Clallam County Health & Human Services - Developmental Disabilities

09/03/2026

Emergencies can sometimes mean leaving home quickly. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, knowing what to expect and planning ahead can make the experience more manageable.

Our new Informing Families bulletin, “Leaving Home in an Emergency: What to Expect and How to Prepare,” shares tips for getting ready before an emergency, deciding what to bring, communicating support needs and understanding what may happen during an evacuation or temporary stay away from home.

The bulletin includes two downloadable guides: a more detailed version and a visual version with shorter text and pictures. Both include a My Emergency Information sheet to help keep important information about communication, medications, equipment, support needs and emergency contacts in one place.

This bulletin helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families prepare for leaving home during an emergency. It covers what to expect, what to bring, how to communicate support needs, where you may stay and how to prepare important emergency information.

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

Finding safe, affordable housing can take time and planning. Knowing where to start can make the process easier.

Informing Families has updated its bulletin, “The Hows of Housing,” with resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. It covers rental assistance, homeownership programs, energy assistance and a free benefits and housing review.

It also features a three-part video series about renting, homeownership and innovative housing options. People with developmental disabilities and their families share their experiences and explain how they planned for housing that met their needs.

Finding safe, affordable housing can take time and planning. This bulletin highlights programs and resources that may help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families explore rental assistance, homeownership, energy assistance and options for living more independently.

08/31/2026

From DSHS/DDA:

We need your input and participation to develop the 10- year strategic plan to transform Washington state’s system of services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We will share more information about the ways on how to participate and give input. Opportunities will include in-person group discussions, virtual events, and surveys. We will need many voices and perspectives.

Our last message described how we will work with a steering committee to oversee the process. This group is for those helping DDA to design an inclusive approach.

Please send your questions or comments to [email protected]. You can also sign up for updates to stay informed at: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADSHSDDA/subscribers/new .

For SMS: Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to cancel. To view terms and conditions, visit https://lnks.gd/2/rBWvWD. Message frequency may vary

08/28/2026

The University of Washington Autism Center recently launched the AS360 Autism Resource Map to help families find autism-related providers and services across Washington state. Search by location, service type, insurance, language and age group to connect with resources that meet your family's needs. The map is updated regularly as new providers and services are added.
https://www.as360.org/find-resources

08/27/2026

Technology can open the door to greater independence, connection and opportunity. These free digital skills courses from DigitalLearn.org are designed to help people with disabilities build confidence using computers, smartphones and the internet safely. Topics include internet safety, email, video calls, online forms, job searching and other everyday digital skills that can help people navigate the online world with confidence.
https://att.digitallearn.org/

08/26/2026

Medical Action Protocols: Clear, Accurate, and Consistent

Dear Community Residential Providers,

Providing consistent and confident medical support to our clients impacts the quality of their lives. While our providers do amazing work every day, there is always room for improvement. In the last five years, client health services support or WAC 388-101D-0150, has been the most cited by Residential Care Services. Protocols were cited in 16% of our total statewide citations over this period.

The statewide DDA nurse care consultants have prepared a presentation and discussion session. The goal is to help providers establish clear, accurate, and consistent medical care instructions. We want every client to receive high- quality, person-centered healthcare support.

Date: August 27, 2026

Time: 2:30—4:00 p.m.

To Register: Please send an email to Robin Wiseman at [email protected] . In the subject line, write: "One Team: Discussion Series Registration." In the body of the email, include your name, company name, phone number, title, and email address.

Robin will send you the meeting link several days before the meeting. Space is limited. If your availability changes, please let Robin know so someone else can be added to the discussion.

About the One Team Discussion Series
Our Quality Assurance, Training, Nursing and Residential Units have created a collaborative project offering support to community residential providers. Every quarter, we will host a 1.5—2-hour Teams meeting, including a 30 – 50-minute presentation by at least one guest host. The hosts are content experts on their discussion topic.

The session will consist of a 30 – 50-minute presentation, which will be casual and include opportunities to ask questions and share experiences. The session will also be interactive and include breakout sessions where participants can learn from each other in a smaller group setting. Remember, this is a discussion series – which requires active participation. In the last 10-15 minutes, resources will be reviewed.

Providers will receive Continuing Education Credit for full participation or 2 CEs. Providers will need to thoughtfully complete an online quality survey. On the survey, providers can also propose future discussion topics, provide feedback on the session, and ask detailed follow-up questions or request a one-on-one consultation.

08/25/2026

Toileting can be a challenging milestone for some children with disabilities. This resource from the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) shares practical strategies to help families support toileting success, including recognizing signs of readiness, creating consistent routines, using visual supports and addressing common challenges. The guide is designed to help caregivers build skills while supporting each child's individual needs.

This resource offers practical, evidence‑based strategies to support children with disabilities develop toileting skills that foster confidence, participation, and success within inclusive environments.

08/24/2026

✨ What a wonderful day!!! ✨

Thank you for stopping by our Project SAFER Event at the Clallam County Fair!!!

This picture is just some of the awesome people that help make Project SAFER what it is!

08/20/2026

Client Success Story: Aaron's Growing Impact at Work

Aaron continues to excel in his role at the grocery store, demonstrating a strong

work ethic and commitment to supporting his team. His responsibilities include

stocking dairy products, water, eggs, and ice, collecting carts, assisting

customers, completing go-backs, and helping maintain clean and organized

department areas.

Through his dedication and reliability, Aaron has developed strong natural

supports with front-end management, the Store Director, and the Assistant

Store Manager. He consistently communicates with supervisors when he needs

assistance and proactively seeks additional tasks when his work is complete.

Store Director Mike has praised Aaron for his contributions, noting that his hard

work helps free up management and other staff members to focus on additional

responsibilities. Aaron especially enjoys the stocking aspects of his job and

takes pride in helping the store run smoothly.

Outside of work, Aaron enjoys gaming and is looking forward to spending time

playing a new RPG game that he recently pre-ordered for his PS5. Aaron's

continued growth, positive attitude, and strong workplace relationships make

him a valued member of the team.