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
Autism
ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) & ACT Today! for Military Families
A national non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to raise awareness and provide treatment services and support to families to help their children with autism be able to achieve their full potential. Autism Care Today's goal is to introduce and help facilitate early and on-going treatment by providing the necessary resources (including referrals, funding and guidance) to individuals with autism and their families throughout the United States. Autism Care Today strives to provide necessary services so that each child with autism can reach his or her highest potential.
APPLE Consulting values an optimistic, collaborative, and individualized approach to service delivery. We emphasize cross-disciplinary team collaboration and coordination to produce meaningful outcomes for individuals with autism and related disorders across the varied environments in which they live, play, and learn. With the science of behavior analysis as our foundation and evidence-based practice across the disciplines as our toolbox, we cultivate a comprehensive and individualized learning program for our students that opens doors of opportunity that may have seemed out of reach in the past. By guiding students through the acquisition, fluency, maintenance, and generalization of skills, APPLE’s programming focuses on the individual’s abilities to incorporate skills and strengths into everyday life. Grounded in an enduring respect for those which whom we work, our team of accomplished and attuned professionals offer personalized family based services that show that every individual can and will learn. Comprehensive services for autism spectrum and related disorders. For the child. For the family. For the school. For the community.
The Autism Society of America has been improving the lives of all affected by autism for over 50 years and envisions a world where individuals and families living with autism are able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued. We provide advocacy, education, information and referral, support, and community at national, state and local levels through our strong nationwide network of Affiliates. Founded in 1965, the Autism Society is the leading source of trusted and reliable information about autism. Through its national network, the Autism Society has spearheaded numerous pieces of federal, state and local legislation, including the 2006 Combating Autism Act, the first federal autism-specific law.
The mission of Autism Society of Washington is to improve the lives of all affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders in Washington State. The vision of the Autism Society of Washington is to promote lifelong access to appropriate treatment and interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. ASW also advances opportunities for individuals to be fully integrated and participating members of their communities by providing support to families and promoting advocacy, public awareness, education, and dissemination of current research related to autism. Check out our website for all the amazing links and information we provide.
Serving communities in Washington, Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support, increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.
Behavior Bridges offers educational and behavioral based services to individuals affected by Autism and related developmental disabilities. Parent, staff, and caregiver education is a cornerstone of our services. All of our services are tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual. Our highly trained staff bring extensive experience to provide quality services for the individual and their team. Services include Social Groups, PEERS Groups, and SafetyCare for Families.
Behavior Support Solutions strives to promote healthier families and assist those individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities to meet their potential by decreasing behavior issues, and increasing social skills and communication skills. Behavior Support Solutions only uses positive behavior supports that are research proven and considered best practices in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.
C.A.S.T. "Catch A Special Thrill" for Kids Program
C.A.S.T. for Kids was designed to create an environment where children (ages 6-18) and adults could benefit, sharing a day of fun on the water that they may not otherwise get to experience. Children’s groups from the local area are hosted at a local site and supplied with fishing rods & reels, a t-shirt, hat and tackle box, partnered with a volunteer experienced angler (guide), and escorted onto a motorized boat, where, along with their caretaker, are shown the proper techniques of fishing and are educated on natural resources. They all then return from their morning fishing excursion to a BBQ lunch and awards ceremony. Call or visit the website for more detailed information or find out how you can host an event in your local area.
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.
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.
Commencement Children’s Therapy has had extensive experience working with children with special needs, including autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing and emotional regulation disorders, developmental delays, prematurity, cognitive delays, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol/drug related neuro-developmental disorders, and a variety of genetic and neurological disorders. We work collaboratively with multiple disciplines to best support children within their natural environments.
F.E.A.T. (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) of Washington
FEAT has flourished since it was conceived in 1996 by five pioneering families who shared a need. Today, nearly 5,000 members - clients, families, therapists, other health-related professionals, business partners, and friends - comprise our large caring community. Our programs include family resources and Ben’s Fund Autism Grant. Family Resources provides one-on-one help via our family services resource line and online support groups so you can connect with other families who have a child with autism. Ben's Fund provides grant opportunities to families across Washington who need financial assistance with services specifically related to autism spectrum disorder. From therapies to equipment, we ease some of the financial strain associated with autism spectrum disorders. Ben's Fund accepts applications year-round for children and young adults ages 0-23.
Friends of Russell is committed to embracing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to provide assistance on the way to a full and authentic quality of life. Friends of Russell coordinates fundraising events and projects to raise money for the autism cause. Please visit our website for more information and our upcoming events.
Harkla is a small and dedicated company whose goal is to provide families with the best products and resources for raising a child with special needs. Harkla has sought out avenues to have an impact in the special needs community through our blog with actionable advice from experts and our commitment to donating 1% of every sale to the University of Washington Autism Center. This helps fund clinical visits for families who can't afford it, along with cutting edge research. Living with special needs requires special products. That's why we focus on providing the highest quality products and best customer service to make life as easy as possible. Please visit our website for more information on products.
