The DC Bridging Aging and Disability Networks Project continues the learning and systems change efforts that have been in progress over the last 10+ years to support families, facilitate cross-agency coordination, and engage all DC residents in building fair and user-friendly disability and aging services and supports.

Objectives:

• Better support individuals with disabilities to maintain dignity and rights as they age.
• Better support and connect with aging caregivers (family and paid caregivers like direct support professionals - DSPs, home health aides - HHAs, etc.).
• Build capacity for broad community engagement across aging and disability networks.
• Build sustainable relationships between aging and disability service networks.

Upcoming Activities:

Previous Activities:

• Collaboration with DC Supporting Families Community of Practice to support caregivers, 3-part series on self-care, community supports, and advocacy - June 6, 2024, November 26, 2024, and January 31, 2025
• Screening of documentary, "Unseen: How We're Failing Parent Caregivers and Why It Matters" - November 2023
• Future Planning Lunch and Learn Series in August 2023 - This 3-part series addressed an overview of disability and aging services in DC, financial options to plan for the future, and legal decision-making options to plan for the future. You can view each session here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEhZQU_WEgEtwv4o0wukDXgWGEOTRgDT-
• Aging and Disability Panel Discussion and Community Listening Session - Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 4 – 5:30 pm on Zoom
• Aging and Disability Professionals Networking Event - Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 4 - 6 pm, Location: Department on Disability Services, 250 E Street SW

Resources

• National Council on Aging - https://www.ncoa.org/ 
• How to create a will, for free! - https://www.freewill.com/

State Alliance Team:

• Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) – Co-lead
• Department on Disability Services (DDS) – Co-lead
• Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL)
• Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Center for Child and Human Development (GUCEDD)
• Disability Rights DC at University Legal Services (DRDC)
• Project ACTION! – DC’s self-advocacy coalition
• Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities – includes Family Ties of DC, DC’s Parent-to-Parent chapter
• RCM of Washington – disability service provider

Issues/context to keep in mind as we do this work together:

• Community engagement for quality service provision
• Intake and eligibility-related issues
• Direct care workforce crisis
• Supporting a person in the context of their family and community
• Person centered thinking
• Self-advocacy and leadership
• Aging in place/in community
• Navigating the service system
• Evaluation
• Caregiver support
• Supported decision making in aging and disability networks

If you have questions or want to get involved in this work, please contact Alison Whyte, alison.whyte@dc.gov, 202-340-8563 (call/text).