Other Agencies

Other agencies and organizations

Arc of Spokane

https://www.arc-spokane.org/

(509) 328-6326

Resource Guide: Programs & Services for children, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b43b677e74940b106641ade/t/5b6889b98a922dbc1e8f1e44/1533577661310/2018-2019+Resource+Guide.pdf 

Partnership 4 Safety

Sexual abuse prevention program in Eastern Washington for children teens and adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Disability Service Professionals Education: WA state credited trainings on sexual abuse awareness, response and prevention for direct service professionals and others.
• Fridays Movies: Movie night held on the second Friday of the month for youth with I/DD ages 16-21. Youth meet new people and hang out with friends with friends while learning about healthy relationships through discussion and games.
• Health Relationship Classes: Offered in partnership with public schools, these 8-week classes are for youth ages 16-21 in special education to teach about healthy relationships and abuse identification.
• Sex Education Information: Call Arc for information about healthy relationships, including how to talk about sexual development, puberty and abuse prevention --for children, youth and adults with I/DD, teachers, case managers and direct care professionals.
• The Safety Rally: A yearly safety-oriented event for middle and high school students in special education classes. Students learn about personal and community safety while dancing ot live DJ and games.

Advocacy and Family Support Team

An advocate is a person who represents and works with a person or group of people who may need support, information and encouragement to exercise their rights.

• Community Access: Provides community access service for people with developmental disabilities through the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). Provides personal centered planning, opportunity development, and support towards the goal of building relationships in the community and inclusion.
• Community Centers: (Downtown and Valley) Hub of activities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Offers: Computer classes, arts and crafts, monthly dances, annual talent show, community outings.
• Financial Management Program: Representative payee/protected payee
• Employment: Provides employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities through DDA and DVR. Offers individualized supported employment, group supported employment and individual technical assistance.
• Parent to Parent Training: offers workshops to help parents understand important issues affecting them and their child with i/dd.
  • Sibling Workshops: Developed for NT siblings
  • Guardianship Workshops: Explore the types of guardianships, alternatives to guardianships and other supports for people with disabilities.
  • Parent Empowered Workshops: Explores the emotional challenges parents often face and helps them navigate the many resources available to them and their child with i/dd.
  • Peer Mentor Matching Program: Match up with another parent who can help with local resources and offer emotional support and mentorship.
  • Support Groups: For parents and siblings of children and adults with i/dd.
• Home Ownership Opportunities: provides down payment assistance for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Also provides assistance and counseling on qualifying for a mortgage, finding favorable lending terms, applying for a loan, finding the right house, making an offer and closing escrow, long-term financial management, maintaining the home after purchase.
• Spokane County Parent Coalition: SCPC is a network of parents in Spokane County who have a child with a developmental disability.
  • Advocacy & Family Network: Newsletter and calendar of events
  • Family Support Conference: Held annually offering speakers and workshops on topics that matter to parents, guardians and families.
  • Leadership Development: Helps parents develop the skills they need to be effective advocates for their children.
  • Advocacy Days: Travel to Olympia with your son or daughter to meet representatives during the legislative session.
  • Workshops: Workshops include topics such as "Wills, Guardianships and Trusts" and "Transition from High School to Adult Life"
  • Family Scholarship Fund: Helps parents attend educational workshops, conferences or seminars specific to the disability of their family member.
• Spokane Father's Network: Provides dads an opportunity to share their unique perspective in an atmosphere of understanding and trust.

Autism Society of Washington-Spokane Chapter

www.autismsocietyofwa.org/asw-spokane

Spokane@autismcocietyofwa.org

ASW-SC Promotes the active and informed involvement of family members and the individual with autism in planning of individualized, appropriate services and supports.

• Newsletter
• Sensory Friendly Movies on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month at AMC Movie Theatre.
• Family Social Group: This group started in 2016 for families who have a child age 7-12 on the autism spectrum. All children must have adult supervision.
• Autism Resource Manual available at: www.autismsocietyofwa.org/asw-spokane
• Asperger's Social Group: Third Sunday of every month

BEST Program (Behavior Education Skills Training)

Sacred Hearth Children's Hospital

509-474-2112

Hospital-based day treatment program that provides intensive therapeutic treatment for school-aged children in K-6th. Five-week program is designed for children who have behavioral and emotional problems affected relationships with family, friends, and school performance. Must be referred by a medical or mental health professional. 