Imagine has been serving families impacted by autism, developmental disabilities and behavior challenges in the state of WA since 2011. Initially established to serve children supported by the Children’s Intensive In-Home Behavioral Supports (CIIBS) waiver, we branched out into comprehensive autism services in 2013 providing treatment under the new ABA Medicaid benefit. Today we work with all major funding sources including private insurance, Tricare, Medicaid and Developmental Disabilities Administrative (DDA) waivers to support individuals from early childhood through adulthood, providing comprehensive programming, targeted skill development and individualized behavior interventions in center, home, community and school settings. We are committed to providing effective, evidence-based treatment in a supportive and engaging environment through the use of family friendly methods, consistent family involvement and state of the art procedures.
Facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing employers, employment providers, people with disabilities, their family members, and other interested parties with information on job accommodations, self-employment, small business opportunities, and related subjects.
Magnolia Behavior Therapy provides Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who supervises each child’s program. Our BCBA’s supervise our Seattle behavior technicians and collaborate with other professionals such as: doctors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, paraprofessionals and other school district personnel. From supervising an ABA therapy program to training school district personnel on implementing a customized positive behavior support plan, all of our BCBAs are experts in the field of human behavior. The methods we use include: detailed assessments, programmed intervention, daily data collection and data-based decision-making in order to achieve the desired results.
Magnolia Behavior Therapy provides Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who supervises each child’s program. Our BCBA’s supervise our Seattle behavior technicians and collaborate with other professionals such as: doctors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, paraprofessionals and other school district personnel. From supervising an ABA therapy program to training school district personnel on implementing a customized positive behavior support plan, all of our BCBAs are experts in the field of human behavior. The methods we use include: detailed assessments, programmed intervention, daily data collection and data-based decision-making in order to achieve the desired results.
Magnolia Behavior Therapy provides Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) who supervises each child’s program. Our BCBA’s supervise our Seattle behavior technicians and collaborate with other professionals such as: doctors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, paraprofessionals and other school district personnel. From supervising an ABA therapy program to training school district personnel on implementing a customized positive behavior support plan, all of our BCBAs are experts in the field of human behavior. The methods we use include: detailed assessments, programmed intervention, daily data collection and data-based decision-making in order to achieve the desired results.
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.
The PLAY (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) Project/PLAY Autism Intervention, is an intensive, home-based approach focused on helping children with autism ages 2 to 6 build relationships and learn to engage, interact and communicate with others. PLAY trains parents to provide treatment at home, and shows parents practical ways of making every interaction with their child a growing and learning experience. Although not designed to replace a child’s on-going therapy services, such as occupational or speech therapy, PLAY helps families provide a more intense, successful and cost-effective overall intervention program for their children with autism. PLAY at CTU is a year-long program that includes: pre- and post-assessment, a training DVD and manual, ten three - hour home visits, and ten video analyses. Please visit our website for more information and our history.
PURPAS-“PAVE-ing a Unique Road for People on the Autism Spectrum” offers life skill informational classes for youth 14 years and older with autism. Topics include personal hygiene, leadership, advocacy, dating and relationships, cooking, transportation, street safety. Monthly social meet up activities are planned by youth and can include: bowling, board game night, pizza night, zoo outing, and arts and crafts. 1 adult = 3 youth, transportation not provided. Family gathering night is for all ages and occurs throughout the year. These include meeting for dinner in the community where families and individuals have conversation, plan future events, discuss life skills topics and share resources. The yearly calendar is distributed in early September and, throughout the year, social meet up activities will be added. (Located on the Tacoma Community College Campus in parking lot “I” as you enter from 12th Street; opposite side of the campus from TACID.)
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.
The South Sound Autism Partnership is a collaboration between individuals, families, providers, and organizations who are part of the autism community within the South Puget Sound area of Washington State. Our primary purpose is to increase awareness, acceptance and advocacy of autism in order to provide support for our community and impact change. We have monthly resource sharing meetings on the UW Tacoma campus. Anyone is welcome to attend. Please email us for more information! Our goals are: to strengthen and coordinate the existing resources through building authentic relationships in the South Puget Sound area that serve our community; to identify and further clarify the unmet needs of our community and help develop resources to meet those needs; to provide comprehensive information regarding needed supports for our community throughout the lifespan.
TACA provides education, support and hope to families living with autism. TACA has local chapters across the United States providing families affected by autism with education, resources and support. Chapters hold educational family events, meetings, seminars and/or coffee talks. TACA’s website provides in-depth, comprehensive information for parents regarding the autism journey. Parents can also join TACA’s Hope and Help FaceBook Group. Parents can be matched with an experienced, trained and supported TACA parent mentor to help guide them on the autism journey. TACA parent mentors offer one-on-one support and information about autism-related topics, including; biomedical treatments, dietary intervention, insurance, IEP, therapies and more. TACA’s Autism Journey Guide is a 200+ page book providing parents a comprehensive overview of autism therapies and treatments for all stages of the journey. Guides are free to families attending their first chapter event. They can also be purchased from the TACA website and shipped anywhere in the U.S. TACA provides regional chapter scholarships as funding is available to assist in autism treatments. Please visit our website for more information and services.
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.
Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy (WAAA) expands access to healthcare, education and services for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD’s) & related intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our vision is for all families in Washington State to have the resources they need to support the well-being of loved ones with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Please visit our website for more information.
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.
A Washington non-profit organization working with families who have children with special needs. Offers programs and activites for special needs children and their families. We support, educate, and empower exceptional families and our community to create an inclusive environment for children with special needs.
