Disability Resources
Below are resources available for youth who may have physical and / or developmental disabilities.
Developmental Disability Resources
ChildReach
ChildReach is a unique program between Pierce County and the Puyallup Tribe that has been going strong for 25+ years. The program provides developmental screening for tribal children aged birth to six years old. Children receive screening in language, large/small motor skills, concepts, and behavior development. These screenings provide information to families and teachers about each child's unique development, including observations, recommendations, and concerns. ChildReach is only accessible through specific Tribal programs.
For more information, contact:
Shannon Bjorkman-Stewart
(253) 973-4936
A Step Ahead
A Step Ahead supports families of infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disability by enhancing their development and relationships both at home and in their community.
A Step Ahead in Pierce County is one of the region’s most progressive organizations for children ages birth to three who have one or more developmental delays. They provide convenient, home-based therapy and educational services, including speech, physical and occupational therapies and special education.
Hope Sparks Family Services
Children’s Developmental Services provides early intervention for children from birth to three years old. A developmental assessment for children will be completed to evaluate needs and strengths. If your child is eligible, the Early Intervention Team will provide comprehensive services.
Children’s Developmental Services are provided in the child’s natural environment, which may be the home or community. All services are provided with the child’s primary caregivers’ utilizing a parent coaching model.
WA state Divison of Developmental Disabilities - CDS
Child Development Services provide early intervention services designed to meet the needs of a specific child. Birth to three services are designed to meet the developmental needs of each eligible child and the needs of the family related to enhancing the child’s development. Services may include specialized instruction, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, assistive technology, and vision services. Services are provided in natural environments to the maximum extent appropriate.
Easterseals Washington
Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services. Through their national network of affiliates, Easterseals provides essential services and on-the-ground supports to more than 1.5 million people each year — from early childhood programs for the critical first five years, to autism services, to medical rehabilitation and employment programs, to veterans’ services, and more. Their public education, policy, and advocacy initiatives positively shape perceptions and address the urgent and evolving needs of the one in four Americans living with disabilities today.
Pierce County Parks - Specialized Recreation Services
Pierce County Park offers a variety of programs for participants of all ages and abilities in Pierce County. Their programs are offered virtually, in-person, or as a combination of both, based on current state guidelines. They continue to work hard to create programming that will engage, inspire, and connect their participants with each other, and the community as a whole, in the safest way possible.
WithinReach
WithinReach is deeply connected to local communities across the state. They provide multiple ways for people to access our support – in-person, over the phone and online – and find resources close to home. Their comprehensive database with thousands of health and community resources, along with their multilingual staff, ensure that individuals and families come away with the information they need to be healthy and safe.
Wonderland Child & Family Services
Wonderland Child & Family Services serves children with developmental delays, disabilities, and prenatal substance exposure. Wonderland is dedicated to helping children meet healthy developmental milestones. They reach hundreds of families every month through Early Childhood Programs & Services and Hope RISING Clinic for Prenatal Substance Exposure.
Center for Independence
Service, Advocacy, and Community BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. The Center for Independence (CFI) is a non-residential, community-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operated by people with disabilities, serving people with disabilities ages 14 and up. We serve as a resource for individuals with disabilities to fully access and participate in the community through outreach, advocacy, and independent living skills development. We work together with participants to achieve independent living goals such as self-advocacy, self-sufficiency, and self-determination.
Banchero Disability Partners
Banchero Disability Partners provides 24-hour support services and case management. Their clients have a wide variety of needs. They provide support and education in areas such as: meal-planning, nutrition, cooking, shopping, budgeting, bill-paying, banking, cleaning, laundry, exercise, social skills, and using public transportation. They also provide financial and case management, encourage clients to enjoy activities, and work with clients so they understand and are part of the political process that affects their lives, help them to advocate for their civil rights, and be full participants in their communities.
Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities
Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities (TACID) is a community center that serves adults (18+) who are experiencing physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental, and behavioral health disabilities and challenges. They offer services at our facility AND online on Zoom.
All services at TACID are free of charge!
The Arc of King County
The Arc of King County serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan: from prenatal diagnosis through end of life care. They provide specialized services and activities in English, Spanish, and specifically for African American families. For other languages, they utilize interpreters.
Support Services for the Developmentally Disabled
The SSDD provides a respectful atmosphere and strives to make their clients a part of their financial decisions whenever possible. By helping clients make the best choices for an improved quality of life, they serve as a referral service to other agencies and programs that can enhance their lives. The SSDD assists in all the paperwork that is required for the establishment and maintenance of their client's government benefits. They are contracted with the Social Security Admsinistration (SSA) to provide services to those they have determined need assistance in managing their finances
South Sound Parent to Parent
South Sound Parent to Parent provides services to assist families in adjusting to the extra demands of parenting a child with a disability or chronic illness. The group also recognizes that parents of children with developmental disabilities or chronic illnesses could be a tremendous help to each other. Parents of children with a disability or illness can offer each other something that other types of support cannot --- shared experiences. They are the only ones who truly understand what it feels like to have a child born with a disability or illness.
Hand in Hand Behavioral Consulting
Hand in Hand provides effective, evidence-based intervention services for children and adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities. Hand in Hand realizes every client has unique strengths and challenges, from the first assessment to the development of a treatment plan; every plan is individualized to focus on the specific needs of the client in collaboration with the client’s family. Hand in Hand seeks to help children and adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities along with their families to improve their lives in socially significant ways as well as helping their children meet their maximum potential.
Physical Disability Resources
The Brain Injury Alliance of Washington
Their vision is a world where Brain Injury is prevented, and every person already affected by its impact benefits from resources to maximize their quality of life. Their mission is to increase public awareness, support, and hope for those affected by Brain Injury through education, assistance, and advocacy.
Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) offers programs and services for Deaf, DeafBlind, Deafdisabled, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Speech Disabled individuals, their families, and service providers in Washington State. They work to ensure that services and resources are accessible and inclusive to the diverse communities.
The Spina Bifida Advocates of Washington State
Emotional support for everyone affected by Spina Bifida, including meetings at numerous local cluster support groups throughout the state. The Evergreen newsletter, which details local SBAWS activities, provides news on medical, therapeutic, rehabilitative advances, recreational and legislative issues.
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library
The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) provides library services state-wide, at the library and by mail, to any Washington resident unable to read standard print material due to blindness, visual impairment, deaf-blindness, physical disability (cannot hold a book or turn pages), or reading disability.
National Limb Loss Resource Center
The National Limb Loss Resource Center® provides comprehensive information and resources free of charge. All of the information they provide is reviewed by the Coalition’s medical/scientific advisory committee of experts in the field of limb loss so you can count on the accuracy of the information.
International Child Amputee Network
International Child Amputee Network (I-CAN), is dedicated to promoting education, support, information, and empowerment to traumatic and congenital limb different children and their families. I-CAN is committed in bringing together these children and their families to enhance the quality of life for the children and young adults based on the concept of mentors helping families, parent helping parents, and kids helping kids.
Move United
Move United has the power to change the world by redefining ability. Sport helps show the world what our athletes are capable of, gets kids off the sidelines and places everyone on a level playing field. Come to an event, join a program, recruit your friends, and get your school involved. Get moving, get out, and get in the game
Adaptive Adventures
The Adaptive Sports for Kids (ASK) Program offers year-round recreational and competitive sports opportunities for children and youth ages 6 to 20 with physical disabilities. ASK encourages participants to enjoy the outdoors, develop a healthy lifestyle, make new friends, gain self-confidence and achieve greater independence.