Program Updates

DRW’s AVID Program and Yakima County Jail Reach Agreement to Reform Mental Health Services

January 11, 2019In December 2018, Disability Rights Washington’s AVID Program finalized a settlement agreement with Yakima County to improve the conditions for individuals with mental illness and other cognitive disabilities housed at Yakima County Jail. This settlement agreement was the product of about two years of collaboration and will be monitored by the AVID Program and a neutral expert to ensure the Yakima County Jail’s compliance with the terms of the agreement.

Treatment Facilities Team welcomes new member

December 20, 2018The Treatment Facilities Team is happy to welcome Elizabeth Jiménez to our team!

Parties receive final approval for settlement agreement to reform Washington’s forensic mental health system

December 20, 2018On December 11, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Marsha J. Pechman approved a settlement agreement in the AB vs DSHS (Trueblood) class action lawsuit.

Go behind the walls in AVID’s new video, “Washington’s Greying Prisons and the Need for Geriatric Review”

December 6, 2018Disability Rights Washington’s AVID Project has joined with incarcerated groups at Monroe, as well as other community advocates, to propose state legislation that would create a system of post-conviction review for these older inmates. To support that effort, and show the public what our greying prison population really looks like, we teamed up with Rooted in Rights to make a video...learn more here.

New report: No Excuse for Exclusion: Segregation and Subminimum Wage at Rainier

October 30, 2018Residents working at Rainier work in isolated conditions, doing tasks that are not individualized to meet their capabilities, and earn less than minimum wage. Disability Rights Washington provides the latest update on Rainier in “No Excuse for Exclusion.”

New Report: Let Us Come Home

October 17, 2018New report released today: Washington’s Out-of-State Youth Plead: Let us Come Home Report and Recommendations. Disability Rights Washington (DRW) has completed an investigation of Clarinda Academy, one of the many out-of-state institutions where Washington State has been sending foster youth with behavioral health needs. Learn more...

AVID Program Summer Updates

September 25, 2018What has the AVID Program team been up to this summer? Find out here...

I-940 De-Escalate Ready for the Campaign and Confident of a Win in November

August 31, 2018The State Supreme Court has ruled that I-940 must be placed on the November ballot. DRW and De-escalate Washington are ready to go to the ballot and win, and then keep working for reforms with our law enforcement partners! We're committed to saving lives. The first step to that is passing I-940.

Policy Goals for the New Access Paratransit Contract

August 28, 2018Disability Rights Washington (DRW), Washington ADAPT West, and the Transit Riders Union have co-released a new report regarding the poor quality of the paratransit services in King County for riders with disabilities who cannot use fixed route buses.

Parties in Trueblood Reach a Settlement Agreement

August 23, 2018The Parties in the A.B. by and through Trueblood v. DSHS have reached a settlement agreement which improves the competency evaluation and restoration services system, emphasizes arrest diversion, and increases community-based supports for people with mental illness.

CLICK TO WATCH NEW VIDEO: ‘Welcome Indicators’ in Long-Term Care

June 13, 2018Experts have told us that they can discern within minutes whether any given long-term care environment is the type that truly supports self-determination and self-advocacy for residents. People in long-term care deserve privacy, freedom, respect, and every chance to pursue a fully engaged adult life. Our new video shows "Welcome Indicators" that can help you tell right off the bat whether or not an environment is the kind that regards and facilitates its residents.

Deadly Force Reforms Head to Washington State Supreme Court

June 7, 2018The Washington Supreme Court agrees to hear a case seeking to uphold the legislature’s passage of reforms to the state’s police deadly force law. DRW and a coalition of law enforcement and community groups stand united in support of these reforms, including improvements in police accountability and mental health training.

Congratulations Reisha Abolofia

May 21, 2018Disability Rights Washington is pleased to announce that Reisha Abolofia will direct the new Rights Investigation and Accountability Program. Reisha will lead a team of one staff member from each of Disability Rights Washington’s three offices to ensure that individuals with disabilities have self-determination in personal and financial decisions.

DRW v. Inslee

May 2, 2018In April 2018, Disability Rights Washington and co-counsel Paukert and Troppmann filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the Department of Corrections’ practice of housing inmates with mental health needs in overly restrictive custodial settings at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. Disability Rights Washington is serving as the organizational plaintiff in this case, which is ongoing.