Washington State Resources for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities

file type icon WA Resources

Parents of youth with disabilities have unique opportunities to promote their successful transition to postsecondary education, employment, and full adult participation in society. Parents can provide the foundation for young people to become self-determined, learn decision-making skills, and gain access to resources. Families can assist in the transition process by providing direction in exploration of interests, guidance in career and college planning, and encouragement as they pursue their dreams. Parents can help each other, too. As they develop skills in working with their own children they can:

Provide information, 
Answer questions, 
Recommend resources, 
Empower youth and young adults with disabilities, 
Network, 
Train, and 
Support one another.

Parents are most effective when they have up-to-date information, communication, and community resources. The following resources may be particularly helpful in assisting parents in Washington State as their children prepare for college and careers. Compiled with input from many parents, this list includes printed materials, websites, disability-related conferences and organizations, and agencies that provide services to individuals with disabilities.

Disability-Specific Organizations

American Foundation for the Blind
212-502-7600 
www.afb.org/

The Arc of Washington State
Advocates for the rights of citizens with developmental disabilities
1-888-754-8798
360-357-5596 
arcwa.org/

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
800-939-1019 
add.org/

Autism Society of America
800-328-8476 
autismsociety.org/

Brain Injury Alliance of Washington
206-467-4800 
www.biawa.org

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
301-306-7070
chadd.org/

Deaf-Blind Service Center (DBSC)
206-323-3644 (TTY) 
seattledbsc.org/

Epilepsy Foundation Northwest
206-487-5251
800-322-1000 (toll free)
www.epilepsywashington.org

The FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) Family Resource Institute
fetalalcoholsyndrome.org/

Hearing, Speech, and Deafness Center
206-323-5770
888-222-5036 (toll free phone)
206-388-1275 (TTY) 
800-761-2821 (toll free TTY) 
www.hsdc.org/

Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
800-422-7930 (voice/TTY) 
www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/odhh

Spina Bifida Association of Washington State
253-589-3700
888-289-3702 (toll free) 
sbaws.org/

Telecommunications Relay Services
800-833-6384 or 711
800-833-6388 (TTY); 711 (TTY)
www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/odhh/telecommunication

Washington Sensory Disabilities Services
360-947-3297 
wsds.wa.gov/

Washington Talking Book and Braille Library
206-615-0400
800-542-0866 (toll free)  
www.wtbbl.org/

Washington State Department of Services for the Blind
800-552-7103 
dsb.wa.gov/

Education and Employment

Center for Change in Transition Services
206-296-6494 
www.seattleu.edu/ccts

Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT)
206-685-3648 
888-972-3648 (voice/TTY) 
www.uw.edu/doit/

Oregon Office on Disability and Health (OHSU)
503-494-1205 
www.ohsu.edu/oregon-office-on-disability-and-health

Special Education Guide
www.specialeducationguide.com

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
303-541-0200
www.wiche.edu/

Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
360-709-4600 
wtb.wa.gov/

Health and Community Resources

Center on Human Development and Disability (CHDD)
206-543-7701 
depts.washington.edu/chdd/

Children's Hospital Medical Center
206-987-2000
866-987-2000 (toll free)
206-987-0391 (TTY)
www.seattlechildrens.org

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program
360-236-3573
doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/infants-and-children/health-and-safety/children-and-youth-special-health-care-needs

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington
206-520-5000 (out patient)
206-598-8161 (in patient)
rehab.washington.edu

PROVAIL
206-363-7303
888-810-0745 (toll free)
provail.org/

Shriners Hospitals for Children
813-2811-8162
www.shrinerschildrens.org/en

Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
www.ilru.org/projects/silc-net/silc-directory

Summit Assistance Dogs
360-293-5609 
summitdogs.org/

Washington State Client Assistance Program
206-849-2939 (voice and text) 
www.washingtoncap.org

Organizations for Parents

Parent to Parent (P2P)
1-800-821-5927 (Susan Atkins, WA P2P coordinator)
arcwa.org/parent-to-parent/

Parent to Parent Power
https://www.parentpowerined.org/

PAVE (Partnerships in Action, Voices for Empowerment)
253-565-2266
wapave.org/

Washington State Fathers Network
425-653-4286 
www.fathersnetwork.org

Washington State Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
253-214-7410
www.wastatepta.org

State Agencies and Organizations

Answers for Special Kids Resource Line
800-322-2588
800-883-6388 (TTY)

Career and Technical Education
360-725-6000
360-664-3631 (TTY) 
www.k12.wa.us/student-success/career-technical-education-cte

Children with Special Health Care Needs Program
Washington State Department of Health
360-236-4700 (voice) 
711 (TTY)  
doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/infants-and-children/ health-and-safety

Disability Rights Washington
206-324-1521
800-562-2702
800-905-0209 (TTY) 
711 (TTY) 
www.disabilityrightswa.org

Division of Disabilities Administration (DDA)
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
360-725-3413 
www.dshs.wa.gov/dda

Division of Special Education
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
360-725-6000
360-664-3631 (TTY)  
www.k12.wa.us/student-success/special-education

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
800-637-5627 
www.dshs.wa.gov/dvr

Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment
360-902-9511
esd.wa.gov/gcde

King County Office of Civil Rights
206-263-2446
206-296-7596 (TTY) 
www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice/civil-rights.aspx

Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Washington
425-882-0820 
www.ldawa.org/

Mental Health Division
Department of Social and Health Services
1-877-980-9220 
www.dshs.wa.gov/mental-health-and-addiction-services

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
360-725-6000
360-664-3631 (TTY) 
www.k12.wa.us/ESEA/Contact.aspx

Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
800-422-7930 (voice/TTY)
360-725-3450 (voice)
360-725-3455 (TTY)
www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/odhh

Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (WATAP)
800-214-8731 (toll free)
866-866-0162 (toll free TTY)
watap.org/

Washington Speech and Hearing Association
253-525-5162 
wslha.org/

Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council
360-586-3560 (main reception) 
800-634-4473 (toll free) 
www.ddc.wa.gov

Transportation and Driving

King County Metro Transit
206-553-3000
kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro.aspx

Spokane Transit
509-328-7433
711 (TTY) 
www.spokanetransit.com

St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute Driver Rehab Program
509-473-6000 
www.providence.org/locations/wa/st-lukes

Washington State Department of Transportation
360-705-7000 
360-705-7438 
wsdot.wa.gov/about/americans-disabilities-act-ada

About DO-IT

DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the successful participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers such as those in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Primary funding for DO-IT is provided by the National Science Foundation, the State of Washington, and the U.S. Department of Education.

For further information, to be placed on the DO-IT mailing list, request materials in an alternate format, or to make comments or suggestions about DO-IT publications or web pages, contact:

DO-IT
University of Washington
Box 354842
Seattle, WA 98195-4842
doit@uw.edu
www.uw.edu/doit/
206-685-DOIT (3648) (voice/TTY)
888-972-DOIT (3648) (voice/TTY)
509-328-9331 (voice/TTY) Spokane
206-221-4171 (fax)

Founder and Director: Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.

Acknowledgment

This publication was developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, #H324M990010. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Copyright © 2022, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2000, University of Washington. Permission is granted to copy these materials for educational, noncommercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged.