December 2014  
Fund Raising 
Click and Pledge
All donations are tax deductible.  Thank you so much for your support!
     Calendar
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December

*12/9 Thurston County Transition Support Group - P2P @ 5:30-7:30 pm

*12/10 Fetal Alcohol and other Drug Affected Children Support Group - P2P @6:00 pm

*12/12 Sibshops - P2P @ 6:00-7:30 pm

*12/14 Cookies with Santa - P2P @ 1:00-3:00 pm

*12/16 GHEL/ICC - Grays Harbor College @ 2:00 pm

*12/16 Up with Downs - P2P @ 6:30 pm

*12/17 Sensory Processing Disorder Support Group - P2P @6:30 pm

*12/18 Mason County Mom to Mom Support Group - Alpine Way Retirement in Shelton @ 9:00-10:30 am

*12/18 Mason County Transition Support Group - Alpine Way Retirement in Shelton @11:00-1:00 pm 

January 2015

*1/9 Sibshops - P2P @ 6:00-7:30 pm

*1/13 Thurston Co. Transition Support -P2P @ 5:30-7:30 pm

*1/14 Fetal Alcohol Support - P2P @6:00 pm

*1/15 Mason County Mom to Mom Support - Alpine Way in Shelton @ 9:00-10:30 am

*1/15 Mason County Transition Support - Alpine Way in Shelton - 11:00-1:00 pm

*1/20 Grays Harbor Early Learning Coalition/ICC -  Grays Harbor College @ 2:00 pm

*1/20 Up With Downs Support - P2P @6:30 pm

*1/21 Sensory Processing Support - P2P @ 6:30 pm

*1/22 TECC/ICC - ESD 113 Lewis Room @ 9:00-11:00 am

*1/27 Thurston Co. Mom to Mom Support - P2P @ 6:00 pm 

  
Thank You!



A VERY warm and heartfelt THANK YOU the Grays Harbor Community Foundation for the generous grant supporting our Birth to Three program summer services and Family Event in Grays Harbor.  We are so excited to serve the families in the area!!

Thank you to the Squaxin Tribe for your wonderful gift to help Mason County families!

Thank you to the amazing Shelton Cinemas for another successful and fun Sensory Friendly Movie.  We value our partnership!

Continued thanks to the following sponsors:
Olympia Federal Savings, Molina Health Care, Pediatric Therapy Associates, Ramblin' Jacks, North Thurston Kiwanis, the Hands on Children's Museum and individual donors.
Parent to Parent is a network of families who have experienced the unique joys and challenges of parenting children with special needs. If you are caring for a person with special needs and would like to be connected with others in the community, we can help!

Please call us at (360) 352-1126 and say "Operator" or press 0 if you do not know who to ask for.  Someone will take your call and connect you with the right person! 
P2P Staff

 

Kim Smith, Executive Director and Early Intervention Program Director
(360) 352-1126 ext. 108

Sheila Kavanaugh, Office Manager
(360) 352-1126
  ext. 101

Sylvia Davenport, Helping Parent and Transition Coordinator
 (360) 352-1126   ext. 106


Brandi Clarke, FRC
(North Thurston)
(360) 352-1126 ext. 102

Karen Huggins, Lead FRC and FRC (North Thurston)   (360) 352-1126 ext. 103

Abbie Darin, FRC (Yelm and Rainier)
(360) 352-1126 ext. 112

Sarah Hodge, FRC (Tumwater, Rochester and Tenino)
(360) 352-1126 ext. 107

Dawn Harrison, FRC (Olympia and Griffin)
(360) 352-1126 ext. 104

Shannon Wojda, FRC in training
(360)352-1126 ext. 112

Betty Uriostegui, FRC (Mason County, bilingual)
(360) 432-7788 

 

Sara Mead, FRC 

(Mason County) 
(360) 432-7788

Connie King, FRC
(Grays Harbor County)
(360) 972-0460

Marisol Guzman, Assistant
(Grays Harbor County, bilingual)
(360) 972-0460

Chris Brandt, Office Support

Hayley Harris, Office Assistant, ext. 111

Spanish Line, ext. 110

Mason County Line for Messages, ext. 112

Thank you for the ongoing support of South Sound Parent to Parent that allows us to serve our community!
Sincerely,
 

Kim Smith
Executive Director
 

Chloe's Story of Hope: "Now she can tell us how she feels" 

Tammy and Mike had wanted a family for a long time. After trying to get pregnant for two years without success, they sought the help of a fertility doctor and were successful the first try. In April 2010, daughter Chloe was born.

"We were so excited and happy!" recalls Tammy.

Four months later, another child joined their family when they obtained parental custody of Tammy's niece, Alexis. She was only 16 months old at the time and was born with Down Syndrome.

"We knew that we needed to get Alexis the help she deserved medically and developmentally. We set up services for her and began the school year with a 4-month-old and a 16-month-old, not knowing what we were doing," Tammy said.

Because of Alexis' special needs, the school district and their local Parent 2 Parent became their new community where they learned about special needs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and more.

"I think that because of the relationship we had formed with these specialists, it was easier for me to accept that my suspicion of Chloe having autism might be true," Tammy said.

When Chloe was around 9 months old, Tammy noticed that she would line toys up in a particular way and did not want anyone touching them. As time went on, Tammy also realized that Chloe was not talking at the level they would expect her to be.

They arranged an evaluation by the Birth to Three program to see if she was delayed in any other areas as well as speech. Chloe started receiving services privately as Alexis had been and then started the Birth to Three program.

