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Gov. Christine Gregoire announces appointments to Developmental Disabilities Residential Study Advisory Council

For Immediate Release: September 20, 2005

OLYMPIA � September 20, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today announced appointments to the Developmental Disabilities Residential Study Advisory Council:

At Gov. Gregoire�s request, the Legislature authorized a Developmental Disabilities Residential Study with the adoption of the state�s 2005-2007 operating budget. The study, to be overseen by an advisory council, is to identify a preferred system of residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities and a plan for implementing the preferred system within four years. A report is to be completed by January 2006. Gov. Gregoire�s appointees to the Developmental Disabilities Residential Study Advisory Council are as follows:

Dale Colin of Edgewood. Colin has been very active as a self-advocate for the interests of individuals with developmental disabilities. He has participated in People First of Washington, Self Advocates of Washington, the Pierce County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board and the state Developmental Disabilities Council.

Greg Devereux of Shelton. Devereux is executive director of the Washington State Federation of State Employees. He was previously employed as a policy staff member for the national office of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union and in that capacity covered issues related to services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Lori Flood of Bothell. As a mother of a son with a developmental disability, Flood is a consumer of services for the developmentally disabled. She currently also serves on both the state�s Developmental Disabilities Council and the state�s Home Care Quality Authority.

Marcy Johnsen of Seattle. Johnsen is a registered nurse employed at the state-operated Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center for individuals with developmental disabilities in Shoreline. She is a member of the Service Employees International Union District 1199NW.

Kathy Leitch of Olympia. Leitch is Assistant Secretary of the Aging and Disability Services Administration of the state�s Department of Social and Health Services and oversees the state�s Division of Developmental Disabilities.

John Mahaney of Yakima. Mahaney is the father of and primary caregiver for an adult son who has a developmental disability. His son is a consumer of respite care services provided by the state-operated Yakima Valley Residential Habilitation Center for individuals with developmental disabilities in Selah. Mahaney is also an employee of a private provider of community-based residential services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Lance Morehouse of Spokane. Morehouse is the father of an adult son who has a developmental disability. He is also employed as Director of Advocacy and Family Support for the Arc of Washington, an advocacy organization focused on the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Karen Ritter of Seattle. Ritter is a Regional Administrator for Walsh and Associates, a private provider of community-based residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities. She is a licensed social worker and a registered nursing assistant.

Kari Burrell of Seattle. Burrell is Gov. Gregoire�s Human Services Executive Policy Advisor.

In addition to Governor Gregoire�s nine appointments to the Advisory Council, the Legislature�s President of the Senate and Speaker of the House have also each appointed two members: Senator Dale Brandland, Republican, of Bellingham; Senator Adam Kline, Democrat, of Seattle; Representative Brendan Williams, Democrat, of Olympia; and Representative Jan Shabro, Republican, of Lake Tapps.

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