Pierce County Resource Guide to Services and Supports for Individuals
Who Experience Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
(section links below).
Please call our office at 253.564.0707 to make arrangements to pick up your copy!
Dear Reader:
This Pierce County Resource Guide is dedicated to the hard work and commitment of those who have endeavored
timelessly over the years to “keep the promise.”
We want to acknowledge the generous support of Pierce County Human Services, Developmental Disabilities
Program, in providing the funds to update and print this important comprehensive guide to services and supports
for individuals who experience intellectual/ developmental disabilities. This important tool will assist you in
navigating the public and private programs and services available throughout Pierce County and beyond.
The Pierce County Coalition for Developmental Disabilities (PC2) welcomes the opportunity to assist individuals
and families in finding the services and programs that best meet your needs. We are here to answer your calls
if you need further assistance. Whether you are an individual who experiences an intellectual/developmental
disability, have a family member who experiences an intellectual/developmental disability, work within the disability
field, or are in the general community, we welcome your questions and concerns.
We acknowledge that, when compiling this complex list of resources, there are changes that can occur during the
production process. Please know that every effort was made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of agency
information.
Sincerely,
PC2 Staff
SEARCH FOR A RESOURCE
Assessment / Screening Services
ARK Institute of Learning (Applied Research Knowledge)
ARK Institute of Learning is a non-profit agency dedicated to diminishing the impact of learning disorders in the lives of individuals. ARK educational therapists evaluate and instruct children and adults in their desire to overcome learning challenges. ARK has assisted hundreds of students with a variety of learning challenges including dyslexia, language disorder, nonverbal learning disorder/visual-spatial processing disorder, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and specific learning disorder or disability. ARK also assists students who have no formal diagnosis but who would benefit from interventions in reading, written communication, math, oral and reading comprehension, and/or handwriting. Other ARK services include training educators to effectively teach the atypical learner, offering summer small group classes, and providing consultations with ARK's school psychologist.
In-clinic, in-home, and community setting programs include: school, daycare, and after-school programs. Our Puyallup clinic opened in June 2019 and is now accepting referrals. This clinic brings a team of talented, diversely-trained behavior analysts and behavior technicians to the Pierce County area. Our Puyallup clinic offers needed services to some of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in our communities. If you have any questions surrounding Applied Behavior Analysis, eligibility, or service provision in the Pierce County area, please contact us for more details.
CHDD is one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive interdisciplinary research and training centers focusing on a wide array of developmental disabilities. More than 600 University of Washington faculty and staff members, as well as numerous doctoral and post-doctoral students, provide clinical services, interdisciplinary clinical and research training, and technical assistance and outreach training to community practitioners and community agencies. CHDD is one of the few centers in the country that encompasses two major programs, one focusing on research and the other on clinical services, training, and community outreach. This structure encourages strong connections between researchers and clinicians, and creates an important bridge between basic research and state-of-the-art clinical programs. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC), supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, studies underlying causes of intellectual and other developmental disabilities, and develops behavioral and biomedical techniques to prevent disabilities or minimize their impact. The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) is part of a national network supported by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, established in every state to train professionals within an interdisciplinary framework to meet the needs of people with disabilities, provide clinical services and model projects, reach out to the community with technical assistance and training, conduct applied research, and disseminate information widely.
Child Welfare Information Gateway connects professionals and the general public to information and resources targeted to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families. A service of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to programs, research, laws and policies, training resources, statistics, and much more.
At Children’s Therapy Center, you will find one of the most experienced and highly trained pediatric therapy staffs in the country. They recognize that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher and therefore involve them in every service provided. Parents feel empowered and supported, and children achieve milestones that many thought weren’t possible. We hire exceptional people; we make a difference; our culture is cooperative, participatory, and empowering.
At Children’s Therapy Center, you will find one of the most experienced and highly trained pediatric therapy staffs in the country. They recognize that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher and therefore involve them in every service provided. Parents feel empowered and supported, and children achieve milestones that many thought weren’t possible. We hire exceptional people; we make a difference; our culture is cooperative, participatory, and empowering.
