Press Release: October 21, 2009

Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells

Immediate Release Contact: Charles Allen
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 408 (202)724-8072
Washington, D.C. 20004 www.TommyWells.org

Councilmember Tommy Wells Introduces Legislation to Overhaul District

Laws for Developmentally Disabled Individuals

(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, Councilmember Tommy Wells, alongside Chairman Vincent

C. Gray, introduced the Development Disabilities Reform Act of 2009. The bill is the result of
more than two years of collaborative effort among advocates for persons with intellectual and
developmental disabilities (IADD), their family members, agency officials, policy experts,
and members of the Council and staff.

“Historically, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families
have been forced to rely on government services that were often inadequate and failed to meet
their needs in a humane and dignified manner,” commented Councilmember Wells.

Forest Haven, the District’s institutionalized setting for persons with IADD, closed 18 years
ago last week. When it closed, persons with IADD were dependent on the courts to ensure
what care could be provided. The District’s system relied primarily on a cumbersome and
costly process involving judges, attorneys and guardians to guarantee rights. In the meantime,
best practices developed around the country and the city’s system became outdated and
obsolete.

Over a period of three years, the reform law will phase out the commitment of people to the
Department of Disability Services by the Courts, and replace the old system with a person-
centric approach involving the individual’s family and support system in the decisions
affecting their lives. Under the reform, the Department of Disability Services will be able to
meet the needs of this population directly, rather than requiring court action.

Wells added, “The Developmental Disabilities Reform Act of 2009 represents a wholesale
reform of our system. It is my hope as chair of the Committee on Human Services, that with
this reform, oversight of the system for persons with IADD will eventually return to the
Council rather than being vested in the Courts.”

The legislation was referred to the Committee on Human Services and Councilmember Wells
aims to hold a hearing on the reform bill within the next two months.

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