Community Resources - Early Intervention and Special Education Services

Early Intervention / Education

Early Intervention and Special Education Services

Introduction

The Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), Part C, requires states to have a system in place to provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. The Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program (ITEIP) in the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is the lead agency for early intervention services in Washington state. There are a variety of public and private early intervention providers throughout the state.

IDEIA, Part B, requires school districts to provide special education services to qualified children/youth (ages 3 to 21) with disabilities. Eligibility is determined by a school-based multidisciplinary evaluation group, which includes input from the parent(s). To qualify for special education services it must be determined that the child or youth (a) has a disability; (b) the disability adversely affects the student's education and (c) the student is in need of specially designed instruction. Once eligibility is determined, an individualized education program (IEP) is developed by the IEP team of which parents are members. Each program is individualized to meet the unique needs of the individual child/youth as determined during the evaluation process.

Persons with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) who qualify for special education services may qualify for those services under various disabilities categories such as: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Physical Impairment (PI), Other Health Impairments (OHI), Learning Disabilities (LD), or Speech and Language Impairments (SLI). The disability category also is determined during the evaluation process.

COLLEGE LEVEL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

At the college level, both the Washington community colleges and many private colleges and universities maintain fully staffed departments for disabled students. They may provide some form of testing to determine the appropriate type of learning assistance that the student needs. There are a wide range of programs, varying from tutoring, computer learning laboratories with advanced cognitive re-training software, pencil and paper exercises, classes in learning skills after brain injuries, and special sections of study skills courses just for persons with learning disabilities and brain Injuries. In addition, many colleges offer note-takers and study hours with student peer tutoring help. In most cases, a person need NOT be a regular "student" in order to utilize the services of the Community College's Disabled Students Program. Many members of the surrounding communities often attend the programs, without seeking a degree.

Sources: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

For more information on traumatic brain injury, please contact your doctor or refer to the TBI Toolkit, produced by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/Library/tbitoolkit.pdf

Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program - Children Birth to Three
PO Box 45201 - Olympia, Washington 98504-5201
Phone: 360-725-3516; Toll Free: 1-800-322-2588 - FAX: (360) 902-8497
TTY: (360) 902-7864
Email: iteip@eocwa.org
Web site: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/iteip
Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, will schedule evening appointments Description: Information, referral, and assistance to anyone concerned about the development of a child. Free screening and information about child development for children ages birth to 36 months. Assists families with access to formal or informal service providers. Works with families of children with developmental delays. Answers questions regarding early special education, child development, and parenting.
Area Served: Statewide
Eligibility: Families of children birth to 3, information and referrals for older children How to apply: Call for services
Fees: None

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction - Early Childhood Services
P.O. Box 47200 - Olympia, WA 98504-7200
Phone: (360) 725-6000; TTY: 360-664-3631
Email: kwalker@ospi.wednet.edu Web site: www.k12.wa.us
Description: Programs for children ages 3 through 5 with disabilities.
Areas Served: Washington state Eligibility: Call for updated information
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Phone: (360) 725-6075, TTY (360) 586-0126
Email: speced@k12.wa.us
Web site: http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/regulations.aspx
Description: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Rules for the Provision of Special Education to Special Education Students. Chapter 392-172 WAC.
Areas Served: Washington state Eligibility: Call for updated information
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

Office of State Coordinator of Vocational Education for Students
with Disabilities Career and Technical Education
P.O. Box 47200 - Olympia, WA 98504-7200
Phone: (360) 725-6000; (360) 664-3631 (TTY)
Email: rfieldman@ospi.wednet.edu
Web site: http://www.k12.wa.us/careerteched/
Description: Career and Technical Education is a planned program of courses and learning experiences that begins with exploration of career options, supports basic academic and life skills, and enables achievement of high academic standards, leadership, preparation for industry-defined work, and advanced and continuing education.
Areas Served: Statewide
Eligibility: Career oriented students with disabilities
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