Children’s Therapy Unit (CTU)
Mary Bridge Good Samaritan, Dr. Donald and Beret Mott Children's Center
Mary Bridge Good Samaritan Children’s Therapy Unit (CTU) helps infants, children and adolescents who have special needs. We are dedicated to helping each child become as functional and independent as possible. The CTU is also connected to the Mary Bridge Pediatric Neurosciences Center, Southwest Washington’s most comprehensive integrated resource for pediatric neurosciences care. Together, the CTU and Mary Bridge collaborate to provide children and families the special care they need.
CLASS Inc. (Communication, Language, and Speech Services)
At CLASS Inc. the fun and engaging activities that we design to meet each child’s individual therapy goals reflect our passion for the work that we do, our extensive training in proven therapy techniques, and our philosophy that all therapy goals will improve the child’s ability to communicate, play, learn and develop meaningful relationships. CLASS Inc. values the expertise of parents and caregivers. We partner with you in the development of targeted therapy goals as well as assist you in acquiring new skills for successful communication between yourself/others and your child within a relaxed, fun and supportive setting. To learn more about our speech and language therapy and other quality services that include feeding therapy for picky eaters, literacy instruction, social skills groups, augmentative communication services and other special programs, explore our website.
Michael A. Comte specializes in the assessment of persons with sexual adjustment problems. He is a CSOTP and a DD professional and currently limits his practice to psychosexual evaluations, risk assessments, treatment plans, and consultations, as well as competency and capacity recommendations.
Daffodil Valley Children's Therapy provides pediatric occupational therapy for children including evaluations, individualized treatment services, and consultations. Erin is a registered and licensed occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics and has over seven years of experience providing children with evaluations and specialized treatment for handwriting difficulties, fine motor delays, visual motor difficulties, developmental gross motor delays, self-help skill delays, and a variety of sensory processing deficits. We are passionate about our work and are dedicated to providing family and child centered therapy utilizing a play-based approach. We strive to promote independence and self-confidence for clients in a positive, nurturing environment. Collaboration with parents is essential, as their involvement in the treatment process optimizes their child’s success. Please visit our website for more information.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network (FAS DPN)
Clinic Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington
The FAS DPN Clinic provides Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) diagnostic evaluations for individuals under 22 years of age who have a confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure. The clinical team includes a medical doctor, two psychologists, a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, a family advocate, and a social worker. Please visit our website for more information.
Inclusion Speech & Language Therapy is a pediatric therapy clinic based in the heart of downtown Tacoma, WA. At Inclusion, each child is given the opportunity to express themselves, engage in play, learn, grow, and succeed. Evaluation and therapy is available for children ages 2-18 years with a variety of disorders and diagnoses. Please visit our website for more information.
KidsTalk Therapy provides pediatric speech and language therapy. We are dedicated to helping children reach their greatest potential by enhancing their communication skills through play and engagement. During play, many communication skills are learned and can be practiced, creating a platform for helping kids who have difficulty with the following: expressing wants and needs, understanding language, labeling actions and objects, listening and following directions, participating in age-appropriate play, speech intelligibility and motor sequencing, and taking turns. Early identification and treatment of speech and language delays and disorders can prevent problems with behavior, learning, reading and social interactions.
Learn Clinic
University of Washington Psychological Services and Training Center
The LEARN Clinic provides evaluations and consultation addressing a variety of learning, attention, and behavioral problems experienced by children, adolescents, and adults. Most commonly, we conduct comprehensive evaluations that include a thorough clinical interview and administration of an individualized battery of psychological and neuropsychological tests and behavioral questionnaires, with the goal of obtaining a comprehensive assessment of cognitive functioning across a variety of domains of functioning, and to identify strengths and weaknesses, as well as any specific learning and/or attention problems. Clients then participate in a feedback session where test results, impressions, and recommendations are provided. A comprehensive written report documenting these findings and recommendations is then finalized and distributed to clients.
The acute needs of hospitalized children require extremely specialized, skilled care providers. This special kind of caring is always available at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital - to all children, regardless of their family's ability to pay. When your child stays at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, their care team includes specially trained pediatric nurses and a wide range of board-certified pediatric specialists - including our full-time inpatient pediatric physicians who serve as extension of your child's regular doctor and are available onsite 24 hours a day. Our specialists work closely with local pediatricians and primary care providers, making sure children receive the care they need. With our family-centered care philosophy and recognized medical excellence, we provide services and accommodations for families in a child-friendly environment - a place where kids get better quicker.
