By the mid-1980s, Washington was building on education advocacy from the 1970s that challenged the exclusion of children with developmental disabilities from public schools. Expanding special education to include preschoolers extended that commitment to inclusion to the earliest years of learning. Research and advocacy were increasingly focused on early childhood, recognizing that waiting until kindergarten was too late for many children with developmental disabilities.

In 1985, Washington State expanded its special education laws to include preschool-aged children (ages 3–5), extending publicly funded services before a federal mandate required it. That same year, Washington established the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), creating a broader framework of early learning supports, including for children with disabilities.

The federal government enacted Public Law 99-457 in October of 1986, amending the Education of the Handicapped Act to require states to provide special education services to children ages 3–5 and to establish early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. This law helped solidify the importance of early identification and support, building on steps Washington had already taken.

The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council supported advocacy and planning efforts that emphasized early intervention as a foundation for inclusion and lifelong learning.

Washington’s early action helped shape the systems that continue to support children and families today.

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