DC’s Department on Disability Services plans to abruptly cancel a contract with Georgetown University which provides people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) with lifesaving health services. Too often, people with I/DD are allowed to fall through the cracks of the health care system — ignored or misunderstood by medical professionals, denied the services we need to understand and take charge of our care, or lost in the shuffle when systems and providers fail to coordinate. For 14 years, Georgetown’s Health Initiative has provided patient advocacy, health education, home visits, nursing care, and more to ensure that people with I/DD get the care we need. DDS’ piecemeal, incomplete substitute for this highly valued program was hastily developed with no stakeholder input whatsoever. If we don’t act now, DDS’ cuts will leave people without Georgetown’s services in six weeks.
If you are a DC resident, you have the power to speak up and save this vital program! Here’s how:
- Attend a hearing on Tuesday, July 23rd at 10am. The DC Council is using this hearing to gauge public response to the cuts — show up to express your support for the Georgetown Health Initiative!
- Call or email your councilmember and Mayor Muriel Bowser. (Scroll down for contact information). You can use our script:
- Use social media to make your voice heard, get your friends involved, and keep up the pressure on the DC government. Check out our sample tweets:
DC Council contact info
- Chairman Phil Mendelson, At-Large: @ChmnMendelson , pmendelson@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8032
- Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, Ward 1: @BrianneKNadeau, bnadeau@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8181 [Nadeau chairs the Committee on Human Services, which has direct oversight over DDS!]
- Councilmember Jack Evans, Ward 2: @JackEvansWard2, jevans@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8058
- Councilmember Mary Cheh, Ward 3: @marycheh, mcheh@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8062
- Councilmember Brandon Todd, Ward 4: @CMBrandonTodd, btodd@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8052
- Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Ward 5: @CM_McDuffie, kmcduffie@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8028
- Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6: @charlesallen, callen@dccouncil.us, (202)-724-8072
- Councilmember Vince Gray, Ward 7: @VinceGrayWard7, vgray@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8068
- Councilmember Trayon White, Ward 8: @trayonwhite, twhite@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8045
- Councilmember Anita Bonds, At-Large: @AnitaBondsDC, abonds@dccouncil.us; (202) 724-8064
- Councilmember David Grosso, At-Large: @cmdgrosso, dgrosso@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8105
- Councilmember Elissa Silverman, At-Large : @tweetelissa, esilverman@dccouncil.us, (202)-724-7772
- Councilmember Robert White, At-Large: @RobertWhite_DC, rwhite@dccouncil.us, (202) 724-8174
- @Councilofdc – for the DC Council as a whole
Executive and AG contact info
- Mayor Bowser, @MayorBowser, mayor@dc.gov and eom@dc.gov, (202) 727-2643
- Andrew Reese, Director Of DDS, @DirectorReese, @DDS_DC, andrew.reese@dc.gov, (202) 730-1700
- AG Karl Racine, @AGKarlRacine, oag@dc.gov, karl.racine@dc.gov , (202) 727-3400