What's New

• Council to sponsor a "Town Meeting" in Vancouver September 25
• Council Request for Proposal (RFP) Notification Change
• Volunteers Sought to Review Grant Proposals
• New Council Podcasts Provide Information about the Council in a Video Format 
• DDC's New E-Newsletter Keeps You Up-to-Date
• DDC 2007 Progress Report Available Online

Council to sponsor a "Town Meeting" in Vancouver September 25
The Council will sponsor a town meeting in Vancouver on September 25 at the Vancouver Hilton Hotel.  The meeting will be  a chance to share concerns developmental disabilities issues and to identify systemic changes that can make a difference.  The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm.  More information is available on the Town Meeting Flyer. 

Informing Families Building Trust Has New Email Notice
The Informing Families/Building Trust website has just posted a new Email Notice regarding the Division of Developmental Disabilities Planned Action Notices.  This new notice describes what Planned Action Notices are and what families need to do when they receive them.  To read the newest notice, go to the website's Email Notice page.

Council RFP Notification Change
Effective June 1, 2008, the Council will be notifying organizations interested in developing projects via email.  To have your organization notified when there are new proposals, please complete the information below, please send your name, your organization's name, email and phone number to the DD Council.

Volunteers Sought to Review Grant Proposals
The Council is looking for individuals who are interested in reviewing grant proposals.  Qualified individuals should be:

• Over the age of 19
• Should have personal and/or professional experience with disability issues or specific knowledge of the best practices or
• Be able to represent groups of people who are typically underrepresented in Council activities

The Council is hoping to develop a pool of individuals who can be contacted when proposals need to be reviewed.  The Council's next review is scheduled for the beginning of July when we will be reviewing proposals focused on inclusion and transportation.

If you are interested in volunteering for the upcoming review cycles or just wish to be included for future grant reviews, email the Council with your name and organization and we will contact you. 

New Council Podcasts Provide Information about the Council in a Video Format
The Council has produced two podcasts to explain what the Council does and how to apply to become a member.  The videos are located at our Cool Stuff section. 

DDC Starts New E-Newsletter
The Developmental Disabilities Council has started a new E-Newsletter called "The Catalyst". The newsletter contains projects, upcoming activities and stories of interest.  Publication is planned for every other month you can sign up to be added to our E-Newsletter Mailing List or go to our Publications Page to read the current issues or

DDC 2007 Annual Progress Report Available Online
The 2007 Annual Progress Report is available for viewing and download.  The report highlights Council accomplishment during 2007. 

Cool Stuff

Here's where we keep "the really good" stuff - things the Council and others in the developmental disabilities community are doing that's worth a look. Here's some of the latest:

COUNCIL VIDEOS

This video is about the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council and what it does.

This video is about why it's cool to be a Council member

ADVOCACY MATTERS

Advocacy Matters is a new series of videos highlighting the achievements of self-advocates are on the Informing Family/Building Trust website.  The Informing Families website helps families stay informed about changes the Division of Developmental Disabilities is making that may affect them.   You can get a sneak peek at the videos in the series below:

Heather's Story

Emily's Story

OTHER COOL STUFF

The Arc of Washington hosts podcasts during legislative session that help keep you up-to-date.  Some of the videos are interesting even after legislative session because they help explain how laws and policy change happen.  You can scout out what they've done at the Olympia Insider webpage.