Autism in Washington

Washington's special-education landscape has a fork most states don't: because DC's public charter schools are each their own local education agency, a family's Child Find contact depends on whether their child is enrolled — or likely to enroll — in a DCPS school or a public charter school. Early Stages, a DCPS program, evaluates children roughly ages 2 years 8 months through 5 years 10 months who are not yet in a DCPS school, including charter and private-school children and those who are home-schooled.

For children already enrolled in a specific charter school, Child Find responsibility sits with that charter as its own LEA, with the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) overseeing compliance across the sector. This page lists both routes, plus OSSE's Strong Start program for children under 3 and DDS for longer-term disability services.

Statewide programs, numbers, and rights are on the District of Columbia page. This page adds the local entry points that are specific to Washington, D.C..

Early intervention under 3: Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program (DC EIP)

OSSE, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, runs DC's Part C early-intervention program, Strong Start, for children from birth to age 3. A parent, pediatrician, or child care provider can call the referral line directly; a formal autism diagnosis isn't required to request a developmental evaluation. Once eligibility is confirmed, a service coordinator helps build an Individualized Family Service Plan and later manages the transition into preschool special education, whether that ends up being a DCPS school, a charter school, or Early Stages.

• Strong Start DC Early Intervention Program (DC EIP)
• Referral phone: 202-727-3665

New to early intervention? Read the plain-language guide first.

School districts and special education

Which office handles Child Find in DC depends on where a child is or isn't enrolled: Early Stages, a DCPS program, evaluates children roughly 2 years 8 months to 5 years 10 months old who aren't yet in a DCPS school, while a child already attending a specific public charter school has that charter's own special-education office as the first stop, since federal law treats each DC charter as its own local education agency. The DC Public Charter School Board monitors every charter's compliance with those Child Find duties across the sector.

• DC Public Schools / Early Stages — referral@earlystages.org or (202) 698-8037; evaluates children not yet enrolled in a DCPS school, roughly ages 2y8m–5y10m

Other places to ask — not a substitute for the district

An evaluation request has to go to the school district itself; only the district can start the legal timeline. These are for asking questions about the process, or for when the district has not responded.

• DC Public Charter School Board — oversees Child Find and special-education compliance across DC's public charter schools, which are each their own LEA

IEP or 504 · If you disagree with the school

Evaluation and diagnosis pathways in Washington

These are hospital and university programs with public intake information. Listing here is informational — it is not a recommendation, and it is not medical advice. Public school evaluation is free and does not require any of these.

• Children's National Hospital — Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders — autism evaluation and treatment for children roughly 15 months through young adulthood, with current intake focused on children under 6; services include toddler and preschool rapid assessments, outpatient and inpatient consultation, and telehealth · search results indicate the program was currently accepting referrals only for children below age 6

How assessment works · What to do while you wait

Disability services and waivers: DC Department on Disability Services (DDS) — Developmental Disabilities Administration

DDS is organized into two administrations, and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is the one that coordinates long-term supports for DC residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including autism. Applying starts with the Intake and Eligibility Determination Unit, which uses a person-centered questionnaire as the first step, then works with a family through eligibility determination and on to service coordination, including DDS's Medicaid home- and community-based services waiver.

• DC Department on Disability Services (DDS) — Developmental Disabilities Administration
• Phone: 202-730-1700

Local organizations that help Washington families

• DC Autism Parents — parent-run support, advocacy, and information group focused on DC families
• Disability Rights DC at University Legal Services — DC's Protection & Advocacy organization for special-education and disability-rights disputes

Documented waits and access notes

Wait times change. Each note below links to the public source it came from — confirm current status directly with the program.

• DCPS (through Early Stages) and DC Public Charter Schools both have 60 calendar days from your signed consent to complete evaluation and determine whether your child is eligible for special education. (source)
• Once found eligible, an IEP meeting must be held within 30 calendar days. (source)
• After referring your child to Strong Start DC, the program must complete evaluation and hold the initial IFSP meeting within 45 days of that referral. (source)
• DC activated an IDD waiver waiting list on January 1, 2026, following a funding restriction. The waiver serves adults age 18 and older; children access autism services through Medicaid EPSDT and habilitative services. (source)