A developmental disability is a disability that:
The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) assists individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to obtain services and support based on individual preferences, capabilities, and needs. While some DDA clients live in residential habilitation centers or in institutional settings, most clients live in the community. Eligibility for DDA services depends on whether the client has a qualifying developmental disability, has a functional need, and meets certain income and asset standards.
If a child is determined to be eligible for DDA services before age three, eligibility expires on the child's fourth birthday. Eligibility for a child determined eligible at or after age three based on developmental delays or Down syndrome expires on the child's tenth birthday.
DSHS rulemaking authority relating to redetermination of eligibility for developmental disability services is modified to provide that rules may not terminate or require redetermination of eligibility for a child under age 18 based solely on the child's age if the child has been determined to be eligible for services on or after the child's third birthday.
PRO: Requiring reevaluation places a hard burden on youths and their families, particularly those from disadvantaged communities. It is time consuming and may cause lapses in receiving services. A disruption in services can put both a youth and their family in crisis. This is an unnecessary process for disabilities that don't go away. This bill will prevent those lapses and help these families.
PRO: The process to have eligibility re-determined is difficult and lengthy. It takes weeks of tracking down the necessary paperwork and compiling everything to submit to DDA. This process is really hard on the parents and takes a lot of time for case managers simply to allow clients to be eligible for the same services they had yesterday.