These documents from May 1970 show the State of Washington’s Office of Program Planning and Fiscal Management raising concerns that a significant number of children with disabilities were not being served by any existing public or private programs. Director Walter C. Howe, Jr. writes to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Director of the Department of Institutions, urging them to meet and collaboratively examine the problem. He outlines key questions about how many children are unserved, which categories they fall into, what services exist, where gaps remain, and what alternative approaches might better meet their needs.

The letter also asks the agencies to assess the costs, benefits, and challenges of potential solutions and to consider how to move forward with the most effective alternative. Beyond this specific issue, Howe suggests the meeting could also be a starting point for discussing other shared concerns between their departments. The documents reflect an early effort by state leadership to acknowledge service gaps, coordinate across agencies, and improve supports for children with disabilities in Washington.