Need assistance with an issue you're facing or want to learn more about what services are available to you?
Find links to resources and our partners below:
Advocacy/ Support
- Abuse and Reporting Information for Vulnerable Adults - DSHS
- ARC- Washington State advocates for the rights and full participation of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Columbia Legal Services advocates for laws that advance social, economic, and racial equity for people living in poverty
- Involving Families, Building Trust is a resource provided by the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, in partnership with the Developmental Disabilities Administration. They offer trusted news and information to individuals and families.
- Parent to Parent- PAVE (Pierce County) offers hands on support, training, and technical assistance and education to parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities.
- People First of Washington
- South Sound Parent (Thurston, Mason & Gray’s Harbor County) connects families caring for people with disabilities.
Associations
- Association for People Supporting Employment First (APSE) is a member organization focused on inclusive employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
- Community Employment Alliance provides advocacy, education, and partners for employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
- Washington State Business Leadership Network – Disability:IN nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion.
- US Business Leadership Network – Disibility:IN nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion.
Benefits & Financial
- Plan to Work
- Open an ABLE Account that allows people with eligible disabilities to save for their everyday needs, invest in a tax-free account and prepare for the future without losing their state or federal benefits
Education/ Training
- CCER- Center for Continuing Education in Rehabilitation offers face-to-face workshops, online webinars, training, and consulting to individuals and organizations interested in employment, access, and inclusion for people with disabilities.
- Institute on Human Development and Disability through the University of Washington provides services and research.
- International Center on Disability Information
- Washington Initiative for Supported Employment provides resources, trainings, and technical assistance for employment.
Employment
- Social Security - Ticket to Work Program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits and want to work.
- Office of Disability and Employment (ODEP) through the US Department of Labor provides resources and information on employment.
- US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee
Federal Agencies
State Agencies
- Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) provides support to families of people with disabilities.
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides individuals with disabilities the tools, services, and supports required to achieve successful employment.
- Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides statewide programs and services for Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened and Speech Disabled individuals, their families, and service providers.
- Services for the Blind (DSB) provides services for people of all ages who are blind or have low vision.
- Developmental Disabilities Council works with agencies and organizations, train leaders and advocates, and advocate for better policies, programs, and practices.
- Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) oversees public K–12 education in Washington state.