Gaps in services for people with disabilities

In some ways, it's a good time for people with disabilities in Washington state and Snohomish County. The legislature surprised everyone by doing an about-face and funding all students who are transitioning from school district services to adult services. Last year, there was no funding at all for transition students. Given budget shortfalls, no one expected full funding this round--but we got it, thanks to some tireless advocates and supportive legislators. There was also no funding cut this time to employment vendors like Sherwood's Career Connection program, versus last year's 1.75% cut.

But gaps remain. The one that keeps rearing its especially ugly head is the gap between what people with the most significant disabilities want and need in terms of employment services and what the system can afford to provide.

The old model was to create sheltered workshops where people with the most signficant barriers could work and learn skills. A newer model has developed in recent years that stresses real jobs in inclusive community work environments. There are good reasons for the shift--people learn more, earn more, develop more relationships, and usually are happier when they have typical jobs in the community.

But as public funding has increasingly moved in that direction, and as the private contracts that used to help pay for workshops have steadily shrunk, it has created a gap in hours for people who have worked a long time in sheltered workshops. They may go from a 4- or 5-day-a-week work schedule in the workshop to a 1- or 2-day-a-week schedule of working or looking for work in the community.

What to do with the rest of those hours? What options are there for people with high support needs to find meaningful activities and have the necessary support from a caregiver to access various activities? Respite dollars are often tight for families, and aren't even available to Adult Family Home (AFH) providers. They must absorb the extra hours of care somehow, without any additional resources.

We continue to struggle with this. As an employment provider, our role is really to focus on work. We can't provide respite or recreational activities--they're outside of our area of training, and we don't have the capacity to add new programs. But of course we want to help the individuals we know who are affected by reduced hours.

Maybe it's time for a new discussion among providers, parents, self-advocates, and others to look for some different options.