A Guide for Families
Getting Services for Someone You Love
If you're wondering how your family member with a developmental disability can get support in Washington State, you're in the right place. Here's what the path looks like, step by step — and you don't have to walk it alone.
Families call us all the time with the same worry: "I know my loved one needs help — I just don't know where to begin." It's a completely understandable feeling. The system can seem confusing at first, but it really does come down to a handful of clear steps. Take them one at a time, and know that help exists at every stage.
First, take a breath. You don't need to have everything figured out before you make the first call. You don't even need to know the names of the services you want. You just need to take the first step — and each step naturally leads to the next.
Two things that sound the same but aren't
This trips up a lot of families, so it's worth understanding early:
DDA eligibility means the Developmental Disabilities Administration has confirmed your loved one qualifies for their programs. Receiving services is a separate step you request afterward. Being found eligible is the doorway — but you still walk through it by asking for the specific supports your family needs. Most services are provided through waivers based on assessed need and available funding, so the earlier you begin, the better.
The Path, Step by Step
In Washington, getting support through DDA generally follows five steps.
Apply for DDA eligibility
This is the first and most important step. You'll request an enrollment packet, gather some records, and submit an application asking DDA to determine whether your loved one qualifies.
You can request a packet three ways: download the forms from the DSHS website, visit your local DDA office, or call the Service and Information Request Line and ask them to mail or email the materials to you.
What you'll typically need:
- Educational, psychological, and/or medical records that show a developmental disability
- The Request for DDA Eligibility Determination form
- Consent and privacy forms (and voter registration, for applicants 18 and older)
For little ones birth to age 3, start with Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT), which connects you with a Family Resources Coordinator. Note that DDA re-evaluates eligibility around age 4 — you'll get about six months' notice beforehand.
Submit your application & wait for the determination
Send your completed packet to your regional intake office by mail, fax, email, or in person. Once DDA has all the requested documentation, they make a determination of eligibility within 30 days.
If your loved one is found eligible, you can request services right away or whenever you're ready. If the application is denied, you'll receive a notice explaining why — and you have the right to appeal.
Ask for services
Once eligible, reach out and ask for support. You can contact your DDA case manager directly, use the online Service and Information Request form, or call your regional request line.
Here's the reassuring part: you don't need to know the names of any services. Just describe, in your own words, what would make daily life easier and safer for your loved one. DDA will help translate that into the right programs.
Meet with a case manager for an assessment
A DDA case manager will schedule a needs assessment — usually about three hours, and it can happen at home or wherever your loved one is most comfortable. Together you'll look at what supports are needed (functional eligibility) and confirm financial eligibility for Medicaid-funded services.
Build a person-centered service plan
Based on the assessment, your team develops a plan built around your loved one's own goals, strengths, and needs. You'll receive a Planned Action Notice confirming what's approved. Plans are reviewed each year, and you can always request new or different services — or a different provider — as needs change.
Who to Contact
Washington is divided into three DDA regions. Reach out to the intake office for your area to get started or ask questions.
Not sure which region you're in, or which office to call? Give us a call — we're glad to help you find the right starting point.
What Is Supported Living?
Once services are authorized, one of the options many families explore is Supported Living. It's a way for an adult with a developmental disability to live in their own home in the community — a house or apartment that's truly theirs — with staff support tailored to what they need.
Support can range from a few hours a month to around-the-clock care. A dedicated team helps with things like:
Who it's for: Supported Living is available to adults 18 and older who are enrolled in DDA and Medicaid, approved for the CORE or Community Protection Waiver, and assessed by DDA as needing this level of support. Once that's in place, families get to choose from certified providers — and even meet potential housemates — before deciding what feels right.
Where Kokua Comes In
We know this process can feel like a lot, and our door is always open. If your loved one becomes eligible and Supported Living is authorized as part of their plan, Kokua may be able to serve as their Supported Living provider — walking alongside your family with the kind of steady, person-centered support we believe everyone deserves.
And even if you're just at the very beginning and only have questions, please reach out. We're always happy to help point families in the right direction, whatever stage you're at.
Helpful Resources
These official Washington State resources go deeper on eligibility and services.
DDA: How to Enroll → Step-by-step enrollment details and forms from the Developmental Disabilities Administration. DDA: How to Ask for Services → What to expect from the request and assessment process. Informing Families: The Road to DD Services → A family-friendly walkthrough of eligibility and the steps that follow. Informing Families: Applying for DDA Services → Plain-language guidance on who qualifies and how to apply.