Resources

Building a meaningful life with and around someone with a disability isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about weaving together relationships, purpose, place, health, and dignity. These resources were gathered to help you think about key areas—home and belonging, friendship and connection, contribution and work, autonomy and voice, health and wellness, caregiver self-care and respite, and financial/legal grounding. You won’t find a formula here, but you might find your next step.

Let’s be honest. You don’t need another list—you need one thing that feels like a yes. So, start anywhere. Skip around. Come back later.

★ = Resources I know and trust—from personal use, client experiences, or long-term familiarity. Know a resource you love and trust? I’d love to hear about it.

Home & Belonging

Where we live matters. It’s not just about a roof—it’s about roots, dignity, and feeling at home. These resources explore inclusive housing and creative paths to belonging.

Community Homes ★
Offers housing navigation for people with I/DD. Public programming is limited, but past resources remain available.

Partners4Housing ★
Provides a free housing assessment and roommate matching service to help families explore shared housing solutions.

Parkview Services ★
Supports affordable, inclusive housing in WA, including shared housing and homeownership assistance.

Friendship & Connection

No one can do this alone. These resources focus on the power of relationships—circles of support, peer resources, and community rooted in dignity and care.

Open Doors for Multicultural Families ★
Provides peer programs, advocacy, and inclusive services for immigrant and refugee families in WA.

Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) ★
Originators of the personal support network model in Canada, offering stories and tools for sustainable circles of care.

LifeSPAN (archived site) ★
Legacy site with templates and guidance for building support circles. I helped lead this work for many years—it remains close to my heart.

Personal Safety Nets ★
Practical guides and planning tools to create a personal safety net through connection and communication.

Sibling Leadership Network
Peer support and leadership development for adult siblings of people with disabilities. While I haven’t explored this deeply, it may be a helpful space.

Contribution & Work

Everyone has something to give. These programs highlight creativity, purpose, and the dignity of contribution in ways that work for each person.

Vibrant Palette Arts Center ★
A Seattle-based day program that uses art to foster connection and visibility for adults with disabilities.

AtWork! ★
Provides customized employment services for people with disabilities in WA, focusing on job training, placement, and community integration.

Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) ★
State-run employment services for individuals with disabilities, offering support in job preparation, training, and placement.

Autonomy & Voice

We all want to be heard. These tools and models help individuals with disabilities shape their own lives, make decisions, and be seen as full participants.

Disability Rights Washington ★
WA’s advocacy agency, offering resources on legal rights and supported decision-making.

Supported Decision-Making Network
National site with tools and stories promoting alternatives to guardianship.

Health & Wellness

Resources to support health and well-being for people with disabilities—this section is still evolving as I explore what feels most useful and relevant.

(Have a favorite resource in this area? Tell me here.)

Caregiver Self-Care & Respite

Caregiving can stretch us—quietly and constantly. These resources are here to support your well-being—without adding pressure or perfectionism.

Washington State Respite Care Program
Provides short-term relief for unpaid caregivers across Washington through in-home, adult day, or overnight services.

Inspiration Hour: Creating Support Circles Together ★
A facilitated online space to reflect, reconnect, and gently plan your next steps. Whether you need renewal, accountability, or just people to connect with—you're invited.

Financial & Legal Grounding

This part can feel intimidating—but it’s also empowering. These resources offer practical help for trusts, guardianship, benefits, and financial planning.

Legal Tools & Guidance

The Arc of King County – Guardianship & Alternatives ★
WA-specific guide to guardianship and alternatives, including links to forms and helpful explanations.

Jones & Ibrahim (WA) ★
Christy Ibrahim offers grounded, relationship-centered legal support for families planning for the future.

Washington LawHelp
Free, plain-language legal info for WA residents on guardianship, powers of attorney, and supported decision-making.

Special Needs Alliance (National)
A trusted national network of attorneys focused on special needs trusts, benefits, and long-term planning.

Financial Planning Options

Developmental Disabilities Endowment Trust Fund (DDETF) ★
WA state program offering flexible, benefit-protected savings options for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Arc – Future Planning ★
Family-friendly guidance for long-term planning around housing, finances, and decision-making.

ABLE National Resource Center & Washington State ABLE Savings Plan ★
Tax-advantaged savings accounts that don’t affect disability benefits; includes links to WA's program