The Crisis for IDD in Washington State
The lack of home and community-based services and supports for our high-needs Autism and/or IDD population who experience significant challenging behaviors in Washington has reached a crisis. Individuals in the undeserved population and their families are often isolated, excluded and suffering in silence. Their high-needs and significant safety concerns exceed what the overwhelmed parents and family can provide, safely in the family home.
Parents are told to call 911 or take their loved-one directly to the Emergency Department.
Most EDs are not equipped to handle IDD population experiencing challenging behaviors.
If phychriactic in-paitient placement is deemed necessary:
No placement available
Inapprpriate hospital/medical stay
Physical ao pharmaceutical retraints used
Return home unsafe with overwhelmed parents
Cycle repeats
Traumatizing, impact individual family
“There is no where to go when my child is experiancing a behavior crisis” (fear, society does not care, hopelessness)
Out-of-state placement