Tag: Youth

Keeping Kids Busy Through Summer: Summer Camp Alternatives

Posted on by Nicol Walsh

Summer camp is an excellent way for children to spend the long summer days. However, camps are often filled quickly, and many are out of the financial reach of families. Here are some alternatives to those summer camps to entertain children and give caregivers some much needed respite.

A Brief Overview

  • There are many inexpensive ways to entertain children over the summer
  • Check with local parks and recreation for activities, including those for children and youth with disabilities
  • Washington State Parks are wonderful for exploring as a family
  • Consult with family organizations, schools, and educators for ideas and information on programs

Full Article

Local parks and recreation departments often boost their options for children over the summer. These can include sports, preschool classes, and outdoor activities. Some of the parks and rec departments, especially in larger communities, have adaptive or accessible classes, for those with disabilities and/or sensory issues. Boys and Girls Clubs have activities, classes, and day camp for a small fee. Their Find a Club interactive map will let you locate the nearest club. The YMCA also can offer day camp options, along with their usual sports and recreation options. 4H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, has many opportunities for children and youth to engage in hands-on learning, skill building, and community interaction. Various branches of 4H offer Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) activities, civic engagement, animal science, environmental science, performance arts, nutrition and health, and many, many more activities are available through your local camps.

Washington State Parks provide for a wide range of outdoor activities this summer and even have special events that can be viewed on their calendar. For children four and up, their Junior Ranger Program has activities to print out and ideas for indoor and outdoor fun. For those with physical limitations, an interactive ADA map of park facilities shows the wheelchair accessible options throughout the State Park system.

Libraries often have surprisingly varied options, including reading programs, arts and crafts, educational classes, and movie nights. Many libraries now have take-home kits for creative activities to do with the whole family. Summer reading lists are available both on library websites and in-person.

Movie theaters sometimes offer sensory-friendly film viewing at certain scheduled times, check with the theater. Good for those hot afternoons!

Parent groups and family organizations are often up to date on the latest summer activity offerings around the community. The Arc of Washington and Parent to Parent are both focused on families with children with disabilities or special health care needs, are aware of many opportunities, and may even offer some events for families and kids.

Some school districts have enrichment activities over the summer beyond the extended school year (a.k.a. summer school) options. Local school district websites will have full listings for anything they may offer. Often schools and school districts also have recommendations for summer activities and information on summer events. Teachers are a useful resource for summer ideas and information, as they have heard a lot about what their students are doing this summer, so a quick chat with them may be in order.

Several websites focus on community events and classes that children and youth can be involved in over the summer. The most prominent is Macaroni KID, but others include Parent Map, and Family Day Out. The local Chamber of Commerce and local newspapers also will post some event highlights and may list on their community calendars. Summer is also the time for County Fairs and other events, many of which take place in August.

Lifespan Respite WA (a program of PAVE) has a list of registered providers that is accessible to everyone, where it is possible to find recreation and respite options by county, age served, disabilities served, and respite type. The options listed under Recreation on the “Respite Type” menu has an array of interesting options that may have flown under a family’s radar, such as equine therapy, music classes, and sensory-friendly playgrounds. Check out their page “Creative Options for a Respite Break” for more low-cost and free ideas for summer (and year-round) activities. Visit their Voucher Program page to find out if you qualify for a small grant for short respite breaks!

Richland – Drop in Office Hours with PAVE at the Arc of Tri-Cities

June 19 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm PDT

In need of support, training and resources for your child’s IEP/504? Sherry Mashburn with PAVE is here to help.

Free

PTI Program

Arc of Tri-Cities

1455 SE Fowler ST
Richland, Washington United States

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Sunnyside – Families United for a Better Future / Familias Unidas Para un Mejor Futuro

May 31 @ 8:00 am – 3:00 pm PDT

Families United for A Better Future

Familias Unidas Para Un Mejor Futuro

05/31/2025

No Childcare Provided

Doors open at 7:30am

No Habrá Cuidado de Niños

Las puertas abren a las 7:30 am

7:30-8:00am- Registration/Registro

8:00-9:00am-Welcome & Keynote/Bienvenido y Keynote

9:15am-First Session will begin/ La priemera sesión comienza

“The Families Unite for a Better Future Conference is a bilingual (English and Spanish) event created for families and others caring for children—including those with developmental and other disabilities. This engaging, community-centered conference brings together parents, caregivers, educators, and professionals to explore practical strategies, share experiences, and strengthen support systems for children and youth.”

