Developmental Disabilities Ombuds reports on access, hospital 'stuck' cases and calls for improved reporting pathways
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Summary
The Office of the Developmental Disabilities Ombuds briefed the committee on its caseload, outreach and systemic reviews. Director Betty Sweeterman described common complaint types — access to DDA services, abuse and neglect reports, and people unable to be discharged from hospitals — and urged improvements to reporting and crisis placements.
Betty Sweeterman, director of the Office of the Developmental Disabilities Ombuds, updated the Human Services, Youth & Early Learning Committee on the office’s work helping people with developmental disabilities navigate service systems and on systemic issues she has identified.
Sweeterman described the office as independent, created by the legislature in 2016 and housed in a nonprofit to preserve independence. She said the office has about 5.5 full‑time equivalent staff deployed across Spokane, Tacoma and Seattle and that the ombuds provides information, investigates complaints and publishes reports on systemic issues.
Common complaint themes include difficulty accessing DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) services, confusion about responsibilities among multiple agencies, confidentiality concerns, abuse and neglect investigations, and people who become hospitalized and cannot be discharged because suitable community placements or supports are not available. Sweeterman said DDA has improved some discharge practices but that “stuck in hospital” cases remain a persistent system gap.
The ombuds office also raised concerns about callers’ experience with Washington’s end‑harm reporting line, saying it was designed around child reporting and can be difficult for adults with disabilities to navigate. Sweeterman said the office uses a hands‑on approach—visiting people in residence when possible—and that recent contract and appropriation language left the office with funding at a prior level; she asked the committee for support to maintain current service levels.
Sweeterman closed by offering to provide more information and by noting the ombuds tracks trends and publishes annual and special reports for the legislature and agencies.