The Kitsap County Developmental Disabilities Program provides a full array of services and supports that enhance the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities in our community. We assist individuals and their families who experience a developmental disability to lead full, integrated active and productive lives in Kitsap County.

Kitsap County partners with the Washington State Department of Social and Human Services Division of Disabilities to administer a range of services by subcontracting with local agencies. The Developmental Disabilities Program also coordinates training, dissemination of information and overall planning of activities relating to services for persons with developmental disabilities.

The following values are the core of the Division of Developmental Disabilities County Guidelines and will be used in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in Kitsap County:

• Power and Choice - Making our own choices and directing our own lives;
• Relationships - Having people in our lives whom we love and care about and who love and care about us;
• Status/Contribution - Feeling good about ourselves and having others recognize us for what we contribute to others and our community;
• Integration - Being a part of our community, through active involvement. This means doing things we enjoy as well as new and interesting things;
• Competence - Learning to do things on our own or be supported to do things for ourselves; and
• Health and Safety - Feeling safe and secure, and being healthy.

The importance of these basic benefits of community life is not unique to people with developmental disabilities, they are important to all of us in all phases of our lives.