Parent to Parent Outreach: (1) Offering parents peer/mentoring support and information to parents who are dealing with a loved one who has a disability by matching a trained helping parent with someone in a similar situation. (2) Support for families including monthly support groups. (3) Offer networking opportunities, educational workshops, and social events throughout the year.

Parent to Parent Family Services offered at Arc of Grays Harbor

Offers an outreach connection for a multitude of resources and support services for families of children to seniors who are dealing with intellectual/developmental disability issues in their day to day lives.

Programs that intercede on behalf of individuals to help them establish eligibility for or obtain needed services when they have been denied benefits or services for which they are eligible, when they need assistance to communicate their needs to a service provider or to otherwise effectively represent themselves, or when they have a complaint about a service. Individual advocacy attempts to reach equitable settlements without resorting to litigation and seeks to meet individual needs without attempting to change social institutions.

Individual Advocacy

Programs that provide educational and supportive services for parents with disabilities and/or parents of children with disabilities who want to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to be effective in their parenting role.

Disability Related Parenting Programs

Programs that maintain information about community resources that are appropriate for a specific target group or human services sector (for example, youth programs or addiction services) and which link individuals who are in need of specialized services with appropriate resources and/or which provide information about community agencies and organizations that offer specialized services.

Specialized Information and Referral

Organizations whose members are individuals who work in the disability field and have affiliated for the purpose of promoting mutual interests, participating in education and training conferences, interacting with other professionals and taking advantage of other opportunities for personal and professional development. Many disability associations also include individuals with disabilities and their families in their membership. Disability associations may also advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and their caregivers; promote legislation that funds research and services for this population; and provide information for members and the general public. Included are associations that focus on a specific disability such as autism or brain injuries; and those that address a broad range of disability issues.

Disability Associations

Programs that link parents whose children have a specific disease, disorder, disability or other issues with other parents whose children have similar challenges for the purpose of information sharing and support. Also included are programs for parents who themselves have a disability or other problems that have an impact on their parenting ability.