Kim Smith

Executive Director and Lead FRC

P2P Groups and Events

Thank You

Thank you to  

TORAY Composites (America), Inc.

From June 27th through July 1, 2011, Toray Composites (America) Inc, (TCA) held a week of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) in the Pierce County area.  Along with several other activities, they held a fish-friendly car wash on site for their co-workers. A TCA production assistant recommended South Sound Parent to Parent as the recipient of all donations made for the car wash; in exchange for a donation to South Sound Parent to Parent, 75 associates had their car washed at work. 

Thank you to TCA for your generosity!  These funds will be used well for the families we serve!

Parent to Parent News

 Transition

Transitions of all kinds are scary and challenging.  As parents face that time when their kids are moving from high school to the next phase of life, a lot of questions come up. It is so important to prepare and be aware of just what questions should be asked. 

Karen Huggins is being trained in the IEP process for students who are in transition and will be able to assist families with support and resources. Please call her if you have questions.  The sooner you start, the better!  

Karen can be reached at 352-1126 ext. 111 or khuggins@ssp2p.org.  She will be in the office on Wednesdays beginning July 1st and will check email and voicemail during the rest of the week.

Lending Program Updates!

New to the Lending Library

Jenny McCarthy - Teach to Talk

         *Social Skills (dvd set)

         *Teach to Play (dvd set)

         *Behaviors! (one dvd)

Earobics - computer software - 2 software discs (Step one and step two)

· This builds phonological awareness and auditory processing skills.

·  Six fun interactive games with 309 levels deliver extensive training and practice.

·  The software automatically adjusts to the appropriate skill level of the user.

·  Earobics uses adaptive training and acoustically modified speech. Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Please visit and "check out" some new reading material! 

Fundraisers/Donations

ANNUAL P2P YARD SALE 

P2P and Kokua are joining up for our first annual Sensational Saturday fundraiser to be held on September 17th!

Sensational Saturday will be a family fun event with

Free Entertainment

Fantastic Food

Fabulous Prizes

Family Games and Activities

Fun Local Crafters, Artists and More

Please save the date on your calendars for HUGE fun! Ticket sales will begin in August! 

For details on how you can be involved, click here

 If You Build It....Maybe They Will Come

     I am writing this article and confessing right off the bat that I am as guilty as the next guy about the topic of this months article. Maybe if I see it in print myself, I will somehow do a better job. I'm not sure I will, but at least it is a step in the right direction. My hope is that more public awareness and the ability to spread the word can make up my short comings.

     As most people who have children with special needs eventually recognize, it becomes very hard to attend typical outings and events. Let's face it, there aren't too many of them around to begin with, but nevertheless they do exist. Summer is such a difficult time for us as caregivers. I have to be honest, I don't like summers as much as I used to any more. It's such a terrible thing to say, but my already crazy and jam packed schedule gets thrown into complete disarray. Daycares, summer camps, etc, very rarely take kids with special needs and the ones that do cost a fortune or have limited numbers of spots, so once again we are left to fend for ourselves. Options are few and far between. Plus there's that whole level of trust thing we've got going on about leaving our children with others.

     Like anyone who has been affected by a life altering situation and wants to champion that cause, my mission now is to provide my children and others who have special needs a chance to have as normal a life as possible. That includes an opportunity to experience all that life has to offer. I want them to do what other kids do and be carefree. The more our little ones get out and mingle in our neighborhoods, the better the chance our special community will be more understood and accepted. It's all about the exposure.

     I know it can be so hard to venture out with our kids to take care of everyday business, let alone to movies, playgroups, etc. I can honestly say that I have stopped bringing my youngest son out to the stores and shops. He has the potential to cause a scene, act out, and maybe even get hurt. So I don't go. But here is why I need to change my thinking and practice more of what I advocate for.

     In these economic times, people or agencies that advocate and create programs to help the special needs community or other particular groups can really have a hard time selling it. Convincing people to allocate money is so hard to do and even harder is convincing businesses to have a "special needs day." Securing venues can be very difficult, I know this first hand. But as hard as it is convincing people to start programs, once a new program has been started, and not well attended, and the program is pulled, it is nearly impossible to get it back. So if you present a need for special kids to have an early intervention play group, bowling, movies, recreational activities, or other family events and hardly anybody shows, those events can and will go away.

     Programs and budgets are often times based on attendance and need. We as caregivers have no one to blame but ourselves, and can't complain that nothing exists to help us when programs come up and we don't attend them. We (me) have to look at the bigger picture in all of this and see that there is more harm in staying home. It is such a vicious cycle for all involved, but it needs to be broken to move forward and grow.

     By not exposing our kids, we in a way contribute to the problems and hardships that surround our everyday lives. We know we have to take our kiddos out to learn, but "out" is scary and hard and a potential nightmare so we stay away. But that in turn makes things worse for us because the lessons are never taught. We do all involved a disservice by not taking our kids out. Practice, practice, practice! I know it works, I've seen it with my own children.

     So I ask you all to take the first step and help me overcome by own short comings and lead by example and say "Hey Matt, let's do this thing! Follow us."

Matt Graffagnino

Volunteers

Volunteer Needs

Please call (360) 352-1126 and speak with Kim or Sheila if you can help!

Community Events and Activities

News from the Board 

Gratitude

I want to thank the many community members whose contributions help support our activities at Parent to Parent.   I, among  many others, danced  to the lively music at Func Pro Tunc's benefit concert last month.  We have received generous donations for our garage sale to be held in August during our annual picnic.  Numerous volunteers and sponsors for Sensational Saturday  in September are ensuring this fundraising event will be a big success.  THANK YOU to all the individuals and businesses who care enough about our work to become involved! 

Erika Krupp, Board President 

Legislative Corner  

"If you believe people have no history worth mentioning, it's easy to believe they have no humanity worth defending."   William Loren Katz

Did you know...that in 2006, West Virginia was the first state to pass a bill establishing a Disability History week?  Throughout this week, designated to occur during third week of October, public schools are required to provide instruction on disability history and disability rights.  Since this landmark legislation passed, fourteen states have followed suit, including New York, California and Washington State.  In 2008, the Washington State Legislature designated the entire month of October as Disability History month.  The purpose of this legislation is to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities.  Furthermore, supporters of this legislation believe that recognizing disability history in our schools will inspire students with disabilities to feel a greater sense of pride, reduce harassment and bullying, and help keep students with disabilities in school.  

~Karen Huggins