“La Conferencia Familias Unidas por un Futuro Mejor es un evento bilingüe (inglés y español) creado para las familias y otras personas que cuidan a niños y niñas—including aquellos con discapacidades del desarrollo u otras discapacidades. Esta conferencia, atractiva y centrada en la comunidad, reúne a padres, cuidadores, educadores y profesionales para explorar estrategias prácticas, compartir experiencias y fortalecer los sistemas de apoyo para la infancia y la juventud.”

• Limited Interpretation/Interpretación limitada

Pre- Register please

Register on Eventbrite
Free

PTI Program

Sunnyside High School

1801 E. Edison
Sunnyside,, Washington United States

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Families and Youth Have a Voice on Mental Health Matters Through FYSPRT

Posted on by Nicol Walsh

A Brief Overview

  • FYSPRT (pronounced fiss-burt) is a hard acronym to learn, but it’s worth the effort for families and young people who want to talk about improving mental healthcare systems around the state.
  • Here’s what FYSPRT means: Family members, Youth and System Partners (professionals) get together at a “Round Table” (meaning everyone has an equal voice) to talk about issues related to emotional distress, mental illness and/or substance-use disorder. All participants share ideas about what helps and what could make things better.
  • The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) provides a map of the 10 FYSPRT regions and includes contact information for local leaders and a schedule of where/when meetings are held.
  • FYSPRT began after a class-action lawsuit against the state, TR v Dreyfus. The litigation resulted in development of the state’s out-patient mental-health services program for youth—Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe).
  • FYSPRT is a place where families provide feedback about WISe, but all community members are welcome—regardless of age or agency affiliation.
  • Some regional FYSPRTs sponsor separate meetings and social events for youth.

Full Article

Parents and young people who struggle with emotional distress, mental illness and/or substance-use disorder can feel powerless to affect change in a complicated medical system. The Family, Youth and System Partner Round Table (FYSPRT) provides a meeting space for family members and professionals to talk about what’s working and what isn’t working in the state’s mental health systems. The groups also provide informal networking and can provide ways for families to meet up and support one another under challenging circumstances.

The state sponsors 10 FYSPRT groups to serve every county: A list of the groups and which counties they serve is included at the end of this article. Each group reports to a statewide FYSPRT, which provides information to state government to influence policy. The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) provides a map of the FYSPRT regions and includes contact information for local leaders and a schedule of where/when meetings are held.

FYSPRT began as part of a class-action lawsuit against the state, referred to as TR v Dreyfus. The litigation began in 2009, and settlements were mediated in 2012-13. The federal court found that Washington wasn’t providing adequate mental health services to youth and required that the state start delivering intensive community-based mental health treatment. The state responded by developing the Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) program for youth under 21 who are eligible for Medicaid. WISe teams provide a wide range of therapies and supports with a goal to keep the young person out of the hospital, which costs more and can be traumatizing.

Young people under 18 who need residential care are referred to the Children’s Long-Term Inpatient program: PAVE’s website provides an article about CLIP.

To provide accountability for the delivery of WISe services, the state created FYSPRT as a forum for families to provide feedback about how the program is working. The mission is to provide an equal platform for everyone within the community to strengthen resources and create new approaches to address behavioral needs of children and youth.

FYSPRT provides a space where youth impacted by behavioral health issues and their family members can share ideas about what works well and what would work better. The FYSPRT model is based on the belief that everyone’s unique perspective is equally important, and everyone is invited. FYSPRT meetings are open to all interested community members. Each community has unique participants depending on what agencies work in the cities and towns within the region.

In order to create an atmosphere of equality, the FYSPRTs are led by a combination of youth, family members, and systems partners.  While a healthcare organization often works as the convener, the leadership is split between the Tri-Leads, who are elected from their membership. These include Youth Tri-Leads, Family Tri-Leads, and System Partner Tri-Leads. For many parents and youth, FYSPRT becomes a place to bond and connect to support one another. Some regional FYSPRTs include separate meetings for youth, and those groups can become a key social outlet.

