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WA State Parent to Parent (P2P)
Newsletter: February 2021
Happy February...
Did you know…

During WA P2P’s 2020-2021 Fiscal Year, 26 programs across the state provided:
-18,351 connections with parents, providing support and information
-38,797 parents and providers on mailing lists
-17,162 social media ‘followers’
-831 trained Helping Parents
-618 Helping Parent matches for support and information

In the midst of a Pandemic, Parent to Parent continues to serve families raising children with special needs in incredible ways- providing parent training, innovative programming for parents, siblings and youth while reinforcing our most important message, ‘YOU ARE NOT ALONE’. Parents and family members need to know now more than ever that they have a caring community to connect with. Parent to Parent is HERE for families and because we are virtual, a parent in Yakima County can attend a parent training in Skagit County! Geographic limitations are gone… the Pandemic does have a silver lining or two. Here’s to 2021!
~~~Tracie, Theresa, Patricia and Jackie
CONFERENCES / SEMINARS

42nd Annual Duncan Virtual Seminar with topics on Cerebral Palsy, 
March 26, 2021, 7:45 am - 4:05 pm

Join us from the comfort of your desk for Microsoft Ability Summit on May 5-6, 2021!
Ability Summit is a two-day, free digital event experience that brings together people with disabilities, allies, and accessibility professionals to Imagine, Build, Include, and Empower the future of disability inclusion and accessibility. We encourage all to join and spread the word throughout your communities!
Agenda
As we are building the agenda for Ability Summit, here’s what you can expect:
  • Keynotes from Microsoft executives and notable members of the disability community
  • Expert panels featuring exciting projects and innovations
  • Demos of the latest accessibility features in Office, Windows, Xbox, and more
  • All sessions will be recorded and available post-event so that no matter what time zone you are in, you can access the content at a time that works for you!
Highlights – Ability Summit 2020
Last year we welcomed nearly 7,000 attendees to the Ability Summit from across 97 countries. Visit our Ability Summit 2020 video playlist to reflect back on the 2-day experience.
Registration
Registration will open in March. In the meantime, you are welcome to help us spread the word and forward this to others within your organization, schools, and communities.
For more information, visit aka.ms/AbilitySummit. We look forward to your participation at Ability Summit!
Ability Team

RESOURCES

1.) Services from DSHS may be available for you and your family:
 
 
The video mentions:
·         Call center, Washington Connection and the DSHS website
·         Basic Food and Fresh Bucks
·         Medical
·         Healthplanfinder
·         Home and Community Services
·         Cash
·         Division of Child Support
·         ABD and HEN
·         Refugee Assistance
·         Interpreter services
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6.) T-Folio Collaboration Workshops (flyer)

T-Folio is a free, online transition portfolio tool developed by the Center for Change in Transition Services (CCTS) .
It is designed for youth with disabilities in Washington state and the school/agency personnel who support them.
CCTS is presenting free T-Folio workshops in each ESD to encourage collaboration and co-instruction between school and DVR staff.
Sponsored by DVR, these workshops include an overview of the components of the T-Folio and suggestions around collaborative facilitation.
DVR counselors and transition consultants for each ESD will be in attendance.
Join us for this opportunity to build and enhance connections that support students’ transition from high school to the adult world.

Registration dates and Links:

For details about future trainings with DVR, visit the CCTS/DVR Collaboration page. www.seattleu.edu/ccts
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7.) Free Facilitated Social Opportunities
 
Hello P2P! My name is Kirstin Etherage. I’m a former classroom teacher, autism peer educator, and an ASD mom. Now I run a service supporting distance learning families which includes free, fun social times for ages 5-17. 
 
Finding safe, supportive spaces where our children can practice social skills and make meaningful connections is challenging at the best of times. During lockdown it’s been especially tough. Our kids need times to socialize apart from school and therapy sessions, times just to be kids and to make mistakes without fear of exclusion. I keep activities rolling and facilitate positive interactions while leaving plenty of room for peer-to-peer engagement. My goal is to make the time personalized and active but not overwhelming. Children are asked to participate only within their comfort levels.
 
Groups of up to eight meet via Zoom. Story times are available for ages 5-8 and cooperative game times for ages 9+. These are rough guidelines. Groups are open to all ages, and again, there is no cost. 
 
For more information and to schedule, visit www.smoothschooling.com. Click Services at the top for details and Schedule to sign up for a time. If you have questions or requests, feel free to give me a call at (360) 810-7378. 
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8.) Information Alert: Disability EmpowHer Network Announces Mentoring & Leadership Training Opportunities for Girls & Young Women with Disabilities
Source: Disability EmpowHer Network
Disability EmpowHer Network is excited to announce two mentoring and leadership training opportunities for girls and young women with disabilities across the nation: EmpowHer Camp and A Letter from a Role Model. 

