dds

Department on Disability Services

^-A ⁺A

From Institution To Inclusion

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

On March 15, 2016, WAMU 88.5 FM began airing a four-part series regarding the state of disability services in the District and across the nation. The piece From Institution to Inclusion traces the history of disability services from Forest Haven and the 40-year lawsuit Bowers v. Evans to Employment First and the implementation of Person Centered Thinking practices in providing support services to people with disabilities. Reporter Martin Austermuhle conducted interviews with former residents of Forest Haven, representatives from the Quality Trust, attorneys, self-advocates from Project ACTION!, and DDS Director Laura L. Nuss.

https://wamu.atavist.com/from-institution-to-inclusion

Person-Centered Thinking

Person-centered thinking is a philosophy behind service provision that supports positive control and self-direction of people’s own lives. DDS is working to implement this through training sessions and other agency wide initiatives.

Employment First Initiative

Two people clasping hand, one in wheelchair

Under the Employment First philosophy, competitive, integrated employment is the first and overwhelmingly preferred option for working-age youth and adults with disabilities.