Staff who serve families through WISe are key participants. Other attendees are case managers from the state’s Medicaid-provider agencies, behavioral health counselors, foster-care workers, staff of homeless programs and staff and volunteers from affiliates of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Other participants are leaders of support groups for youth in recovery or working with issues related to gender identity or sexuality. PAVE staff are regular attendees in many regions.

Every area of the state of Washington has its own FYSPRT, overseen by the Health Care Authority.  Each of the ten FYSPRT regions is comprised of a single county or up to eight adjoining counties. In order to create greater participation from the general public, transportation and childcare stipends are available for families and youth in most areas. Some groups provide free meals for everyone and/or gift card incentives for the families and young people who attend. Family and Youth who act as leaders (Tri-Leads) along with system partners are paid for their participation.

Here are links to each regional FYSPRT’s website and a list of the counties each represents:

System of Care Partnership – Mason, Thurston

Great Rivers Regional FYSPRT – Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific

HI-FYVE – Pierce

King County Community Collaborative (KC3) – King

North Central Washington FYSPRT – Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan

North Sound Youth and Family Coalition – Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom

Northeast FYSPRT – Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens

Salish FYSPRT – Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap

Southeast FYSPRT – Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Whitman, Yakima

Southwest FYSPRT – Clark, Klickitat, Skamania

Defining your Social Media Game Plan: #Goals

Posted on by Nicol Walsh

Thinking about how you use social media and screens can help you make better choices for your mind, body, and relationships. When you take time to notice how you feel, what you see, and how much time you spend online, you can stay in control instead of letting screens take over. Talking with trusted adults and setting goals for your screen time can help you stay safe, feel better, and enjoy the good parts of being online. 

Think about Yourself

Your social media accounts are all about you! Think about why you are using social media or other screens. Is your goal to talk to friends, find cool videos, or learn something new? Thinking about your goals and what you like helps you control how you use social media, instead of letting it control you. To better understand your goals, ask yourself:

  • What is your goal when you open an app or go online?
  • Did you reach your goal, so you can set it down now?
  • Are you in control of how you use it, or does it feel like it controls you?

Think about What You See

Consider what you see and read online. What purpose does this have for you? Is it something helpful and interesting, or is it making you feel bad? Sometimes you might see things that are mean or make you feel sad, anxious, or even angry. If you notice that what you’re seeing online is often upsetting or distracting you from important things, maybe it’s time to look for content that helps you feel better. You can control some of what you see online by only following pages that make you feel good, and by unfollowing or muting accounts that post things that upset you or make you feel bad about yourself.

Think about what you see online and ask yourself:

  • What kinds of things do you usually look at online?
  • What purpose does this content have for you?
  • If some content makes you feel bad, are there other things you could look at online that might help you feel better or learn something new?

Think about How You Feel

Think about how you feel and how you use screens when you’re feeling strong emotions. Sometimes we use phones or games to escape negative feelings, but there are other ways to calm down, like talking to people you trust, taking a walk, or making art.

When thinking about how social media makes you feel, ask yourself:

  • How does using social media make you feel?
  • Does what you see online make you feel good?
  • When you’re feeling sad, bored, or stressed, do you often use screens or social media to feel better?
  • Are there other ways you can help yourself feel calm that don’t involve a screen?

Think about What Screens Get In The Way Of

Screens shouldn’t stop you from doing homework, seeing friends in person, getting enough sleep, or doing other things. Think about how long you are going to use an app or website and set a clear time limit for yourself. That way, you can reach that time and be able to put your phone down because you planned to stop. To help you set a time limit that works for you, ask yourself:

  • How long are you planning to use social media or a screen right now?
  • Did you set a clear time to stop using it?
  • Does using screens stop you from doing other important things, like homework, spending time with family or friends in person, or getting enough sleep?

Think about Relationships

You can talk with a friend or trusted adult about your online life and how you are feeling about it. By sharing about how you feel about friends online and in real life, you can better understand what purpose connecting online has for you. Talking helps you learn how to use screens safely.

When you think about your friends and family, ask yourself:

  • Do you feel comfortable talking to a parent or trusted adult about your online life?
  • If something online made you feel uncomfortable or upset, would you feel okay talking to someone about it?
  • How do you feel about your friendships online compared to your friendships in real life?
  • What purpose does connecting online have for you in your friendships?