We work with children from birth through 18 years of age with suspected intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, suspected autism spectrum disorder and complex attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Our neurodevelopmental program provides evaluations for very young children (birth to 3) for children from birth to age 3 with developmental delay or concerns about developmental delays. Our team also provides medical consultations to other providers, recommends follow-up care and coordinates appropriate resources for patients and their families. A referral from your child's primary care provider is required to make an appointment with us. Once we receive a referral, our nursing staff reviews it to determine the appropriate next steps and resources.
Offering professional, client centered speech & occupational therapy for children and young adults. Services offered via evaluations/assessments, screening/consultation, collaboration with other professionals on your child's team, and home-programming.
Our neurodevelopmental program evaluates and cares for children with conditions related to the development of the nervous system, including the brain. We specialize in the care of children with special needs, and tailor our services to your child and family. Our team of doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and physical and occupational therapists understands that your child's well-being affects your entire family. We take into account your family's priorities and concerns, as well as those of your child's doctor, schools and community services, when planning your child's care. We work closely with providers in the community to ensure that your child's care is well coordinated, community-oriented and family-centered. Please visit our website for more information on the conditions we treat and services we offer.
We provide pediatric epilepsy care for children and their parents coping with their disorder. We provide ongoing treatment to control seizures, maintain safety and allow our patients to participate in sports and other normal daily activities. Treatments may include anti-seizure medications, epilepsy surgery, and vagal nerve and other neurostimulator devices. Whether you're experiencing epilepsy-like symptoms for the first time or have been diagnosed with a seizure disorder and are continuing to have uncontrolled seizures despite treatment, we can help.
Pediatric Psychology & Psychiatry Services
MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Psychology
Adjusting to a new diagnosis or an ongoing, chronic illness can be difficult for both children and their families. Mary Bridge Children's Psychology Services works in partnership with your child's other providers to help patients and families cope with psychological challenges related to a medical diagnosis or condition. Typical referral concerns include adjustment to illness, non-adherence to medical treatment protocol, anxieties related to procedures and suspected psychological factors affecting an illness. Treatment can include cognitive-behavioral, solution focused and behavioral family therapy. Our pediatric psychology experts offer outpatient psychotherapy to patients and families, as well as consulting services for patients at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. The services we provide include: inpatient consultation, outpatient consultation, outpatient therapy, and biofeedback.
Pediatric Psychology & Psychiatry Services
MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Psychiatry
Mary Bridge Children's Psychiatry Services works closely with other providers to help evaluate and create treatment plans for Mary Bridge patients with complex mental health conditions. Our program requires a referral from another Mary Bridge or MultiCare medical provider and is only for patients being seen or treated within Mary Bridge Children's Hospital or other Mary Bridge Children’s clinics. Services we provide include: diagnostic evaluations for complex mental health conditions, including psychosis, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism and comorbid conditions.
Seattle Children's Autism Center provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support for autism spectrum disorders. We offer a range of medical and mental health services for babies, children and young adults. We work closely with Seattle Children's Neurodevelopmental, Neurology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Sleep Disorders, Genetics and Gastroenterology programs so that your child has complete and coordinated care. We see babies, children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Autism is a complex neurological disorder that affects the way a person thinks, behaves, communicates and interacts with others. Autism is a spectrum disorder. This means it affects some children mildly and affects other children much more. Please visit our website for more information and services we provide.
Seattle Children’s caring doctors diagnose and treat newborns through young adults with all types of conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord. Seattle Children’s offers a wide range of treatments and services for all types of conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord. We have more pediatric neurosurgeons on staff than any other hospital in the Pacific Northwest - with coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our neurologists and neurosurgeons work closely with specialists in other fields, like plastic surgery, neuropsychology and rehabilitation medicine. Babies, children, teens and young adults come to Seattle Children’s from across the nation and around the world. Our Neurosciences Center consistently ranks among the top programs in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. In 2018, Seattle Children’s Neurosciences Center was ranked #1 in the Northwest, and among the top 10 nationwide. Please visit our website for more information specific conditions and how we will care for your child.
