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.
CCTS envisions a world where all individuals live with independence and self-sufficiency. Our mission is to improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities. We work to achieve this mission by creating broader visibility for quality data and robust research, informing policy, supporting effective teaching and learning, and maintaining critical partnerships and connections in the area of special education.
Our mission is to empower adults with disabilities to engage in their community through advocacy, employment, and education. Our purpose is to promote and advocate for the general welfare of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; foster the development of programs on the individual’s behalf; aid the client, parents, and/or guardians in the solution of issues that arise; coordinate efforts and activities on their behalf; and cooperate with all public and private agencies and organizations in the furtherance of these ends.
DVR believes employment contributes to a person’s ability to live independently and everyone has a right to work. Our purpose is to empower people with disabilities to achieve a greater quality of life by obtaining and maintaining employment. As a division of the Department of Social and Health Services, with offices located throughout Washington, DVR has partnered with communities for over 70 years to help meet the employment needs of people with disabilities and employers.
DVR believes employment contributes to a person’s ability to live independently and everyone has a right to work. Our purpose is to empower people with disabilities to achieve a greater quality of life by obtaining and maintaining employment. As a division of the Department of Social and Health Services, with offices located throughout Washington, DVR has partnered with communities for over 70 years to help meet the employment needs of people with disabilities and employers.
DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology)
The DO-IT Center is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through technology and education. It promotes awareness and accessibility - in both the classroom and the workplace - to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities and make our communities more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive. Please visit our website for more information.
A national technical assistance center, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, which partners with state deaf/blind projects to improve systems serving children (ages birth-21) who are deaf/blind. Extensive information and a variety of tools and resources related to combined vision and hearing loss are available on the NCDB website and via email.
Education Ombuds: listens to understand your questions and concerns relating to students in K-12; provides information about public school processes and the rights and responsibilities of students and parents, and make referrals to appropriate resources; asks questions to help you identify, understand, and evaluate possible options for resolving concerns; acts as a neutral sounding board; offers support and coaching on working through conflict and building effective communication; consults with families, educators, and others to clarify issues and facilitate direct communication between families and schools; and shares best practices for increasing family engagement in schools.
Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) is one of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts and state approved charter and private schools in Washington. Educational Service Districts, created by the legislature, are an essential regional delivery system for early learning and K-postsecondary services in the state. Educational Service Districts improve the quality, equity, and efficiency of educational programs through partnerships with K-12 education, early learning, higher education, and public and private organizations. Together, we: save schools money through regional efficiencies, centralized services, pooled resources, improve the effectiveness of educational programs, deliver specialized services otherwise unavailable, provide leadership for innovative and effective educational practices, build networks and partnerships among districts and other agencies, and link schools with regional, state and national educational resources. The Puget Sound Educational Service District is committed to supporting all stakeholders (students, teachers, school districts, education leaders, internal staff) in reaching personal and organizational success. The agency is an innovative and responsive partner providing essential local services to leverage resources and strengths to make sure students are ready to enter school, achieve at high levels in the K-12 system, and succeed in post-secondary endeavors. The Puget Sound Educational Service District is committed to becoming an anti-racist multicultural organization in order to eliminate the opportunity gap. We will share our work in equity and inclusion with our thirty-five school districts and private schools as well as with educators and advocates throughout the state and nation to ensure all students reach their full potential.