EmpowHer Camp is a multi-stage skill-building, empowerment, and mentoring program that brings a diverse group of girls with disabilities (ages 13 -17) to camp with successful disabled women mentors in the Adirondacks for one week to learn about disaster preparedness and basic survival skills, while also developing independent living and leadership skills. The girls will be invited to Washington, D.C. the next summer for a reunion trip to explore how they have grown as leaders, meet with leaders in emergency management and the Disability Community, and meet with Congress to discuss inclusive disaster preparedness. During the year between the first trip and the reunion trip, the girls will create a yearlong local project involving inclusive disaster strategies.
A Letter from a Role Model is our introductory mentoring initiative that matches girls with disabilities (ages 8 -18) with a successful disabled woman to write them a letter of encouragement! Adults can nominate a disabled girl to receive a letter from a mentor or she can nominate herself by telling us about her background, interests, and struggles. Disability EmpowHer Network then matches her with a successful disabled woman who will write a letter sharing her own struggles and successes, and plenty of words of wisdom!
To learn more about our programs please visit disabilityempowhernetwork.org. To nominate a girl with a disability to receive a letter or to attend EmpowHer Camp, visit disabilityempowhernetwork.org/get-a-mentor
Want to talk about empowering girls and women with disabilities? Contact Stephanie Woodward at [email protected]
ABOUT DISABILITY EMPOWHER NETWORK
Disability EmpowHer Network was founded by Stephanie Woodward and Leah Smith, two proud disabled women who are driven by their commitment to the Disability Community and bringing more girls and women with disabilities to the forefront. Disability EmpowHer Network values disabled women and believes in the potential of girls and young women with disabilities to succeed. Through multi-stage skill-building, empowerment, and mentoring programs, Disability EmpowHer Network empowers girls with disabilities to live to their full potential and have the confidence to lead.
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Since 2018, OSPI and other state partners have been working to develop an implementation plan for building statewide capacity among school districts to improve transition planning activities for students likely to become eligible for services from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). This report includes research and data on transition, recommendations for improving transition outcomes for students with disabilities in Washington, and more.
Authorizing legislation: Senate Bill 6032 (2018) Sec. 501 (57) [2018 Supplemental Operating Budget] and Senate Bill 6168 (2020) Sec. 501 (3)(c) [2020 Supplemental Operating Budget]
The legislative reports listed above are available on the OSPI website. If you have any questions or comments about legislative reports in general, please contact OSPI's Communications team at [email protected]. If you have questions about a specific report, please contact the report's author. The author's information can be found on the report's cover page.
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10.) On Demand. Racial Equity Through Action and Learning. This virtual summit, originally held on October 30th, aims to build capacities to advance racial equity and justice. Each of the three sessions are free to enroll. Click the link and scroll through (load more) to find each of these offerings. https://www.mitrainingcenter.org/
  • Part One-How We Got Here: This session digs into the historical and societal context that has led to systemic racial health inequities.
  • Part Two-Targeted Universalism: This session discusses the ways targeted universalism bridges groups of people to align goals and efforts to realize them, focusing on outcomes and targeting structures, not individuals.
  • Part Three: Equity in All Policies: This session focuses on how policies have affected social determinants of health and how health equity impact assessments can be used to address equity.
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15.) The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping all screens off around infants and young children under 18 months of age. They say that a little screen time may be fine for toddlers and children 2 years and older should not receive more than an hour of screen time per day.
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16.) TinySuperheroes seeks to empower Extraordinary kids as they overcome illness or disability! A tiny cape company with a super BIG mission. https://tinysuperheroes.com/
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17.) Pathways to Respite”. It’s all about helping families understand what respite is, why it’s important, and how to get it—even if they don’t qualify for DDA services. 



SPANISH RESOURCES 

1.) Llame a la línea directa de asistencia del estado para la COVID-19 al 1-800-525-0127. 
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COVID - 19 RESOURCES


New! COVID-19 Vaccine Information: From Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program at the WA State Department of Health and Getting Vaccinated - Spanish
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New! Taking Care of Your Mental Health During COVID-19. COVID-19 has many of us feeling isolated, but you can always take care of your mental health with self-care. Having a solid self-care routine can alleviate feelings of stress and bring you to a more positive place when things feel overwhelming. Our new blog post provides tips from the Mental Health First Aid curriculum on how to develop a self-care routine so you can #BeTheDifference for yourself during these uncertain times.
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New! In a Pandemic, Elbow Touches Might Keep Us Going. Can we find ways to touch outside our homes during the pandemic? One doctor says yes. 
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New! Taking Care of Yourself. Offers providers a list of ideas for self-care strategies to use after a difficult event. This checklist outlines the three basic aspects of self-care including awareness, balance, and connection. 
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New! DOH Shares Wellness Tips. If you would like more resources, please contact Kim Concepcion, Wellness Coordinator, Employee Services, Washington State Department of Health, [email protected].
