Developmental Disabilities Community Services is the division that provides long-term care support to children and adults. We are part of the Home and Community Living Administration.
Learn more: How to Enroll.
When should a child enroll in DDCS?
It’s a good idea to apply as early as possible. Enrollment helps families get connected to information and resources, even if they are not ready for services.
Learn more: What to Expect if You Are New to Washington State or DDCS.
Our staff are happy to assist with completing the forms and gathering documentation. Families can contact their local DDCS office with questions about the enrollment process.
Families can also reach out to their local County Developmental Disabilities Program, and family organizations.
How can schools help?
Schools can help by sharing information with families about DDCS. Our eligibility and services guide is available online and in print in multiple languages.
Schools can help families gather education records. Special education evaluations and other school records are helpful in determining DDCS eligibility. Our enrollment packet includes a consent form that allows our staff to work with schools directly to gather records and information we need to determine eligibility.
Schools can also encourage families to get a medical diagnosis if they suspect their child has a developmental disability. To stay enrolled with DDCS past age 20, a person must have a diagnosis of one or more eligible conditions.
See the Required Documentation for DDCS Enrollment Determination publication for more detailed information.
How long does it take to enroll and get services?
We determine enrollment within 30 days of receiving a completed application and required documents. If it takes longer for the family to gather documentation, we can extend that timeframe. Once enrolled, there are additional steps to get services.
Do you provide translation?
Yes. Our forms and other materials are available in multiple languages. You can find them here. They can also be requested from a local DDCS office. When families call us, they can request interpreter services.
Can someone present at my school or district?
We are happy to share information about our enrollment process and services. We often present with our county and regional partners.
To request a speaker, please contact:
School to Adult Life
What services can students get while still in school?
DDCS provides a variety of services for children, youth and their caregivers. Eligibility for services depends on each person’s assessed need. Some of the services that students and their families access most often include:
- Respite services.
- Specialized equipment and supplies.
- Assistive technology.
Learn more at Services for Children and Youth | DSHS.
How does DDCS help students get ready for employment?
We start by helping them connect to Student and Youth Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Services.
As early as age 14 or 16, students can start with Pre-Employment Transition Services. They can receive services through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Department of Services for the Blind.
Youth can also connect with DVR or DSB for individual transition services.
In participating counties, DDCS-enrolled students can receive focused support with job exploration through the Job Foundation program. The Job Foundation program supports students in their second to last year of school transition services.
In their final year of school transition services, DDCS-enrolled students can participate in a School-to-Work Program or receive individual VR supports.
DDCS provides long-term employment support to eligible adults, starting after a person has turned 21 and has graduated or is no longer eligible for school.
Job Foundation, School-to-Work and adult long-term employment supports are managed by County Developmental Disabilities programs. County DD Programs’ websites are linked on the DDCS County Best Practices page.
Learn more at Washington State Transition Map
Where can people learn how employment impacts public benefits?
People enrolled with us can receive free benefits counseling from BenefitU starting at age 14. BenefitU offers information, tools, resources and coaching to help people make informed decisions about working.
Benefits planning is also available through DVR. Contact information for DVR is posted on their Find a School Transition Counselor | DSHS page.
Where can people learn about options for saving money while living with a disability?
Two Washington state-based programs make it easy for people living with disabilities to save money that isn’t counted in most common benefit asset and resource calculations:
Agency Collaboration
How is DDCS Using the Data Share from Schools?
We are using the data to:
- Increase earlier connections to DDCS by potentially eligible students.
- Increase DDCS-enrolled students’ earlier connection to employment supports.
We receive the data on an annual basis from OSPI. The data includes information about each student whose parents signed the Consent to Share Student Information with State Transition Agencies sometime during the prior school year. Our data team checks the list of names from OSPI to see if there is a match in our own client database. They create a report showing which students are currently enrolled in DDCS, which students have been previously enrolled and whose eligibility expired, or who have applied and been determined ineligible, and which students have never connected to DDCS.
By combining data shared by OSPI with information in our own client database, we can identify areas of focus for individualized and group outreach for DDCS-enrolled students.
For students who are not enrolled with DDCS, we can use the data to identify areas of focus for group outreach but not individualized follow up with the student and family.
If you have questions about connecting a particular student or family to DDCS, please reach out to your local DDCS office and/or your County’s Developmental Disabilities program.
How can DDCS Support School Districts with Inclusionary Practices?
We are available to collaborate with schools and districts on giving life to the principles of Nothing About Us Without Us. Together with our Community Collaborators, we can support efforts to include people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in shaping programs and making decisions that impact them most directly.
We are also available to share information about the range of services and supports available through DDCS to support independent living, integrated employment and inclusion in community.
We proudly collaborate with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network to promote inclusion.
Learn more:
Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network
Everyone Wins When Everyone’s Included!
Interagency Collaboration Resources
Washington State Transition Council (convened by DVR) – Statewide Transition Council | DSHS.
OSPI, DVR, DSB and DDA Interagency Agreement - Contract DVR-DSB-DDA