Remember, social media should be something that adds to your life—not something that takes away from it.


Identify Your Five

One way to stay safe online is by using the “Rule of 5,” which means having five trusted people you can talk to when something online feels wrong or confusing. These questions can help you identify five people you can trust:

  • Who do I feel safe talking to when something is bothering me?
  • Who listens to me without judging or getting angry?
  • Who has helped me solve a problem before?
  • Who would I go to if I saw something online that made me feel scared or confused?
  • Who do I trust to keep me safe and give good advice?
  • Who do I feel comfortable being honest with, even if I made a mistake?
  • Who do I know that cares about me and wants the best for me?
  • Who could I call or message quickly if I needed help right away?

Once you’ve identified five people, write them down or save their contact info in a safe place.

Final Thoughts

Taking control of your social media use starts with understanding your goals, feelings, and habits. By reflecting on how, why, and when you use screens, you can make choices that support your well-being and help you stay safe online. Whether you’re setting time limits, curating your feed, or reaching out to trusted people, every small step counts. Keep checking in with yourself, stay curious, and remember—you have the power to shape your digital world in a way that works for you.

Learn More

This self-reflection guide was developed as a practical tool to help implement the strategies outlined in Level Up Your Social Media Game: Digital Safety Tips for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities.  It is designed to encourage thoughtful engagement with the digital safety concepts presented in that article, supporting users in applying them to their own online experiences.

Family caregivers and professionals can learn how to support kids’ health and emotional well-being by helping them use social media safely. A great place to start is the American Academy of Pediatrics’ “5 Cs of Media Use” guides.

Level Up Your Social Media Game: Digital Safety Tips for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities

Posted on by Nicol Walsh

Social media has both benefits and disadvantages. To use social media safely and effectively, it’s important to practice digital safety and self-awareness. This guide teaches tips and tools to help you make smart choices and stay in control online.

Brief Overview

  • Social media helps people with disabilities connect, express themselves, and find support—but it also comes with risks that users need to understand.
  • A trusted adult is someone you know in real life who cares about your safety and can help you make good choices.
  • Not everyone online is who they say they are.
  • People may act mean online or post things just to get attention.
  • Be careful what you share and talk to someone you trust if something feels wrong.
  • Anything you post online can be copied and shared. Think before you post, especially if someone is pressuring you to share something quickly.
  • Not everything online is true. Learn how to check facts and find trusted websites so you can tell what’s real and what’s not.
  • Asking for help is smart and keeps you safe.

Introduction

Social media is everywhere and isn’t going away. For people with disabilities, it opens up new ways to connect, communicate, and participate in conversations that might otherwise be difficult.  It can help you feel included and connected. It can be a powerful tool for inclusion and accessibility.

However, while social media offers many good things, it also comes with risks that everyone, especially youth and young adults, need to know about.

Knowing Who to Trust

One of the most important ways to stay safe is by knowing who you can trust, especially when talking to people online. Not everyone you meet online is the same as the people you know in real life. A trusted adult is someone you know in real life who truly cares about your safety and wants to help you make good choices. This could be a parent, teacher, school counselor, coach, or another grown-up you feel safe talking to. They listen to you, respect your feelings, and are there to help you when something is wrong. They are someone you can count on in real life. This is very different from a social media “friend” or “follower” who might be someone you’ve never met in person. Just because someone is nice to you online doesn’t mean they are safe or honest. People online might pretend to be someone they are not, like acting like they are your age to try and gain your trust. This can be part of a trick to try and get your personal information or pictures. Remember, a trusted adult is someone you can rely on for help and safety in the real world, not just someone who sends you messages online.

The Evolving Purpose of Social Media

Social media began as a way for people to connect, talk, and share things with each other. It can be a fun place where kids connect with friends, explore their interests, and learn new things. It can also help kids feel supported and included, especially those with disabilities.

Social media apps and websites are free to use, which makes them easy for lots of people to join. Even though you don’t pay money to use them, social media companies still make money—by showing you ads. The longer you stay on the app, the more ads you see, and that helps the company earn more. In other words, the social media companies are making money from your time and attention. That’s why it’s important to remember that you’re in control of how much time you spend online. When you use social media in a smart way, it can be fun and helpful—just make sure it’s working for you, not the other way around.