1.  Go for a walk. If you do this regularly, take a new route.
2.  Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while.
3.  Create a playlist of songs you enjoyed when you were younger and introduce them to your kids.
4.  Be more open with your inner world by talking to someone about your feelings.
6.  Stretch 20 minutes every morning and throughout the day.
7.  Take a moment to think about how you talk to yourself. Self-compassion is critical.
8.  Dedicate 10 minutes a day to a hobby; if you don't have a hobby, make a commitment to find one.
9.  Add time to laugh on your calendar - spend five minutes telling jokes, watching silly videos that make you laugh, or just laughing for no reason at all. Laughter yoga:
10. Seek the help you have been putting off. Sign up for a therapist, doctor, or dentist appointment.
Contact your Employee Assistance Program or Washington Listens line 1-833-681-0211.
11. Write the angriest letter to the person who creates the most stress in your life, take a deep breath, and then throw it away.
12. Get rid of five pieces of clothing you don't wear and donate them.
13. Spend time in prayer or meditation. 
14. Take a power nap.
15. Plant something in the yard or get some cool houseplants.
17. Get some food you love and really savor it, focusing on every sip or bite.
18. Go to your car, close the door, and freak out as loudly and wildly as you like.
19. Make 'fists' with your toes in the carpet.
20. Spend 20 minutes in natural sunlight.
21. Don't look at your phone the first thing in the morning. Give yourself an hour to wake up, stretch, drink coffee, meditate; the news and Twitter can wait.
22. Give yourself an hour of screen-free time every day.
24. Unfollow social media accounts that don't bring you joy.
25. If you make a mistake, forgive yourself and pledge to do better next time. Shame is toxic!
26. Hug your family.
27. Prioritize a good wind-down routine to prepare your body for sleep.
28. Engage with a friend who has a different point of view. Learn from one another.
29. Buy a random vegetable and learn how to prepare it.
30. Pledge to drink more water.
31. Try yoga, dancing, or other ways of moving your body for 25 minutes each day to get those endorphins.
32. Wear something that makes you feel good.
33. Sign up for the virtual fitness class you have been wanting to take.
34. Sign up for something hard. Seek things that help you grow and learn.
35. Make a list of things you are grateful for.
36. Go for a long drive and blast the radio.
37. Give yourself permission to cry. This is a difficult time, and you deserve it!
38. Learn to hit the pause button if you feel yourself getting worked up. Give yourself some time to calm down and come back to it when you are calmer.
39. Play like a kid, go all in on imagination!
40. Fix something that's been bugging you.
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Facemask Guideline (English)
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Facemask Guideline (Spanish)
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COVID Stress Taking a Toll on Children’s Mental Health, CDC Finds. 
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Mental Health-Related Emergency Department Visits Among Children Aged <18 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic-United States, January 1-October, 2020|CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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HELPING CHILDREN WITH TRAUMATIC SEPARATION OR TRAUMATIC GRIEF RELATED TO COVID-19. (PDF)
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Eviction Rent Assistance Program
Commerce’s Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP), funded with federal CARES Act dollars, may prevent evictions by paying past due and current/future rent for people in distress due to COVID-19.
Rental assistance is provided through local housing providers in each community, not directly from Commerce. Please share this ERAP provider list with your network so community members who may be impacted know where to apply.

MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

1. Phases of Disaster - Adapted from Zunin & Myers as cited in DeWolfe, D. J., 2000. Training manual for mental health and human service workers in major disasters (2nd ed., HHS Publication No. ADM 90-538). Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services. (pdf format to share)
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2. Washington State Leadership Board's Boundless Washington
Overview
Boundless Washington is an equity focused program that integrates fun, challenging outdoor activities with leadership training for young people with disabilities in Washington state. At capacity, the program will sponsor 20 middle and high school students to participate in the program. Launched in 2020, the program currently serves 9 students all over the state....
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 This tip sheet explores stress and compassion fatigue, as well as signs of distress after a disaster. It covers strategies healthcare providers can use to reduce their stress during this time and information about coping with compassion fatigue.
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4. Transitioning to Virtual Services and Support for Children and Youth with Special Health
Care Needs and Their Families
Clinicians, early intervention providers and other community service services providers
and educators are having to quickly ramp up telehealth and online learning capacity during
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5. Finding Your Way in Community: Free Online Mindfulness Groups for Parents and Caregivers (Supporting each other through meditation and communication.)
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If you or your family is experiencing distress and need support call:
  • National Parent Helpline 1-855-4 A PARENT or 1-855-427-2736
  • Info Children /Parent Helpline 1-778-782-3548
  • National Suicide Prevention 1-800-273-8255
Spend special time with your loved ones...special memories and chocolate is the #1 cure all...

...add peanut butter to the mix and 4 easy peanut butter desserts!!!
2638 State Avenue NE
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 357-5596
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