HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2023-4632

HR 4632

ByRepresentatives Taylor, Ramel, Duerr, Schmick, Berry, Wylie, Thai, Orwall, Riccelli, Alvarado, Chapman, Chopp, Shavers, Walen, Bronoske, Ryu, Doglio, Leavitt, Berg, Fosse, Goodman, Santos, Gregerson, Mosbrucker, Street, Farivar, Klicker, Ramos, Cortes, Kloba, Macri, Simmons, and Senn

WHEREAS, March was recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by former President Ronald Reagan in 1987, through Proclamation 5613; and

WHEREAS, Washington State has over 170,000 people with developmental disabilities primarily living in the community with their families; and

WHEREAS, Washington families care for their loved ones with developmental disabilities. Families, especially those caring for young children and senior families caring for adult children, experience diminished employment opportunities, housing insecurities, and a woefully undersupported caregiving workforce; and

WHEREAS, Washington state toddlers with developmental disabilities may begin experiencing discrimination and isolation at a young age, in child care centers and preschool settings; and

WHEREAS, Washington state students with developmental disabilities are often isolated in school, segregated in the learning environment, have lower graduation rates, and are more isolated after graduation than their nondisabled peers; and

WHEREAS, Developmentally disabled Washingtonians of color, developmentally disabled Washingtonians with language access needs, developmentally disabled Washingtonians who are gender nonbinary, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered, and gender and sexuality questioning, are at greater risk for living in poverty and isolation than their nondisabled, cis-gendered, heterosexual peers;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives support the resilience and courage of Washingtonians with developmental disabilities by highlighting their stories, their needs, and their hopes for thriving and inclusion in community-based settings.