We’re Here to Help!

If your family or organization needs resources to support people with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), Kitsap County Parent Coalition is here to help! Call us at (206) 486-0300.

This newsletter contains:

• This month’s meeting

• Finding Support

• Advocacy Opportunities

• Community events

• Training

• What We’re Watching and Reading

• DDA Updates

• News

11/5 by 8 PM

Remember to Vote!

Having trouble deciding? Watch nonpartisan candidate forums at the League of Women Voters page.

South Sound Parent to Parent

The CONNECTION for families caring for people with disabilities.

SSP2P provides many options for support with a parent matching program, online and in-person support groups, Mom 2 Mom, Dad 2 Dad, Cafecito, SibShops, and fun family events.

November is Family Caregiver Month

Kitsap’s Caregiver Support Center is celebrating Family Caregiver Month with free weekly events. Topics include

• Memory Loss & Communication for Caregivers

• Caregiver Support Programs & Resources

• Residential Care Overview for Long-Term Care

• Legal Planning & Decision Support for Family Caregivers

Contact: Cathy Mulcahy (360) 337-5700 or cmulcahy@kitsap.gov.

1st & 3rd Saturdays

Sensory Friendly Gym Nights

Sound Elite Athletics, Port Orchard

The gym is yours! A place where your kids can feel safe and have fun! Dim lights and low music. $10 per person. Ages 0 - 17

• Trampolines

• Spring Floor

• Tumbl Trak

• Beams

• Gymnastics Bars and more!

Fill out waiver ahead of time for speedier check-in.

November 6 & December 11

Youth Presentation Circle Series

Dispute Resolution Center, Silverdale

11/6 - Beating the Winter Blues will be presented by Ashley Lucas from Kitsap Mental Heath Services and will help us focus on improving our mental wellbeing!

12/11 A Slice of Life on the Spectrum  will be presented by Michaela Rossi. She will share with attendees her experiences in living on the Autism Spectrum.

These events are FREE and open to the public. All are welcome!

Due by Nov 15

ASW Holiday Art Contest

The contest is open to all Autistics (diagnosed or self-identified). Submit an original artwork and a brief bio of 100-150 words through our digital platform.

The winning artwork will be featured in ASW’s holiday fundraising campaign and other promotional materials. The Autistic individual who's art is chosen will receive a $100 gift card from Amazon as a thank you.

Your art has power—let it shine this holiday season! Submit Your Artwork Today

November 14 @ 5:30 - 7:00 PM

SibShops

Bethany Lutheran Church, Port Orchard

This free support group is for siblings ages 7-18 who have a brother and/or sister with developmental delays or a disability. They play games, make crafts, connect, and have fun.

Dinner Included!

November 23

Wicked

Sensory Friendly Movie

SEEfilm Cinemas, Bremerton

Doors will open at 10:30 AM

Cost: $6 per ticket, one caregiver is free per purchased special needs ticket. Those three years and older must purchase a ticket. A $6 movie combo will be available to our guests which includes popcorn, a 12 oz. drink, and a snack candy.

Who: Any family with a member who has a disability or medical needs. Siblings are encouraged to come. Caregivers can come, too.

Questions: Kimberly, kadams@ssp2p.org or 360.282.2603

June 3-4, 2025

Community Summit

Wenatchee Convention Center

Save the date! This year’s community summit is already on the books. More details are soon to come. If you would like to go, but need support, contact us!

Fall Schedule

KCR’s Parenting Place

Kitsap Community Resources, Bremerton

KCR is offering a fantastic lineup of classes this fall, designed to support families and parents. Whether you’re looking for ways to strengthen family bonds, manage stress, or build new parenting skills, they’ve got something for everyone!

Take a look at what’s coming up and don’t miss out on these opportunities to grow and connect!

Fall Schedule

Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid

Identify. Understand. Respond.

Various locations

Mental Health First Aid is for anyone who wants to make our community healthier, safer and more compassionate. It teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. And, it gives you the skills to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem, or experiencing a crisis.

Topics include: Depression and mood disorders, Anxiety disorders, Trauma

Psychosis, Substance use disorders

Free On Demand Online Course

Empowering Culinary Exploration: Tips for Teaching Cooking Skills to Youth with Disabilities

This training is for any new educators, support staff or caregivers who would like to advance cooking skills for individuals with intellectual developmental delay, cognitive and/or motor impairment.  

Writing About Disability

Language, especially as it relates to identity, is both extremely powerful

and evolving extremely quickly! Although there’s no generalizable approach to writing about disabled people, there are some words and phrases that we can all agree are best to avoid — and some considerations that can make a big difference when you’re writing for this audience.

Several options

Monthly SSI Training

Bring your questions! Monthly classes are led by a Certified Benefits Planner and provide an overview of the SSI application process. Get tips and strategies for the application and redetermination process and leave with a clear idea of the next steps to take.

November 6 @ 1-2 PM

Unlocking Employment Opportunities:

Navigating Transportation and Housing Barriers for Autistic Adults

Online

Reliable transportation is critical for maintaining employment, yet many autistic individuals experience difficulty navigating public transit systems, driving independently, or coordinating their travel plans. Additionally, the lack of affordable housing with safe living arrangements and supports can cause layers of stress and instability that negatively impact work performance. The presenters will offer essential transportation and travel training tips, practical strategies for managing challenging living arrangements, and information about Section 8 housing subsidies.

November 14 @ 10 AM

Housing and Section 8

Online

You are invited to the next webinar about housing options and important benefits like Section 8!

Bring all your burning questions; we will have lots of time for Q and A!

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

Netflix

“Our deepest sorrow,” his father explains, “lay in the fact that he would never experience friendship, love, or to make a difference in other people’s lives.” Except that’s not actually the story The Remarkable Life of Ibelin is here to tell, rewinding its home-movie footage to reframe Mats’ life in a new light using words he wrote himself on his blog. While Mats’ interactions in the real world may have been limited, it turns out he lived a rich digital existence inside the multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft.

Renegades by PBS American Masters

Explore the lives of diverse, lesser-known historical figures with disabilities, exploring not only their impact on and contributions to U.S. society, but also the concept of disability culture, which honors the uniqueness of disability. Hosted and narrated by the musician and disability rights advocate Lachi.

Caleb Has Something To Say

Local author and parent, Chanita Stone, wrote a children’s book from the perspective of her son who is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

This book is intended to promote inclusivity and provide representation for children who have special needs. It is also for the friends and loved ones of those children, to offer insight and understanding.

FREE Benefits and Housing Reviews

Our Benefits and Housing Review will help families access all the benefits their Loved One is eligible for and explore housing options. Once they complete a Benefits and Housing Review, they will receive a 1-hour consultation via Zoom with one of our Solutions Coordinators. After the consultation, eligible individuals and their families will also have free access to our Roommate Matching Pool to help them find compatible roommates.

November 1

Kitsap Homeless and Low-Income Resource Guide Updated

This guide has not been updated since January 2023 and contains many important changes.

The new guide is now four pages instead of two. To print the resource guide, make sure to choose "Print on both sides of paper" and "Flip on short edge" in your printer's dialogue box. This way, it can be folded in half like a booklet.