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20 <br /> <br />PRIORITIES <br />The following priorities were selected by the Kittitas County Developmental Disabilities Advisory <br />Committee through a process that included facilitated brainstorming, affinity diagramming, <br />prioritization, goal setting, and action planning . These four priorities will be utilized, not only for the <br />DDAC, but also for funding and programmatic decisions during the biennium. Requests for funding and <br />programs beyond the employment support services will , ideally, align with these areas. Additionally, <br />the DDAC identified a core value of ensuring the inclusion and involvement of people with DD and <br />their families in addressing these priorities. <br /> <br />POLICY MAKER ENGAGEMENT <br />Policy makers at the state or local levels often do not have much knowledge or awareness about t he <br />issues faced by people with developmental disabilities and often people with DD don’t have a seat at <br />the table discussion issues that affect them. To bring the voices of people with DD and increase <br />knowledge and awareness, our goal is to serve as liaisons to policy makers to increase awareness <br />and facilitate solutions to the issues faced by people with DD. The goal will be accomplished <br />through strategies involving policy makers at the city, county, and state levels. <br /> <br />COMMUNITY INCLUSIVITY AND ACCEPTA NCE <br />People with DD often remain invisible to the general community which can lead to discrimination, <br />conflict, and even violence. Our goal is to help our community be more inclusive and accepting of <br />people with DD through public events and communications. <br /> <br />RESOURCE AND SERVICE EDUCATION <br />Even in a small rural community such as Kittitas County, it can be difficult to know what resources and <br />services are available. To make this information and the resources more accessible, we aim to <br />education families, individuals, and the public about services available for people with DD. We will <br />do this through improving and communicating current information about services. <br /> <br />CONFLICT REDUCTION AND IMPROVED COMMUNICATION <br />People with DD often find themselves in conflict with the public, law enforcement, or the courts due to <br />a lack of understanding and/or difficulties in communication. To reduce conflict and improve <br />communication with people with DD, we will collaborate with local law enforcement, improve <br />common language about people with DD, and advocate for the establishment of a mental health court <br />program. <br /> <br />