Washington state House lawmakers this week advanced a bill that would close Rainier School and Yakima Valley School, two state-run residential habilitation centers (RHCs) for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
The proposal has been controversial.
Opponents of the idea argue that legislators are turning their backs on the most vulnerable Washingtonians. Supporters, meanwhile, contend that RHC residents would be better off — and much happier — living in community settings…