Social Media Risks and How to Stay Safe Online

But social media isn’t always safe. Some people feel like they can say mean things online because they think no one will find out who they are. Since they can’t see your face or how you feel, they might not realize how much they’re hurting you—and that makes them less likely to stop. Also, when kids see others being mean online, they might think it’s okay to join in. And sometimes, trying to get likes, shares, or views can lead kids to post things that hurt someone else, even if they didn’t mean to. That’s why it’s important to learn about these risks and talk with friends and family about how to stay safe and kind online.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when people are mean to you online by sending hurtful messages or making unkind posts. Sharing or forwarding mean content that someone else wrote can is also a form of cyberbullying. Studies show that youth with disabilities are more likely than other kids their age to be cyberbullied.

If someone is being mean to you online, you don’t have to handle it by yourself. Talk to an adult you trust, like a parent, teacher, or school counselor. They can help you figure out what to do next. STOP.THINK.CONNECT, a website that specializes in online safety and cybersecurity awareness, says it’s usually best not to talk back to the bully. Instead, save a screenshot or copy of what they said and show it to your trusted adult. That way, they can better understand how to help you. You should also learn how to block or report the person on the app or website you’re using. Most sites have tools to help you stay safe.

Social Engineering and Trickery

Sometimes, people use social media to trick others into giving away personal information—this is called social engineering. It can happen when someone pretends to be your friend, asks you to click a link, or says something that makes you feel scared or rushed. They might try to get your passwords, address, or other private details. This can be especially confusing if you have trouble telling when someone is being dishonest. That’s why it’s important to be careful about what you share online and to talk to a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right or makes you uncomfortable.

You have the right to say “No” if someone—even someone you know—makes you feel uncomfortable online. It’s okay to stop talking to them or to question what they’re saying. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and talk to a friend or trusted adult. Some people online may pretend to be kids or teens when they are actually adults with harmful intentions. That’s why it’s important to be careful about who you talk to and what you share in conversations. You don’t have to handle anything alone—there are people who care about you and want to help.

Anything you share online or through your phone—pictures, posts, texts, comments, everything!—can be copied and shared. Once you post or send something, it might be used in ways you didn’t expect or want. Before you share anything, ask yourself if it includes private information or something you wouldn’t want everyone to see. If someone is pressuring you to send something quickly, that’s a red flag. Take a moment to think, and don’t let anyone rush you. Talk to a trusted adult if you’re unsure. Being smart about what you post helps protect your privacy and keeps you safe.

Harmful Content

Social media can sometimes show things that make people feel bad, unsafe, or want to do things that aren’t healthy. This is called harmful content. You might see pictures or videos that make you feel bad about your body or tell you to do unhealthy things, like not eating enough. This kind of content can hurt your self-esteem and mental health. Many of the photos and videos online are edited or only show the best parts of someone’s life, not the full picture. These unrealistic expectations can make people feel like they have to be perfect all the time, which isn’t fair or healthy. Everyone has good days and bad days, but social media often hides the hard parts.

To protect yourself, remember that it’s okay to be yourself and that nobody is perfect. Try to follow people who are honest and positive, and take breaks from social media when you need to. If something online makes you feel bad, talk to a friend or trusted adult.

Privacy

When you share personal information online—like your full name, address, phone number, or passwords—it can be used in ways you don’t expect. That’s why it’s important to protect your privacy by being careful about what you share and who can see it. Some companies collect your data to show you ads or sell your information, and strangers online might try to trick you into giving away private details. To protect yourself, don’t share private details online, especially with people you don’t know.

When playing games or talking with people you don’t know online, you can use game names and avatars to protect your privacy. Often, online game websites and apps will help you to create a random name that doesn’t require any personal information.

Use strong passwords and keep them secret. You can also check your privacy settings on apps to control who sees your posts.  The National Cybersecurity Alliance (StaySafeOnline.org) provides a list of links to the official privacy settings pages for popular websites and mobile apps, including major social media sites, and a guide to creating and using strong passwords.

