GCDE subcommittees

Learn about Governor's Committee on Disability Issues & Employment (GCDE) subcommittees staffed by volunteer members.

Projects

We have general membership meetings three times a year. Between those meetings, established subcommittees meet to work on special projects that were recommended by each subcommittee and approved by the general membership.

Legislative subcommittee

Mission:

The Legislative Workgroup works alongside the GCDE Executive Director and GCDE Chairperson to identify legislative priorities, positions and actions during legislative session. The Legislative Workgroup mobilizes GCDE members to influence legislative action through their respective personal legislators on issues of importance to people with disabilities. GCDE acknowledges the plurality of thought and complexity in our workgroup's diverse, cross disability, statewide presence; and welcomes healthy discourse.

2026 Legislative Workbook

2026 GCDE Legislative Workbook (.xlsx) -- to be updated weekly on Friday mornings
[current copy: 9am 1/30/2026]

Members

 

  • Amy Cloud 
  • Patti Dailey-Shives - Chair
  • Kristin DiBiase
  • Lucas Doelman
  • Angie West
  • Steve Lewis
  • Brit Nuckles
  • Kristina Sawyckyj
  • Nancy Zellers
  • Yvonne Bussler-White
  • Napal Tesfai
  • Lyn Sowdon

 

Priority bills (now updated for 2026!)

  • GCDE 2026 Legislative Priorities (.xlsx)
  • HB 2475 - Concerning language accessible public programs, activities, and services conducted, operated, or administered by state agencies.
  • HB 2323 - Establishing a blue envelope program.
  • SB 6035 - Ensuring access to voting services for military, overseas, Native American, and disabled voters.
  • HB 2183 - Requiring counties to develop and implement heat response plans.
  • SB 5837 - Concerning guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective arrangements for adults.
  • SB 6155 - Concerning special parking privileges for persons with disabilities.
  • SB 5822 - Concerning missing persons alert systems.
  • SB 5875 - Concerning school district liability for violation of the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
  • 2025 priorities (carried over from last session):
  • HB1051 - Permitting the recording of Individualized Education Program team meetings.
  • HB 1218 - Concerning persons referred for competency evaluation and restoration services.
  • SB 1220 - Concerning appropriate response to assaults by individuals in behavioral health crisis.
  • HB 1795 - Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public school educational programs. 

Project-focused subcommittees

Accessible Communities

The Accessible Communities Subcommittee of the GCDE comprises a group of GCDE members and a Program Coordinator. The AC Subcommittee is responsible for:

What we do:

  • promoting the establishment of County ACACs throughout Washington State;
  • assisting counties with the actions required to establish an ACAC, and reviewing/approving the documentation presented by counties in that regard;
  • providing technical assistance to county ACACs in respect of accessibility matters;
  • supplying ideas and examples for projects that will improve accessibility for people with disabilities;
  • reviewing and approving funding from the Accessible Communities Account for accessibility project proposals presented by county ACACs.

More information:

Criteria for ACAC Project Funding

Proposed projects should focus on improving access for people with disabilities, as well as promoting awareness, inclusion, or acceptance of people with disabilities within the local community.

Proposals should address the following:

  • What is the county proposing to do?
  • Why did the county select this proposal?
  • What is the timeline for this project?
  • What outcomes or performance measures does the county hope to achieve?
  • What is the proposed budget for the project, how does the county propose to apply the funds it is requesting, and why is each proposed expenditure necessary for the project?
  • Matching funds are not required for these projects; however, if a project is expected to generate a local match, including in-kind contributions such as volunteer hours, the nature and value of any such local match should be described in the proposal.

Community Outreach

The Community Outreach subcommittee advocates for and with the disability community by conducting outreach events to facilitate, encourage, and celebrate community involvement in the development of overarching action plans to improve and promote solutions for self-identified community barriers. We provide information on available resources to individuals with disabilities and to the local community.

Activities:

  • Develops and hosts activities to engage rural and/or underserved communities throughout Washington;
  • Engages with leaders to build effective relationships within their community.

Latest event:

Our last event was held for the Spokane County Community in Spokane, Washington, on Apr. 17, 2025.

Our prior event was held for the Clark County Community in Vancouver, Washington, on Nov. 2, 2023.

The first public Town Hall Forum was held virtually for the Colville community in the spring of 2022. The report about the meeting is now available to read here!

Our other 2022 event was in Port Orchard in early December. Report now available!

GCDE maintains information about our Community Outreach events from 2008 to present. To read the reports, click the links below.

Past reports:

What we discuss:

  • Transportation
  • Guardianship
  • Community access
  • Affordable housing
  • Educational services
  • Employment
  • Local resources
  • And more

For questions or to invite the Community Outreach Subcommittee to your community, contact GCDE Staff at gcde@esd.wa.gov.

Youth Empowerment Summit

Youth Empowerment Summit, Free Virtual Event for High School Students with Disabilities!

The Youth Empowerment Summit is scheduled for Friday, August 1, 2025, from 1:00-4:00 pm.

 We have revamped our former Youth Leadership Forum into a three-hour FREE! online event for high school students with disabilities.

 Here is the full flyer with the registration link. If you have questions or need further information, please contact Elaine Stefanowicz.Thanks for your help making our event a success!

Past meeting minutes

Accessible Communities subcommittee

2024

Contact: Elaine Stefanowicz

Past AC meeting materials

2022

2023

Community Outreach subcommittee

2024

The most recent public Town Hall Forum was held virtually for the Port Orchard community in the Winter of 2022. We are pleased to announce that the report about the meeting is now available to read here!

Contact: gcde@esd.wa.gov

Past CO meeting materials

2022

2023

Governor's Employer Awards subcommittee

2024

Our recent event was held on Oct. 6, 2023. Visit our Awards page for more information. Upcoming event: October 18, 2024.

Contact: gcde@esd.wa.gov

Past Awards meeting materials

2023

Awards archive

2022

 

Legislative subcommittee

2024

Contact: Elaine Stefanowicz

Past LWG meeting materials

2022

2023

 

Youth Leadership Forum subcommittee

2024

Contact: Elaine Stefanowicz

Past YLF meeting materials

2022

2023

 

GCDE General Membership meeting

2024

Contact: gcde@esd.wa.gov

Past GM meeting materials

2022

2023

 

Coordinating committee

2024

Contact: gcde@esd.wa.gov

Past Coordinating committee materials

2021

2022

2023