If you have concerns about your child’s development, you may be asking yourself these questions and more.
If your child received a diagnosis at birth, you may be looking for answers on what to do next.
Regardless of the path that led you here, below are some helpful resources for the start of your journey.

Record Keeping Guide
If you have concerns about your child's development, it is a good idea to start holding on to some records. To learn more about what you should keep, check out our Record Keeping Guide.

Help Me Grow
We all want our children to thrive. Help Me Grow is a great tool to learn about your child’s development and find community resources.

Informing Families
Feeling lost? Informing Families is a tool to help you navigate all of life’s stages for your child with a disability. Supporting you now and informing you for the future.

Parent to Parent
Community is so important. Parent to Parent (P2P) is a group that aims to walk alongside the parents of children with a disability. Through monthly meetings and support for navigating the system, P2P is here to help.

Children’s Village – Yakima, Wa
Children's Village (Yakima) is an organization that provides a variety of services. This includes developmental screenings, diagnostic clinics, early intervention, therapy services and more.

There are many diagnoses that qualify as a developmental disability including:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Cerebral Palsy
• Down Syndrome
• Intellectual Disabilities
• and more…

To learn more about developmental disabilities check out the links below:

• Developmental Disability Basics | Child Development | CDC
• About Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) NICHD

DDCS stands for Developmental Disabilities Community Services (Formerly known as DDA)

DDCS partners with people to access support, care and resources – Guiding Values

They offer Services for Children and Services for Adults to support you in all stages.

Wondering how to enroll?
Check out their guide here: How to Enroll in DDA | DSHS or give our Developmental Disabilities Coordinator a call at (509) 933-8310.

Q: Do we need a formal diagnosis to access services?
A: Some services require a diagnosis
Some services will only serve a certain diagnosis.
There are also services that do not require diagnosis.
For example: Early Support for Infants & Toddlers (ESIT) does not require diagnosis.
ESIT is for children from birth up to the age of three. A child could get services in that program for having a delay in development.

Q: But what about the stigma?
A: Caring for a child comes with worry. Worrying about a child’s development or a disability diagnosis is hard. You might be questioning yourself. You might not know what to do. You might feel alone. Finding others who are in your situation will help and there are lots. You are not alone.

Not ready to reach out? You can check out Family Stories and read about others who have found themselves in similar situations. You can also join a virtual support meeting with other parents. When you’re ready to talk to somebody, Kittitas County Parent to Parent is a great place to connect.

Michelle Williams

Kittitas County Parent to Parent Coordinator

Email: kittitascountyparent2parent@gmail.com

Phone: 509-929-7277

Q: What is the benefit of getting an assessment or diagnosis, if I can afford to pay for services privately?
A: Deciding to get an assessment or diagnosis is such a personal decision. Things to consider:

• Is it financially sustainable to pay privately?
• Do you have a solid support system in place for both your child and yourself?
• Would a diagnosis or assessment provide more insight into your unique experiences?
• If you were no longer able to care for your child, does your child have other resources?
• Have you considered how eligibility changes with age? (Under age 18 vs. over age 18)

Q: What should I do if I think my child might have a disability?
A: We would always recommend talking to your child’s doctor about concerns that come up.
You are the expert on your child. If you are feeling unsure about your child’s development, you can also reach out to Help Me Grow for a developmental screening and more information.

Q: I thought Developmental Disabilities Community Services (formerly DDA) was only for adults who couldn’t work… is that true?
A: DDA provides services for all ages and levels of support. If you want more information, visit Informing Families online or call Human Services at 509-962-7515.