~Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend!~

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1 Our Purpose: To provide information and resources for children & adults with different abilities living in Kitsap County. Hello all! I hope you have had a wonderful Summer, I look forward to working with you in the coming months as Fall arrives. The smoke is starting to ease from our skies, but I have included some information on keeping safe as some particulates still linger in the air. We are working on our next series of IEP and Autism workshops, along with another year of informational meetings for families of loved ones with developmental disabilities stay tuned! For our families with school-bound children, please keep an eye out for our back-to-school newsletter (it will come out after families have settled in to their classes), I look forward to the milder fall weather and hope to see you all soon! Take care, Melissa Lund :) Kitsap County Parent Coalition , ext. 100 mlund@wa.easterseals.com ~Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend!~

2 KCPC SUMMER PICNIC 2018 (Thank you to all photo contributors) Our Goal: To get parents & families connected with the appropriate resources and services available in our community, and offer opportunities for networking, training, and education.

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7 SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER! ~KITSAP COUNTY PARENT COALITION~

8 KCPC Parent, Family, Caregiver Meeting: --A support meeting for parents and families of persons with developmental disabilities, light luncheon provided, Please RSVP if possible. Walk-ins welcome! When: Thursday, Sep. 13 th, 2018 Where: OESD #114, 105 National Ave. N, Bremerton, Time: 11 AM to 1 PM Topic: Guardianship Guest: Tricia Croston, KC Court Facilitator Info: Melissa Lund, KCPC, mlund@wa.easterseals.com ~Meeting will focus on information regarding attaining guardianship on your own, and how to provide Periodic Reports to the court. Kitsap County Parent Coalition Advisory Board ~We are always encouraging people interested in charting the course for our Kitsap County Parent Coalition to join this Advisory Board. ~There will be 3 Advisory Board meetings per year, occurring after regularly scheduled Parent Coalition meetings. ~Members can be family members, professionals, or anyone with a desire to help our community. Meeting: Thursday, Sep. 13 th, 2018 Where: OESD #114, Bremerton Time: 1 PM to 2 PM (after KCPC meeting, info above) Contact: Melissa Lund, KCPC Coordinator mlund@wa.easterseals.com

9 ~COMMUNITY EVENTS~ The UPSIDE Down Syndrome Group of Kitsap County (Support group for family and friends who have a loved one with Down Syndrome) Date: Friday, Sep. 7 th, 2018 Time: 5 PM (setup), 5:30 (Potluck) 6:30 to 8:30 PM (Meeting) Where: CK Presbyterian Church 9300 Nels Nelson Rd. SE Bremerton, WA Meeting Topic: Welcome Back, Summer Stories Info: julesbsn@mac.com Poulsbo Kid s Day 2018 (Family, fun, food, and prizes, proceeds to benefit NK Fishline) Date: Sep. 8, 2018 Time: 10 AM to 2 PM Where: Market Pl. NW, Poulsbo (In front of 1 st Security Bank) Cost: Free, but donations of non-perishable food encouraged. EFMP (Military Family) Event (Invite a friend, meet a new family, you are welcome to include your respite provider). Event: Bowling Date: Sep. 11, 2018 Time: 5:30 to 7:30 PM Where: NBK Bangor Theater Info: Ray Neider, Regional EFMP Liaison, Raymond.neider@navy.mil

10 Town Hall Meeting WA St. Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) ~The DDC is hosting a Town Hall Meeting to learn more about community supports in your area, and the challenges facing individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. ~Please attend if you are: An individual with DD A parent or family member An advocate or stakeholder ~Come share your thoughts that the DDC can use to develop policies on statewide issues! Date: Sep. 20, 2018 Time: 6:30 to 8:30 PM Where: The Arc of the Peninsula s, Bremerton RSVP: Linda West, linda.west@ddc.wa.gov, or call Dads Training Weekend DADS M.O.V.E. ~Are you the dad of a child with behavioral health concerns? This weekend event is open to all dads, and other male caregivers, who have a special needs child in their care. ~You will learn about systems navigation, IEPs, parenting techniques, de-escalation, reward systems, sibling issues, etc. ~All you will need to bring is your bedding, pillow, and questions! Date: October 5 th -- 7 th, 2018 Where: The Double K Retreat Center 620 Tall Timber Trail Easton, WA (camp website: ) Fee: $30 Info: Website/Preregister:

11 Exploration For All: Autism Early Open Pacific Science Center ~The Pacific Science Center (PSC) is proud to present this program, which is on the third Saturday of each month. ~All families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are invited to explore PSC during a special morning visit before they open to the public. ~Experience the exhibits without heavy crowds, in a softened general lighting and decreased noise level atmosphere. ~Additional captioning devices in one of the IMAX theaters and printed copies of their sensory guides will be available: rating exhibits by noise level, visual stimulation, availability to touch and feel, ordor strength. ~Entry is through the North Entrance only. Dates: Sep. 15 Oct. 20 Nov. 17 Dec. 15 Time: 8 AM to 10 AM Each Saturday Info: ~SPOTLIGHT~ Wildfire Smoke Health Alert ~Wildfires burning in Eastern WA, neighboring states and British Columbia have spilled into our neighborhoods, increasing health risks for babies, children, people over 65, pregnant women, and those with health conditions such as heart & lung diseases, and diabetes. While the air is listed as unhealthy, take the following steps: ~Stay indoors, and avoid strenuous outside activities.

12 ~Keep indoor air clean. Use an air cleaner with a HEPA filter. ~Close windows and doors as much as possible. ~If it is too hot to stay home, go to a place with airconditioning. ~Drink plenty of water. Resources: Informational flyers in 10 languages: romfires/ romfirestoolkits Puget Sound Clean Air Agency updates on air quality: LEGISLATIVE UPDATES Electronic Verification (EVV) News! ~On July 30, 2018 the President signed into law: H.R. 6042, which delays for one year the reduction of Federal medical assistance percentage for Medicaid personal visits furnished without an electronic visit verification system. Accessible Voting in Kitsap County ~To ensure that each voter has an accessible, independent, and private voting experience the Kitsap County Auditor-Elections Division provides numerous accessible voting programs and services. Frequently asked questions: Accessible Voting Locations: Statewide Information for Voters with Disabilities: ormationforvoterswithdisabilities.aspx ~SCHOOL TO WORK TRANSITION~

13 (Excerpted from the guide provided by Kitsap County Human Services, contact Melissa at for a complete copy). September ~Preparing for Employment: Why Does Employment Matter? Have you imagined what job your child might do after school? There are nearly a dozen agencies in the County that help young adults with disabilities get their first job. These employment agencies use a variety of creative solutions and accommodations to discover unique jobs for each person s specific skills and talents. The more prepared a job seeker is when they graduate, the easier it is to find a great job match. Work offers these things to a young adult: ~Professional Identity ~Social Connections ~Contributing to a workforce and company s success ~Personal Growth ~Power & choice from having a paycheck ~Demonstrating the benefits of diversity in the community. To help your child to work independently in the community the family can start a few things now: ~Build work skills by having the child do chores at home. ~Talk about work when you are out in the community seeing other people work. ~Ask what interests them, set expectations that they will work! ~Talk with other families about their experiences with supported employment. ~Brainstorm with your student s IEP team about what needs to happen to prepare for work. ~COMMUNITY RESOURCES~ Free Family Navigation Online Training: ~Find services & resources about Autism Spectrum Disorder or other developmental disabilities. Resource Toolkit For All Ages: ~For families who are not receiving a paid service from DDA, or are looking for more support than you currently have.

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