Last week, Governor Bob Ferguson joined seventeen other governors in signing a bipartisan letter urging the U.S. Department of Justice not to retreat from its longstanding commitment to community integration and unnecessary segregation consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C.. In response to this action, our Executive Director, Wally Tablit, sent the following letter to Governor Ferguson, thanking him for his leadership and offering our expertise to support the state’s commitment to community integration. Read the full letter below or click this link to open it in a PDF.
Dear Governor Ferguson,
Thank you for joining the bipartisan, multi-state governors’ letter supporting continued federal commitment to Olmstead protections and community integration. We recognize and appreciate your public commitment to ensuring people with disabilities can live and receive services in their communities, rather than face unnecessary segregation in institutional setting. Washington has long been a leader on disability rights, and your decision to unite with 17 other governors in defense of these protections reaffirms that leadership at a moment when it matters the most.
As the federally designated Protection and Advocacy system for Washington state, Disability Rights Washington (DRW) works to advance and protect the human and legal rights of people with disabilities statewide. We share your commitment to the core principles of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Olmstead v. L.C.: community integration, self-determination, meaningful choice, and the right to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to a person’s needs. These principles are not abstract to us—they define the daily work we do with and on behalf of the disability community.
We offer DRW as a resource to your office, policy staff, and state agencies as you navigate the implications of the federal government’s retreat from its longstanding Olmstead guidance. Our staff has extensive experience advocating for community-based services to make community integration possible. We maintain strong partnerships across Washington’s disability communities to elevate firsthand perspectives on the importance of a right to community living. We welcome the opportunity to coordinate a chance for you and your staff to hear directly from people with disabilities and their families about what community integration means in practice, and what is at stake if these protections erode.
DRW, with advocacy partners, is currently working with Representative Darya Farivar and other policymakers to explore legislative options for strengthening Washington’s own commitment to community integration. We encourage your continued leadership and collaboration as this effort moves forward.
Thank you again, Governor Ferguson, for your leadership on this critical issue. DRW is eager to partner with your administration to protect and advance the promise of Olmstead in our state. We hope to schedule a meeting or briefing with you or your staff in the near future.
Sincerely,
Wally Tablit
Executive Director, Disability Rights Washington