This study examined barriers to utilizing services for children, birth to age 3, through in-depth individual and group interviews with 70 parents and direct service personnel of provider agencies in seven Washington counties. Part 1 of this report offers examples and discussion of the difficulties parents have accessing services and how localities try to improve their services. Part 2 explores the specific experiences of parents from special populations, including rural or urban locations, poor, Hispanic Migrant, American Indian, or military. Among findings were the following: (1) the presence of a moderately to severely disabled infant or toddler challenges every aspect of a family's life; (2) the array of early intervention services is perceived as a patchwork of pieces or as a maze in which it is possible to "fall between the cracks"; (3) accessibility is a more major issue than availability of services; (4) Interim Family Resources Coordinators are seen as useful intermediaries; (5) parents need the support of other similar parents; (6) existing services are not adequately family-centered; (7) local efforts at better coordination of services cannot overcome basic system problems; and (8) parents fear health care reform, at both the state and federal levels. An appendix provides additional information on the study's methodology. (CR)