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Services
Funded by the State of Washington
The
four links below will let you see most of what Washington
State provides for people with disabilities. The first three
links go to different areas of the Division of Developmental
Disabilities (DDD) web site. They do an excellent
job of explaining their programs. The language is plain,
simple, and straight to the point. The Division of Developmental
Disabilities is a subdivision of the Department of Social
and Health Services.
The
fourth link (Education) leads to the Special Education section
of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's
web site. The language seems to be more in line with professional
educators than a layman. It was not as helpful as we hoped.
It
might be best to simply call or e-mail one of the Case Managers
for the Grays Harbor area for any questions you have.
The Case Managers are:
Julie
Gardner-(360) 537-4362 gardnje@dshs.wa.gov,
Lisa
Armstrong-(360) 537-4361 armstla@dshs.wa.gov,
Steve
Brill-(360) 537-4363 brillsg@dshs.wa.gov.
If
your questions have to do with Infants and Toddlers there
are two Family Resource Coordinators on Grays Harbor that
work together with the DDD Case Managers. The two coordinators
are:
Dorene
Perez (360) 533-9414 dperez@asd5.org
Kelly
Miller (360) 533-9414 kmiller@asd5.org.
Early Intervention
with Infants and Toddlers is provided to families
who have babies or young children who experience a developmental
delay, even if the delay is not caused by a permanent disability.
Early intervention can help identify the cause of a delay,
connect parents with special help and support, and ensure
that children get off to a good start in life.
Family
Support Services help people find and pay for
respite care, therapy, special equipment, and participation
in community activities that are needed because of a child's
developmental disability.
Medicaid
Personal Care provides funding to help both
adults and children get the help they need in their own
home for basic tasks such as dressing, toileting, bathing,
meal preparation, laundry and supervision.
Education
for children with developmental disabilities is
provided by public schools under the terms of a 1975 federal
law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA). This law requires public schools to educate all
children with developmental and/or functional disabilities
from age 3 to 21. Some school districts also provide educational
services to infants and toddlers.
The
federal law is actually based on a similar law passed by
the Washington Legislature in 1972. Washington state has
the distinction of being the first in the nation to pass
such a law.
The
link below will take you to the Division of Developmental
Disabilities (DDD) web site The site will outline the system
of support they and others can provide.
http://www.wa.gov/dshs/cwofdd/supports.html
The
main web site for the Department of Social and Health Services
is
http://www.dshs.wa.gov/index.html
Since
1886, when the territorial government of Washington opened
the first institution for children with developmental disabilities,
our society has acknowledged that government has a responsibility
to help them, and to help their families care for them.
Today, that responsibility has evolved into a complex web
of services and supports funded by federal, state and local
governments, and provided mostly by family members, public
schools, individual caregivers and private and non-profit
agencies. These services comprise a system that helps people
throughout their lives.
Washington
State's Developmental Disabilities Council
is a council appointed by
the governor to plan comprehensive services for Washington
State's citizens with developmental disabilities.
Their website contains great links and updates about issues
facing people with developmental disabilities and information
on changes to the State Supplementary Payment Program.
www.ddc.wa.gov/
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