"As time went on, I began to become more and more convinced that Chloe did have Autism Spectrum Disorder. Others questioned if she did or not, but I did not back down. I knew in my gut that she did," Tammy said.

When Tammy requested an evaluation for autism through Group Health, the psychologist told her that 2-year-old Chloe was "too young" to be evaluated for autism.

Due to medical issues that their other child developed shortly after this, Tammy and Mike were not able to pursue having Chloe seen elsewhere. It wasn't until Chloe was 3 years old that they were able to request a second opinion at Seattle Children's Autism Center.

The full evaluation at Seattle Children's Autism Center resulted in a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

"I felt validated and relieved to know that my instinct was right and I could now make sure that my child received the appropriate therapies to better help her navigate this world." Tammy said, adding "We knew that Applied Behavior Analysis  therapy was going to be essential in helping Chloe."

Their insurance company was Group Health, which now offers coverage for ABA after a legal fight that resulted in a settlement of a class action lawsuit in 2012, just a year before Chloe was diagnosed.

"I am thankful for all of the hard work and dedication from other parents and the wonderful advocacy team at WAAA. If it had not been for attorney Ele Hamburger, WAAA and parents willing to fight Group Health in court to include ABA benefits, I would have had to fight even harder to get my child the services that she needs and deserves," Tammy said.

Although Group Health offers ABA coverage, it was not easy for the family to find an ABA provider in their area.

"A new Applied Behavior Analysis therapy company called Basics NW opened in our area. We sought their advice and information at their monthly support groups. Once we officially had Chloe's diagnosis, I requested a referral from Group Health to have Chloe start ABA therapy there," Tammy said.

At that time, Basics NW did not have a contract with Group Health. Group Health declined Tammy's request for referral and were told that Group Health already had a company that they worked with for ABA therapy.

The company was farther away from their home and had a 2-3 month waiting list.

"This was not going to work for me!" Tammy said.

Tammy wrote an appeal stating that Basics NW was not only closer to home but could begin services with Chloe immediately whereas the other company could not begin services for 2 to 3 months.

She said the last sentence of the appeal letter was the key phrase that made a difference: "Denying my child to receive services at Basics NW is delay of care."

"Delay of care, that three-word phrase, is what every insurance company does not want to hear as it puts the liability in their hands," Tammy said.

Ultimately, Group Health approved their request.

"I was so happy that I could finally start getting Chloe ABA therapy close to home and a lot sooner than I would have had I not fought Group Health's decision." Tammy said.

"It has now been more than a year and Chloe has been doing great! ABA therapy has really helped Chloe and the rest of our family. She still deals with a lot of common autism behaviors, but now we have the tools and understanding to help her every day! The best part of it all, Chloe is now able to tell us how she feels and is being able to start regulating her emotions. This is a huge difference from a year ago."

Tammy adds: "Thank you to WAAA and all who paved the path for families that have Group Health insurance like my family! Without you, I don't know how our daughter would be able to cope without the tools she has learned in less than a year thanks to ABA therapy!"

 

Events

tree climbing


Person Centered Planning

Thanks to a grant from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund, we will now offer Person Centered Planning for families of youth ages 14 through 18 (moving from middle to high school and from high school to Transition programs).  Please contact Sylvia if interested @ 360-352-1126 ext. 106
  

 Cookies with Santa, December 14th!  


It is Annual Campaign time. All donations are tax deductible and support all SSP2P Programs.  Please give if you can. 
Every bit helps! The link to the more clear document is below and Thank You!

Annual Campaign Letter


Happy Holidays from SSP2P!!!
Helping Parent Needs!

We are in need of Helping Parents with knowledge of
Sensory Processing Disorder and/or Seizures.  PLEASE contact Sylvia Davenport at 360-352-1126 ext. 106 or [email protected]
 
Thanks for your help! 
Community

  

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Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra Family Concert:   

Get the holiday spirit as the whole family will enjoy "March of the Toys" (from Babes In Toyland), "O Holy Night" and Leroy Anderson's "Christmas Festival." The popular "Instrument Petting Zoo" lets young people have hands-on time with their favorite instrument during intermission. Admission is free, but donations gratefully accepted. Monday, December 1st, 7:30pm. Corbet Theatre, Centralia College, 701 Walnut Street, Centralia.

 

   

FREE! "Winter Wonderland" at Hands On Children's Museum

 

Celebrate the chilly winter outdoors while enjoying the warmth of the museum inside on a "Free Friday Night"! Kids will play with fake snow and partake in fun activities. Free! No pre-registration required. Friday, December 5th, 5-9pm. Hands On Children's Museum, 414 Jefferson St. SE, Olympia. For details, call 360-956-0818 
 

37th Annual Olympia Toy Run

 

Saturday, December 6th, 2014 
10:00 am - Gate Opens
11:00 am to 12:30 pm - Performers
1:00 pm - Ride leaves from South Sound Center in Lacey

 

Vendor Information

If you are interested in a vendor space at South Sound Center on Saturday morning, please email [email protected].

 

 

FREE 24-HOUR HELP!

  

 Crisis Clinic and Youth Help LineHelp is a phone call away! Volunteers are available around the clock for confidential and anonymous support and for information and referral. Call the Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties or the Youth Help Line! Crisis Clinic 360-586-2800; Youth Help Line 360-586-2777.

 

Rhythm Fire School of Music

Are you interested in music and/or modern dance classes in the morning starting in November?  Rhythm Fire is our wonderful neighbor and if there is enough interest, they will provide the above classes (Music and/or Modern Dance) for those with special needs.  Please let Sylvia know if you're interested and we can partner with them!  Thanks!