Center for Change in Transition Services - Seattle University
901 12^th Ave. – Seattle, WA 98122-1090
Phone: (206) 296-6000; Toll-free: 1-800-426-7123
Email: ccts@seattleu.edu
Web site: http://www.seattleu.edu/ccts/
Description: The Center for Change in Transition Services, Seattle University, is a state-needs grant funded by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The center provides links to advocacy, resource and support organizations in Washington state and the nation.
Areas Served: Washington state Eligibility: Call for updated information
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

DO-IT: Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology
University of Washington - P.O. Box 355670 - Seattle, WA 98195 5670
Phone: 206-685-DOIT (3648) (V/TTY) - 888-972- DOIT (3648) (V/TTY) Washington, outside Seattle - 206-221-4171 FAX - 509-328-9331 (V/TTY) Spokane office
Email: doit@u.washington.edu
Web site: http://www.washington.edu/doit/
Description: Sponsors programs and delivers presentations and workshops to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. DO-IT activities are hosted at conferences, universities, K-12 schools, corporations, state agencies and professional organizations. It serves to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers.
Areas Served: Public via Internet
Eligibility: Youth with disabilities
How to apply: Call, email or visit the DO-IT web site for services
Fees: Many free and low-cost services

Community and Family Health - Department of Health
P.O. Box 47820 - Olympia, WA 98504-7880
Phone: (360) 236-3573
Web site: http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/default.htm
Description: Programs for children with special health care needs.
Areas Served: Washington state
Eligibility: Serves children who have serious physical, behavioral or emotional conditions that require health and related services beyond those required by children generally
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Phone: (877) 543-7669
Web site: http://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/maa/CHIP/Index.html
Description: Health care for low-income uninsured children.
Areas Served: Washington state Eligibility: Uninsured children How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

Telecommunications Relay Services for Individuals who are
Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or with Speech Impairments
Phone: (800) 833-6384 (V) - (800) 833-6388 (TTY); 711 (TTY) - (800) 833-6385 (Tele-Braille) (877) 833-6341 (Speech to Speech)
Description: Telephone service for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing.
Areas Served: Washington state
Eligibility: Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or with speech impairments
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

ADA – Answers Northwest
P.O. Box 574 - Portland, OR 97207-0574
Phone: (503) 494-3331; Fax: (503) 494-6868
Email: batsellb@ohsu.edu
Web site: http://www.ohsu.edu/oidd/cca/adaan/
Description: Regional ADA & information technology technical assistance center. Areas Served: Regional service center
Eligibility: Call for updated information
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

University of Washington Center on Human Development and Disability
Box 357920 - Seattle, WA 98195-7920 Phone: (206) 543-7701
Email: chdd@u.washington.edu
Web site: http://depts.washington.edu/chdd/
Description: University centers for excellence in developmental disabilities.
Areas Served: Western Washington and the Pacific Northwest
Eligibility: Developmental disabilities How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (WATAP)
P.O. Box 357920 - Seattle, WA 98195-7920
Phone: (800) 214-8731 (I&R) - (206) 616-1396 (TTY) – (206) 543-4779 (Fax)
Email: uwat@u.washington.edu
Web site: http://www.watap.org
Description: Provides technology-related assistance. The Northwest ADA/IT Center is one of 10 regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTAC) funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education. Areas Served: Western Washington
Eligibility: Public
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Most services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance

Washington Talking Book and Braille Library
2021 9th Avenue - Seattle, WA 98121-2783
Phone: (206) 615-0400; (800) 542-0866 - (206) 615-0418 (TTY)
Email: wtbbl@wtbbl.org
Web site: http://www.wtbbl.org/eligibilityandcost.html
Description: Administered by Seattle Public Library - special format library.
Areas Served: Washington state
Eligibility: Children and adults who are residents of Washington state and who are legally blind, deaf-blind, visually impaired (cannot easily read conventional size print), physically disabled (cannot comfortably hold books or turn pages), or learning disabled due to organic dysfunction
How to apply: Call for services
Fees: Services and equipment are free to eligible users. The federal government's Library of Congress supplies materials and equipment. Basic operating costs are provided by Washington state.