Children FIRST

3120 N. Industrial Park 1st St., Spokane Valley, WA 99216

50-924-2850

Offers children ages 0-3 years multidisciplinary services: screening, assessment and treatment in occupational and physical therapy, communication and feeding disorders, special education and family resource coordination.  No cost to families.  Services can be in child's home, child-care site or at the center. 

Dads M.O.V.E

www.dadsmove.org

Paul Brown: pbrown@dadsmove.org

Dads MOVE is a family-focused, dads driven peer support model providing support, training, advocacy and resources to the parents and families of special needs kids, and their local service providers.

Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)

www.dshs.wa.gov/ddd

(509) 329-2900

Provides case management and organizes supports and services to eligible individuals with developmental disabilities. See website for information on eligible individuals and developmental disabilities.

This video may also be helpful: http://informingfamilies.org/ifs-evelyn-perez/

Dispute Resolution

www.k12.wa.us/specialed/disputeresolution

There are three options under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These options can address concerns about identification, evaluation, educational placement and provision of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

• Mediation
• File a Citizen Complaint
• Due Process Hearing

See website for full range of services

East Central Community Center

www.ecspokane.org

(509) 808-2132

Provides community access and fun recreational program for high school age and adults. Community garden, outdoor activities, arts and crafts, DDA basketball league and DDA softball league

Guardianship Monitoring Program

(509) 477-2622

The Spokane County Guardianship Monitoring Program was implemented to improve the Superior Court's ability to monitor guardians' handling of the ongoing care and financial affairs of Spokane County's incapacitated citizens under court-supervised guardianships.

Infant Toddler Network

www.srhld.org/services

(509) 324-1651

Assists families of children, birth to three, who have developmental delays or have a condition that may result in a developmental delay.

• Serves as a single point of contact for family
• coordinate evaluations and assessments
• Inform families of advocacy and peer support services
• Coordinate with medical and healthcare providers
• Identify and assist families in assessing resources for funding
• Coordinate all services across agency lines
• Develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFS)

Kinship Caregiver Support Program

https://fbhwa.org/programs/elder-services/kinship-navigator

(509) 458-7450 option 4

Kinship Navigator provides help to family members raising children through the Kinship Caregiver Support Program.

Kinship Navigator helps caregivers:

• Navigate their way through government systems
• Gain information
• Receive support
• Locate resources
• Reduce or eliminate barriers
• Avoid costly crisis and emergency services
• Maintain family cohesiveness

Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP)

www.snapwa.org

(509) 456-7133

An Ombudsman is an advocate for the rights of pope in facilities and provides a way to get complaints and concerns heard and resolved. Program protects and promotes quality of life living for people living in state licensed facilities/residential housing:

• Adult family homes
• assisted living facilities
• nursing homes

Northwest Autism Center

www.nwautism.org

(509) 328-1582

Early Intensive Applied Behavioral Analysis Treatment Clinic provides comprehensive and multidisciplinary services to young children with autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. Accepts: Apple Health managed care organizations --Molina, Amerigroup, CHPW, Coordinated Care, United Healthcare or Provider One.

Provides 48 treatment days per child.

Office of Education Ombudsman

www.covernor.wa.gov/oeo

(206)728-3251

• Resolves complaints, disputes and problems between families and Washington State elementary and secondary public schools in all areas that affect student learning.
• OEO is a state-wide agency that functions independently from the public school system.
• Services are free, confidential and available to families from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

Intervene in issues such as:

• special education
• bullying/harassment/cyber bullying
• suspensions and expulsions
• enrollment
• transportation
• academic progress

PACE Services (People Accessing Careers and Education)

3305 W. Fort Wright Dr, Spokane WA  99224

509-279-6033

Assists people with significant obstacles to employment or community inclusion to achieve life goals through education, resource coordination and vocational support.  

PAVE (Parents are Vital in Education)

www.washingtonpave.org

(509)570-8512

Provides information and resources to parents of school age children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Workshops on laws governing special education, testing, and assessment, IEPs, communication 504 plans and other topics as needed.
• Assistance to parents in working with teachers, therapists, and other educational service team members
• Information about resources and specialists in the community.

