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Quality Trust assists people with developmental disabilities to be safe, healthy and valued. Our vision is a community where everyone is respected and contributes--regardless of their abilities or differences.
Why do we exist?
There are thousands of residents of the District of Columbia with developmental disabilities* who need advocates to get the services they require; or legal advocacy and education to ensure that justice is delivered; and monitors to watch the level of care and treatment delivered daily in residents and day centers; training for direct support providers and an independent voice for and with people with DD.
* These conditions include autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, mental retardation, brain injury and other neurological impairments. The limitations from these conditions include self-care, language, learning, mobility, capacity for independent living or economic self-sufficiency.
What have you accomplished?
Quality Trust 2002 – 2009
Quality Trust’s advocacy, monitoring, legal and family support work has:
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Touched the lives of more than 2500 people with DD in different ways
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Increased the profile and presence of people with DD throughout our community
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Staunchly defended and promoted the rights and capability of people with DD
Accomplishment Highlights:
- Established Annual DD Awareness Month Celebration as a collaborative event supported by local advocacy groups and people with DD and their family members are featured speakers
- Established QT Annual Meeting and Awards with at least 50% QT members and families in attendance – people with DD are recognized for their accomplishments as are others who have provided unique support
- Testified at DC City Council – every year and every hearing on DDA – on the status of people with DD
- Produced Beyond Forest Haven Video in collaboration with Arc, DD Council and Georgetown UCEDD
- Co-Led DC state team for Alliance for Full Participation to create a unified advocacy agenda
- Advocated for changes in local law (2-137) including eliminating “commitment”
- Established person centered advocacy as a benchmark and model for how to interact and support people with DD
- Advanced the concept of Supported Decision Making by:
- Challenging and changing the Guardianship law
- Defending individual capacity
- Identifying alternatives to guardianship
- Used Partnership for Change project to demonstrate change was possible and define the local barriers to systemic change
- Created the Family Empowerment Center – providing direct support for families and advancing commitment to family support
- Created Shared Horizons – an independent nonprofit operating pooled special needs trusts
- Established person centered monitoring processes based on national standards of practice as an alternative to traditional methods of compliance surveys
- Promoted the use of DD Nursing Association national practice standards through individual reviews and training
- Led charge for reform of the Medicaid Waiver serving on committees and in leadership roles
- Provided training and technical assistance to attorneys and magistrate judge on issues affecting people with DD through conversations, one on one technical support and monthly Brown Bag trainings
- Created End of life planning process and capacity to train locally – this process has been published by AAIDD and is now being used nationally
- Established an annual Direct Support Professionals Conference (3rd conference this year) and developed provider commitment to supporting this event
- Partnered with Project Action and self advocates to increase leadership opportunities for people with DD
- Filed as Amicus in Evans case to ensure remedy was responsive to all people with DD in DC
- Filed several amicus briefs in individual cases which have implications for the way the Court views the rights of all people with DD
ADVOCACY …. EDUCATION …. PARTNERSHIP …. ACTION!
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