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
Camps / Summer Programs
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.
We inspire and enable youth of all backgrounds and abilities to discover their spark, value the natural world, and become tomorrow’s leaders, today. Camp Fire Central Puget Sound ignites a passion for nature, a commitment to service and a drive to succeed in 10,000 children and teens every year. Since 1915, kids have relied on Camp Fire for fun and educational experiences that develop their confidence, academic success, leadership and social skills. With the support of our community, we build tomorrow’s leaders today. We are very proud to be a welcoming place for all kids to come together to learn, play and grow into confident and caring members of society.
We’re more than a summer camp. We’re a social club, a safe space, a creative place. We’re a chance to unwind, a chance to try new things. Our overnight camp is open to teens and adults age 12 and up with developmental and/or physical disabilities. We foster independence, joy, and belonging. Come experience the magic of lions camp horizon.
Camp Lots of Fun is a four-week summer day camp designed for children and young adults ages 6 to 21 with disabilities. The camp activities include cooperative play games, dress up days, theme weeks, special visitors, creative arts, sports activities, singing, and social activities. The camp is staffed with school teachers and college students under the supervision of a special education teacher. The activities change daily and are designed to promote sharing, cooperation, friendship, sportsmanship, and fun. A full time assistant, age 16 or older, must be provided for campers not toilet trained, ambulatory, or who pose a safety threat to self or others. Transportation is the responsibility of the parents/care givers. Camp is at Discovery Primary School.
Seeks to enrich the lives of families with children who are seriously ill or disabled by providing an outdoor wilderness experience where families can enjoy themselves in a supportive atmosphere without financial burden.
Community Care is a children’s mental health agency that has provided care for youth and families in the Seattle area since 1997. We provide youth and family psychotherapy, behavior plan writing, one to one behavior specialists, and three seasonal special needs camps. Please visit our website for more information.
Community Care Camp is a recreation camp for children, featuring fun, physical, and therapeutic activities in the community. The Camp runs from June 24th through August 23rd. The hours range from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Round trip transportation for camp is available. If your child has behavioral issues, a mental health diagnosis, developmental delays, or is in Special Education at school, this camp is for YOU! Cost varies and transportation is available for an additional cost. Bring a sack lunch. For more detailed information please check the website or call us.
The Companionship Program is designed to provide fully inclusive recreation and leisure opportunities for individuals with special needs and their families. Our goal is to assist the participants in finding and maintaining strong friendships while playing and trying new activities. The program is a cooperative effort with the Bethel, Clover Park, Eatonville, Peninsula and Sumner school districts. Please visit our website to view our newsletter/program calendar. Our quarterly newsletters feature the upcoming calendar of events/programs and help keep you up to date. As you view the calendar please note that some events may have a fee or registration fee. There is no commitment of membership. Come once or come often.
Easter Seals Camp Stand By Me has been an inclusive, barrier-free environment for children and adults with disabilities to experience all the joys of camp without limitations. Camp is about all the things children and adults CAN do: swim, canoe, sing, eat s'mores, build lifelong friendships and more. We offer week-long sessions in the summer, and weekend respite in the fall, winter, and spring. With low staff to camper ratios and an on-site registered nurse, we can serve children and adults of any ability level. Camp Stand By Me offers all of the activities of a traditional summer camp in a safe, accessible environment. Activities include: campfires, boating, fishing, swimming, arts, crafts, outdoor education, sports, recreation, and archery.
Easter Seals Washington serves over 4,100 children and adults annually throughout the state. We change the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people's lives every day, helping our clients build the skills and access the resources they need to live, learn, work and play. Our servics include autism services (ABA therapy), child development centers, camping and recreation, employment support, community access, information and referral, adult day services, early intervention, respite, and much more.
Music is for EVERY child! One of the many strengths of Kindermusik is its focus on the different developmental needs of each stage of childhood. Each Kindermusik class level is designed to give every child the most appropriate and stimulating environment to nurture their developmental needs. In fact, it is Kindermusik’s musical and developmental basis that makes the program such a natural and effective way to augment occupational, physical, or speech therapy.
Metro Parks provides social recreation programs for people with disabilities (intellectual disabilities) through the Specialized Recreation Program. Pre-registration is required for all activities. Activities include social, athletic/sports, outings, and classes. Social programs are held in the evening and during the day and include exercise, games, music, and basic fun making new friends. We offer six sports through Special Olympics (basketball, track and field, soccer, golf, softball, aquatics and bowling), year round bowling and footgolf. Other programs include: weekend adventure outings (day trips), vacation adventures (overnight camping), special events, and dances. Our vacation trips provide opportunities for adults (18 years and older) with disabilities to vacation with friends in the northwest in a variety of settings. Vacations typically last 2-5 days and include lodging in hotels, tents, and residential camps. Typical activities include sightseeing, canoeing, swimming, shopping, hiking, and visiting local tourist attractions. Metro Parks also offers youth programs and a one-week summer day camp in August. For more detailed information please call or visit our website.
For ages 17 and up, our New Horizons Camp provides a welcoming Christian camping environment to youth who are developmentally disabled and/or who are mildly, physically disabled. Campers learn they are important creations of God and explore the beauty of God’s world. Campers must be able to care for their own personal needs (eating, dressing, and restroom use) with minimal assistance and be able to participate in most camp activities. The Camp activities include swimming at the local pool, canoeing, carnival, games, archery, talent show, and campfires. Please visit our website for more information.
Camp Parkview takes place on beautiful Vashon Island at the Burton Conference Center. This annual stay-away camp for adults with disabilities is a unique experience that allows for fun, recreation and togetherness in the lovely Northwest outdoors. Over 60 campers with many types of disabilities come to camp each year, along with 40+ volunteer counselors. Campers stay in accessible cabins with private bathrooms and are able to participate in accessible recreation such as boating, swimming, arts and crafts, singing, nature paths and an fantastic all-camp talent show. We have four volunteer registered nurses on staff providing 24-hour care, including medication administration. All of this is provided to our campers so that they will be able to have the full summer camp experience.
Russell’s Ranch is an equine therapeutic riding program for individuals of all ages with physical and intellectual disabilities looking to build connections with horses. We are proudly certified through PATH (the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship), which promotes safety and optimal outcomes in equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs. Russell’s Ranch provides riding and ground lessons in both adaptive and non-adaptive curricula. Please visit our website for more information.
Our vision is that all families affected by childhood cancer will experience a community of hope, joy, and love. When childhood cancer becomes your world, the Goodtimes Project creates caring spaces for local families to connect and for kids to be kids, through camps, events, and programs. Camp Goodtimes offers campers, ages 7-17, the opportunity to attend a resident camp that is specifically designed to provide opportunities for personal growth, connection among children impacted by cancer, and a whole lot of camp-tastic fun - all in a medically supervised environment. And while campers are enrolled, parents get a chance to just breathe. Camper eligibility includes cancer patients on- or off-treatment and a sibling.
