Greetings! 2013 has been very busy for LifeSPAN! We've changed location, hired wonderful new people in key roles, expanded our membership and reached out to our community through workshops and gatherings. As we head into fall from this glorious summer it's time to celebrate our achievements and our friends at our annual Salty's event. We hope to see you all there!

Celebrating Community, Contribution, Connection 2013

Join us at Salty’s to celebrate LifeSPAN’s 13th year supporting adults with disabilities and their families to secure a safe and fulfilling future.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Brunch at 11:00 am

Salty's Restaurant on Alki

1936 Harbor Avenue SW
, Seattle, WA 98126



This event is an annual fundraiser for LifeSPAN. It is a pleasure to have award-winning Elisa Hahn of King 5 TV back as our MC for a third year!

Four guest speakers from our LifeSPAN networks will provide their touching and insightful perspectives on involvement in a network. We will honor our Good Life Awardee, Joanne O'Neill of The Arc of King County, who was instrumental in introducing parents in Seattle to PLAN™ of Canada. And we will present the Julie Rowe Memorial Award to an outstanding member of the LifeSPAN community who displays a personal commitment to a focus person and/or their family.

Tickets are $60 (or $600 for a table of 10).
 Register online at http://www.lifespan-wa.org/2013/01/good-life-2013/ or mail your check for $60 per person to:

LifeSPAN
Together Center Campus
16315 NE 87th Street, Unit B-7
Redmond, WA 98052

We look forward to seeing you at this wonderful event celebrating our amazing community!

Good Life awardees from Salty's 2012.

LifeSPAN Board welcomes a new friend and board member

LifeSPAN's Annual Meeting for members was held April 28 at The Together Center. Linda Davidson and John Currie, who departed our Board of Directors, were thanked for their work with LifeSPAN; both have been great leaders for LifeSPAN.

And, a new director was added – Riley Taitingfong. Riley brings freshness and youth to the Board! She is just beginning her senior year at the University of Washington, seeking a BA in Communication/BA in Psychology, and a minor in Disability Studies. She has worked as a nanny for a child with special needs, as a classroom aide at the University's Experimental Education Unit, and leads Seattle Gymnastics Academy's only class for special needs children and their families.

Initially, she'll be part of the Communications Team and has volunteered to update and manage our Facebook page – stay tuned for news on that! The Board has been very impressed so far with her interest, assumption of responsibility, fresh ideas and commitment. We are very happy to have her as part of LifeSPAN!

LifeSPAN has a new operations manager

There is a new face in the LifeSPAN office as of July 22. Ruby Lindner has joined us as Operations Manager and we are delighted to have her as part of our team. Ruby has a professional background in finance and has been involved with non-profit work both professionally and as a Board member. She spent the last five years at Alpha Supported Living Services, so she has many connections in the disabilities field.

In addition to her work supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, she spends much of her free time painting or on long walks with her dog. This part-time position with LifeSPAN will allow her time to do more of both. She is also active in animal welfare advocacy and enjoys staying informed on current events. Ruby will not only handle office responsibilities, but also work closely with the Board on fundraising, organizational planning, and more. She has a terrific background and skill set and we love her energy. Welcome, Ruby!

LifeSPAN workshops and gatherings

Our volunteers have offered two "Facing the Future Together" planning workshops for parents and Siblings in 2013, each hosted by the Arc of King County. These workshops are designed to bring parents and siblings into conversation together to set goals, explore challenges, and identify resources for families in transition. We've also hosted a 7 Steps discussion group for families seeking to plan a GOOD LIFE for their loved ones who have a disability. These conversations, which take place over a 6-week period, allow families to work through the elements that constitute a good life for all of us, to take steps to make their dreams happen and to do so while engaging with the wisdom and experience offered by other participating families.

We've also partied at our annual beach BBQ along the beach in beautiful Lincoln Park in West Seattle. This event, which is open to anyone who wants to join us, offers an opportunity for informal discussion with LifeSPAN families and others, all while enjoying the spectacular beach location and the ever amazing LifeSPAN potluck offerings.

LifeSPAN Facilitator Spotlight

LifeSPAN currently has 16 active networks that are propelled by 15 dedicated facilitators. These individuals, who come to LifeSPAN through a true belief in our mission, make a difference in the lives of our focus people by connecting them to friends. LifeSPAN facilitators create bridges that allow potentially marginalized people better access the components that make up a good life: the formation of meaningful relationships, participation in enjoyable activities, opportunities for growth and a chance to be a contributing member of the community. Thank you for all you do! LifeSPAN Facilitators rock!

This quarter, we'd like to share brief biographies of two of our hardworking and caring facilitators: Emily Ehrhart and Teresa Woods.

Introducing Emily Ehrhart

Emily Ehrhart has been a LifeSPAN facilitator for three years. She facilitates the networks of Eric and Dina. As a facilitator, Emily has seen how important relationships are to a person's ability to feel supported and connected to her/his community. Additionally, Emily has grown to value relationships that exist outside a family unit, such as friendships with peers and community connections. Emily has truly enjoyed working with networks and encouraging the development of relationships among network members and between members and the focus person. However, her favorite thing about being a facilitator has been developing her friendships with Eric and Dina!

In addition to working as a facilitator, Emily has been a counselor in social services and has most recently worked in the field of animal rescue. Currently, she owns a pet care business and volunteers with local animal welfare organizations. She enjoys hiking, gardening, practicing yoga, and spending time with her pets and family.

Teresa Woods introduces herself

I have been a facilitator for close to 4 years (I can't believe it!). I work with David and his sister Linda. I also work as the Director of Events and Corporate Partnerships with Girl Scouts of Western Washington (GSWW). I have been with GSWW for 11 years; working with girls to become our leaders of tomorrow is a passion of mine.

I have two children, Rachael (22) and Luke (20). They are the center of my life, both still living at home. Luke is going to Bellevue College and Rachael is working at Bellevue Gene Juarez. My heritage is Irish and Aleut Indian (from Alaska). A favorite pastime is attending Pow Wows with my family, assisting with my sister and dad's Native American drum booth.

Being a facilitator for LifeSPAN has opened my eyes to new opportunities and a world I was not familiar with. Though some of the challenges might be similar to what I am used to, they are not the same. I have become a better listener, more considerate to other people’s needs, aware that everyone can contribute in one way or another, able to view things with a different lenses (if you know me at all, I tend to lean toward being a control freak), and I learned to enjoy (LOVE) social gatherings — how important social gatherings are to connect, stay connected and get to know people. I am fortunate to be part of LifeSPAN, and a part of David's Network!