South Sound Behavior Associates address the challenges and obstacles that prevent individuals from full participation in school and life while providing a number of services. Services include: individual, family, and group therapy, evaluation, functional behavior assessment and intervention, staff training and consultation, parent training, and networking.
Speech & Language Services, Franciscan Therapy Services
If you’re one of the millions of people affected by a cognitive, communication or swallowing disorder, speech-language therapy is an effective treatment option. Our experienced team of therapists can help you understand the nature of your impairment and fulfill your functional potential. Our comprehensive program focuses on all areas of speech-language pathology: pediatric rehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, communication, voice, cognition (attention, memory, reasoning, judgment), and swallow evaluations and techniques.
Speech & Language Services, Franciscan Therapy Services
If you’re one of the millions of people affected by a cognitive, communication or swallowing disorder, speech-language therapy is an effective treatment option. Our experienced team of therapists can help you understand the nature of your impairment and fulfill your functional potential. Our comprehensive program focuses on all areas of speech-language pathology: pediatric rehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, communication, voice, cognition (attention, memory, reasoning, judgment), and swallow evaluations and techniques.
Speech & Language Services, Franciscan Therapy Services
If you’re one of the millions of people affected by a cognitive, communication or swallowing disorder, speech-language therapy is an effective treatment option. Our experienced team of therapists can help you understand the nature of your impairment and fulfill your functional potential. Our comprehensive program focuses on all areas of speech-language pathology: pediatric rehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, communication, voice, cognition (attention, memory, reasoning, judgment), and swallow evaluations and techniques.
Speech & Language Services, Franciscan Therapy Services
If you’re one of the millions of people affected by a cognitive, communication or swallowing disorder, speech-language therapy is an effective treatment option. Our experienced team of therapists can help you understand the nature of your impairment and fulfill your functional potential. Our comprehensive program focuses on all areas of speech-language pathology: pediatric rehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, communication, voice, cognition (attention, memory, reasoning, judgment), and swallow evaluations and techniques.
University of Washington Autism Centers
UW Seattle Office, Center on Human Development and Disability
The UW Autism Center is a non-profit organization devoted to supporting individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders through exceptional clinical services, innovative scientific research, and high-quality training. The Tacoma clinic currently offers Autism diagnostic evaluations for all ages but expedited evaluations for children under 3 who are already enrolled in Birth-to-Three, outpatient speech therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapies in the clinic and home as well as an intensive 12 week program for children under age 6 who have state insurance plans, and social skills groups. The Tacoma clinic also offers trainings for parents, professionals and community members on ASD related topics, as well as student internship and clinical practicum rotations. Please contact us for more information about any of these resources.
The UW Autism Center is a non-profit organization devoted to supporting individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders through exceptional clinical services, innovative scientific research, and high-quality training. The Tacoma clinic currently offers Autism diagnostic evaluations for all ages but expedited evaluations for children under 3 who are already enrolled in Birth-to-Three, outpatient speech therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapies in the clinic and home as well as an intensive 12 week program for children under age 6 who have state insurance plans, and social skills groups. The Tacoma clinic also offers trainings for parents, professionals and community members on ASD related topics, as well as student internship and clinical practicum rotations. Please contact us for more information about any of these resources.
Wilson Clinical Services provides specialized services to the deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and late deafened population throughout the state of Washington and the United States. These services are available to community centers, private individuals, group homes, prisons, courts, schools, and other places that are in need of specialized care.
WithinReach builds pathways to make it easier for Washington families to navigate complex health and social service systems and connect with the resources they need to be healthy and safe. We are the coordinated access point and lead affiliate in Washington for Help Me Grow - a framework for communities to maximize their existing resources to ensure everyone feels supported. Whether it’s early childhood development milestone screening, application assistance for health insurance, help finding a food bank, parenting class, or low-cost medical clinic, WithinReach is there to help. Families can access our support via the Help Me Grow Washington Hotline at (800) 322-2588 or via parenthelp123.org.
