Pro-Active Vision For Rainier School

I am tired of the state and county coming after Rainier School! It seems like every year we fight off closure. We need to organize and fight with our own plan and goals.

"The most basic function of state government is insuring the care for the disabled...those who cannot care for themselves." PR

Thank you to KOMO which covered our meeting and to all the local elected officials, chamber leaders, union members and parents who met to make a plan. In 75 minutes we constructed a list of priorities and an action plan for keeping and improving Rainier School for the developmentally disabled. Our Vision:

1. Respite/Adult Day Care...parents currently caring for their DD child are getting older and the child will out live the parent...and, the family needs a rest once in awhile!

2. Continuing education over the age of 21.... the DD need constant stimulus to keep their learned abilities.

3. Public Outreach, Awareness, and Review of the Northern Virginia Training Center model. More understanding of the workers and their duties, partnerships with community organizations, tell the stories of the families. Open dental facilities to qualified DSHS welfare recipients

4. Utilize all property. Needed structures have been closed (therapy pool, bowling alley)and should be reopened. We need to have medical care, dental care, behavioral and therapeutic services. We need to revive the sheltered workshop with staff support which would allow transition to community employment.

5. Research facility for Autism. Reopen the study and internships with the University of WA and Green River CC.