Every family in Washington — from Seattle to the smallest town in the Palouse — has the same powerful set of FREE statewide programs for a child with disabilities or delays. You don't need a diagnosis, a lawyer, or money to start. This page is your map to the help Washington already owes your child: free early intervention, free parent-rights experts, free legal advocacy, free vocational rehabilitation for teens, and Medicaid programs that pay for therapy based on your child's needs — plus your special-education rights and the exact evaluation timeline the school must follow. Start with the free programs below; then, you'll find free guides and templates to build your plan.
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Washington's ESIT program, run by the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF), is the state's IDEA Part C system. It gives free developmental evaluation and services — speech, occupational, physical, and developmental therapy — to any child birth to 3 with a delay or qualifying condition, anywhere in the state, often in your home. No income test, no diagnosis required. This is the single best first call for a baby or toddler.
ESIT is delivered by local lead agencies across Washington, each with a Family Resources Coordinator who guides you through the process. Use the DCYF ESIT site to find the program serving your county, or call 2-1-1. They come to you.
Washington's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center gives free, one-to-one help understanding your rights, the evaluation, and the IEP/504 process — with Spanish-language support. Trained parent specialists, many of whom have raised children with disabilities themselves. Call before you pay any private advocate.
The state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has a special-education parent liaison and family-engagement team that answer questions about evaluations, IEPs, placements, and your rights — free and direct from the state.
Washington's federally mandated protection & advocacy agency provides free legal information and advocacy when a child's special-education rights are being denied — including help with disputes, restraint/seclusion, and discipline. A powerful no-cost resource before you hire a lawyer.
Washington's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR, within DSHS) provides free help for students with disabilities (ages 14–22 with an IEP or 504 plan) to prepare for work, college, and independent living through Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) — job exploration, work-based learning, self-advocacy, work-readiness training, and college counseling. Students can get Pre-ETS without even applying for full DVR services. Ask your DVR counselor to join your child's transition IEP meetings.
Washington's Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) runs Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers — Basic Plus, Core, the Children's Intensive In-home Behavioral Support (CIIBS) waiver, and Individual & Family Services (IFS). These can pay for therapies, respite, behavioral support, and personal care for a child with significant disabilities, and eligibility is based on the child's needs. The first step is to apply for DDA eligibility and get on the list TODAY — call your local DDA office to start.
Note: Washington does NOT offer a standalone Katie Beckett / TEFRA pathway — it uses the DDA waivers above instead. But for any child already on Apple Health (Washington's Medicaid), the federal EPSDT benefit covers medically necessary speech, OT, PT, and behavioral therapy (including ABA) — an immediate path to services while you wait on a DDA waiver. The Health Care Authority (HCA) runs Apple Health.
You can ask your school district in writing for a special-education evaluation at any time. Washington law gives the district 25 school days to decide (with your input) whether to evaluate, then — once you sign consent — 35 school days to complete the evaluation. (Under House Bill 2557, for evaluations due on or after June 11, 2026, the decision window shortens to 20 school days and the evaluation window extends to 40 school days, with the report to you no later than 35 school days after consent.) Put the request in writing and date it — the clock starts then. You have the right to everything in your language, to bring anyone to the meeting, and to disagree.
Under IDEA you have the right to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE), to a full evaluation at no cost, to be an equal member of the IEP team, to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) if you disagree, and to dispute-resolution (mediation, citizen complaint, or due process). Your PTI above explains all of it for free.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is Washington's state education agency. Its Special Education division sets the rules every district must follow, runs the mediation, citizen-complaint, and due-process systems, and publishes Washington's dyslexia guidance (state law requires early literacy screening for dyslexia indicators). Start here to know what the state requires of your school.
Use the ZIP finder to pull the nearest evaluators, therapists, and special-education schools to your address, plus your metro's full directory — and these statewide free programs are always shown, no matter how rural your town.
Several reputable practices provide autism/ADHD evaluation and speech/OT/ABA by telehealth across Washington — vital for families east of the Cascades and in rural areas. Nationally, COPAA (advocates/attorneys), the Academy of Orton-Gillingham (dyslexia), ABPP (board-certified evaluators), BHCOE (ABA), and Bookshare (free accessible books) round out your options.
Federally funded and free — they help Washington families understand their rights, the IEP/504 process, evaluations, and meetings. A great first call.
Washington's protection & advocacy agency — free legal-rights information and help if your child's rights are being denied.
Start with the free guides — your child’s IEP and the evaluation — so you know what the school owes your child.
Use a free letter template to request an evaluation or meeting, and the IEP checkup to test every goal.
Pick a credential-vetted advocate or evaluator from the directory above — free to browse, and never pay-to-play.
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How do I start the special-education process in Washington?
Put your request in writing to your child's school, asking for a full special-education evaluation — that is the legal first step. On A New Story you'll find a free, ready-to-send evaluation-request letter you can use today.
How long does a special-education evaluation take?
Once you give written consent, the school generally must complete the evaluation and hold an eligibility meeting within a set timeline (often around 60 days, though it varies by state). Putting your request in writing starts the clock.
Can my school district pay for a private special-education school?
Sometimes. If the public school can't provide an appropriate education, the district can be required to fund a state-approved nonpublic placement. It isn't automatic — it takes the right evaluation and advocacy — but families do it every year, including ones with limited funds.
What's the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan?
An IEP provides specialized instruction and services under IDEA; a 504 plan provides accommodations under civil-rights law. A New Story's free guides walk you through which one fits your child.
Where can I find free special-education help in Washington?
A New Story lists credential-vetted schools, evaluators, therapists, advocates, and the free public programs and parent centers in Washington — searchable by ZIP, and free forever.