Links of Interest - Genetic Services

Regional Resources

Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY)
A statewide resource committed to ensuring all deaf and hard of hearing students in Washington reach their full potential regardless of where they live or attend school.

Children with Special Health Care Needs Program (CSHCN)
Helps families with resources and linkages to community services including family support, care coordination, and health information.

Genetic Services Program
Promotes early identification of individuals with, or at risk of, genetic illness and ensures they are connected with the health resources they need in a timely fashion.

Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC)
Provides services to people in Western Washington with hearing loss or speech challenges, including a Parent-Infant Program and a preschool.

March of Dimes Washington State Chapter
Works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality by funding programs of community services, advocacy, research, and education.

Northwest Lions Foundation
A charitable organization that works with local Lions Clubs to provide financial support for sight and hearing equipment and services.

Office of Newborn Screening (Newborn Bloodspot Test)
Tests infants born in Washington State for certain treatable disorders that may not otherwise be detected before developmental disability or death occurs.

Washington Hands & Voices
Provides information and support to all families equally across our state. We believe that all children can achieve their highest potential with encouragement and advocacy from their families.

Washington Sensory Disabilities Services (WSDS)
Provides information, training, technical assistance, and resources to families and educators statewide regarding individuals from birth to 21 years of age with sensory disabilities - people who are deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired, blind, or deaf-blind.

Washington State Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP)
Promotes the health and well-being of children in Washington State and works to ensure that children receive quality care through a medical home.

Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) Program
Works with other state agencies to maintain a statewide system of early intervention services that families may need for their infants or toddles with disabilities.

Washington State EHDDI Learning Community (WSELC)
Supports professionals across disciplines and across the state to connect, share ideas and results, and learn from each other through both in-person and virtual interactions.

Washington State Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH)
Provides communication access, advocacy, sign language interpreter information, workshops, referrals, counseling, outreach, and independent living support services to clients and their families.

Washington School for the Deaf (WSD)
Serves Deaf and hard of hearing students up to age 21 and serves as a statewide resource center committed to ensuring all Deaf and hard of hearing students in Washington reach their full potential.

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National Resources

American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC)
Provides support, encouragement, advocacy and information to families raising children who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Empowers and supports audiologists, speech-languages pathologists, and speech, language and hearing scientists through research, education and advocacy.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

Baby's First Test
Provides current educational information, materials and resources about newborn screening to both families and professionals.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program
Assists states and territories in developing, implementing and improving Early Hearing Loss Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs.

Gallaudet University
Provides undergraduate and graduate programs for Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students.

Hands & Voices: Family Leadership in Language & Learning
Our goal is to ensure that EHDI programs, supported by federal funding in the United States, use research-based concepts known to support families, parents and caregivers of deaf or hard of hearing babies, toddlers and young children identified through newborn hearing screening. We want what you want: for "our kids" to reach optimal language, literacy and social-emotional development.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Directs how states and agencies provide early intervention services to infants, children, and youth (birth-21 years) with disabilities.

National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM)
Focuses on the implementation and improvement of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) systems.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Provides research and information about hearing loss and other communication disorders.

SignWise for Kids
Dedicated to promoting the use and development of accurate, high quality American Sign Language and Deaf-related products for young children from infant to elementary school age and their families.