Southcenter Parkway for the 20th Annual Legislative Forum.
Last year, over 650 community members were in the audience, in addition to 34 legislators, legislative aides and congressional staff, the Department of Social & Health Services secretary, and the director from the Division of Developmental Disabilities.
The governor’s policy staff person, King County management, and King County Executive-elect, Dow Constantine, are also scheduled to attend.
This free event, which is open to any interested party, is co-sponsored by the King County Board for Developmental Disabilities and The King County Parent Coalition, which is a program of The Arc of King County.
This forum is the largest gathering of King County’s developmental disabilities community and provides an opportunity for families and people with developmental disabilities to express their opinions about issues that impact them.
This event allows discussion between family members, advocates, county, regional and state staff.
This year’s topics will include:
• Adequately address needs of the early intervention system.
• Establishing insurance parity and best practices for school-aged children.
• Building strong communities to address the needs of children and adults in crisis.
• Services for high school graduates.
• The growing aging population in the disability community.
Families from Federal Way, Renton, Seattle and other areas throughout King County will be speaking on these issues.
This event is scheduled to be videotaped by TVW for broadcast.
Established in 1936, The Arc of King County is the oldest local nonprofit organization serving children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Developmental disabilities include Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, cognitive disabilities and other similar conditions.
To contact The Arc of King County, call (206) 364-6337, toll-free at 1-877-964-0600, TTY at 1-877-666-2348, or go to www.arcofkingcounty.org.
