Development Disabilities

Families who have children with developmental disabilities face daunting emotional and practical challenges. Children with special needs require specific and time-intensive care, which they often receive through a private or public service agency. For refugee and immigrant families, coping with language and cultural barriers and lack of knowledge about U.S. systems, the process of identifying and accessing services is isolating and overwhelming.

ReWA’s Developmental Disabilities program empowers refugee and immigrant families with special needs children to secure needed services and support to become fully participating members of the community. The program’s support groups offer information and advocacy in various languages to help refugee and immigrant parents access services and provide emotional support to decrease feelings of isolation.

Our family advocates provide individualized family needs assessments and assist families with resources and supportive services, including access to services through the Department of Health and Human Service Division of Developmental Disabilities, the Social Security Department, as well as special education program in public schools.

Additional services include:

• Support groups and advocacy for parents with special needs children
• Information and referral to community service providers, including the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, and other health care and legal service providers
• Home visits to homebound families

[box]FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROGRAM,
please contact: (206) 721-0243[/box]