People First

www.peoplefirstofwashington.org 

People First is the longest standing self-advocacy organization of, for, and by people with developmental and other disabilities in the world.  

 Activities include:

• self-advocacy information and training
• community and social involvement and youth groups in public schools
• an annual conference in the fall 

Project ID

https://projectidspokane.org/ 

(509) 475-7185

Provides recreational, social, work and other opportunities for adults and their families with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Spokane County. 

SASS (Spokane Autistic Social and Support)

aspie.sass@gmail.com

Group is for higher functioning individuals that are normally seen as having Asperger. Welcome to those who are self diagnosed. SASS provides a social setting and is also a peer-to-peer support group. Parents and caregivers are asked to not attend. Partners are welcome to attend.

SEER (Supported Education and Employment Enhancing Rehabilitation)

509-279-6055

Supportive licensed mental health and education program to help individuals recover from psychiatric disabilities as they prepare for post-secondary education, vocations and community involvement through skill building classes and individualized support services.  

Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery

www.vanessabehan.org

(509) 535-3155

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Provides 24-Hour Crisis Child Care for children ages birth to six. The nursery is licensed to care for up to 23 children day and night.

Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy

www.washingtonautismadvocacy.org

(425)894-7231

A personal advocate and legislative champion for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities.

• Insurance navigation
• training workshops
• supporting parents of autism (SPA) Group

Washington State Life Opportunities Trust (DDLOT)

www.ddlot.org

Also known as the DD Endowment Trust Fund, allows individuals with disabilities or their families to set aside funds for future use without affecting government services and benefits.

Washington State Special Education Coalition (WSSEC)

www.wssec.org  

WSSEC is a coalition of parents and education professionals with the following goals:  

• To identify unmet needs of children with disabilities
• To provide a unified voice in support of appropriate programs, funding and staff training.
• To be a statewide public awareness force, providing decision makers with up to date information about special education. 

West Central Community Center

www.wccc.myspokane.net

(509) 326-9540

Provides community access and fun recreational program for high school age and adults.

Wright's Law

www.wrightslaw.com 

The website for information about special education law and information on how to advocate for children with disabilities.  

 

Employment/Employment Support

The Arc of Spokane: www.arc-spokane.org (509) 328-6324 

The Artisans: www.theartisans.org (509) 325-4489

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) www.dshs.wa.gov/dvr  (509) 363-4700

ENSO: www.enso.wa (509) 329-6010

Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest:  www.discovergoodwill.org (509) 838-4246

Northwest Center: www.nwcenter.org (509) 928-1588

PACE Services: www.sccel.spokane.edu/pace (509) 279-6033

School 2 Work: www.spokanecounty.org/communitysvcs/ddp (509) 477-4377

Skils'kin: www.skils-kin.org (509) 326-6760

SL Start:  www.slstart.com (509) 328-2740

Legal

Wear Law Office:  (SS Disability) www.wearlaw.net (509) 252-5053

Burke Law Group, PLLC (SS Disability) http://burkelg.com/ (509) 466-7770

Sayre, Sayre & Fossum (Long term planning) http://www.sayrelaw.com/ (509) 325-7330

Lilac City Law, Randi Johnson, Family Estate Planning and Dissability Benefits, https://lilaccitylaw.com/ (509) 624-1610,

Mark R. Iverson, P.S., Guardianships, http://www.adoptionwa.com/ (509) 462-3678

Gallagher Law Office: (Divorce/Custody), https://www.spokane-familylaw.com/ (509) 326-4162

Elizabeth Kelley Law (Criminal Defense specializing in representing people with mental illness and intellectual disabilities) https://www.elizabethkelleylaw.com/ (509) 991-7058

 

Other Grant Organizations

Contact the following organizations for grants related to out-of-pocket therapy expenses

Elevations 
https://elevationsspokane.org

Elevating children with special needs to reach their full potential by providing access to the resources and support they need to improve their family’s overall quality of life.

Ben's Fund
https://www.bensfund.org

Ben's Fund provides support to children and young adults with autism through financial assistance. From therapies to equipment, they support Washington families by easing some of the financial strain associated with autism.

Ben’s Fund grants are available for up to $1,000 per qualifying child or young adult, per award year.

United Healthcare Children's Foundation
https://www.uhccf.org

Improving children’s lives and helping families gain access to the care they need through medical grants.