Misinformation and Digital Literacy

Not everything you see online is true. Sometimes, people post things that are made up or not based on real facts. This is called misinformation. It can spread quickly on social media because the internet often cares more about what gets attention than what is true. It’s important to check if something is true before you believe it or share it. You can do this by looking it up on trusted websites or asking an adult to help you. 

Learning how to tell the difference between real and fake information online is called digital literacy, and it helps you stay smart and safe online. A big part of being digitally literate is knowing where to find information you can trust. Websites from certain places are often trusted sources. These kinds of websites are generally considered places that share reliable facts and safety tips backed by research:

  • Websites that end with .gov usually belong to the U.S. government, like places that share safety tips or resources.
  • Websites ending with .ed or .edu are often connected to educational organizations or government education departments.
  • Websites ending with .mil are for the U.S. military.

Looking for these endings can be a helpful way to find information you can trust. It’s a good idea to stay current and check trusted websites for the latest information.

Scams

 Scams are tricks people use to try to steal your money or personal information. Scammers might pretend to be someone you know, like a friend or family member, or even act like they’re from your bank or a company you trust. They might send you messages asking for your password, bank info, or to send them money.

If something feels weird or too good to be true, it probably is. One way to stay safe is to check with a trusted adult that you know in person—before you respond.

Rule of Five

One way to stay safe online is by using the “Rule of 5,” which means having five trusted people you can talk to when something online feels wrong or confusing. These people could be parents, teachers, counselors, or other adults who care about you and want to help. If you get a message or see something that makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s always okay to stop and check with one of your five trusted people before you respond. Even if you feel embarrassed or worried, asking for help is the smart thing to do. Your safety matters more than keeping a secret or being afraid of losing your phone. Trusted adults are there to support you, not to get you in trouble.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you identify five people you can trust:

  • Who do I feel safe talking to when something is bothering me?
  • Who listens to me without judging or getting angry?
  • Who has helped me solve a problem before?
  • Who would I go to if I saw something online that made me feel scared or confused?
  • Who do I trust to keep me safe and give good advice?
  • Who do I feel comfortable being honest with, even if I made a mistake?
  • Who do I know that cares about me and wants the best for me?
  • Who could I call or message quickly if I needed help right away?

Once you’ve identified five people, write them down or save their contact info in a safe place.

Final Thoughts

Social media is a tool, and like all tools there are right ways and wrong ways of using it. Social media should help you—not control you. When you know how to stay safe, set limits, and ask for help when something feels wrong, you can enjoy the fun parts of being online. Always try to be kind and respectful, just like you would be in person. With the right tools and support, you can find ways to make social media work for you, not the other way around.

Learn More

Check out the related article, Defining your Social Media Game Plan: #Goals, for self-reflection questions to help children, youth, and young adults identify their goals for social media.

Online – Teen Advocates Collective

May 27 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm PDT

Join teens who are 13 – 17 years of age with disabilities to connect online to share, chat, listen, brainstorm, and shape your future!

Check it out, join monthly, or when you can.

When Do We Meet?

Day: 4th Wednesday of each month (May is being held a day early)

Time: 4-5pm PT

Location: Zoom

What to expect….

Fun: Meetings will use technology, visuals, and games to keep things fun and engaging with simple language and various ways to communicate. You do not need to be tech savvy. We got you.

Guest Speakers: Self-advocates with real-life experience will share their stories and wisdom.

Topics: Bullying, friendships, safety, community advocacy, college, working, volunteering, housing, and more.

Engagement: It’s up to you! Each meeting will be facilitated to assure all have a chance to join in, ask questions, share their experience, or listen, stay quiet.

Free

PAVE P2P Staff

Related Events

Online – Teen Advocates Collective

May 27 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm PDT

Join teens who are 13 – 17 years of age with disabilities to connect online to share, chat, listen, brainstorm, and shape your future!

Check it out, join monthly, or when you can.

When Do We Meet?

Day: 4th Wednesday of each month

Time: 4-5pm PT

Location: Zoom

What to expect….

Fun: Meetings will use technology, visuals, and games to keep things fun and engaging with simple language and various ways to communicate. You do not need to be tech savvy. We got you.

Guest Speakers: Self-advocates with real-life experience will share their stories and wisdom.

Topics: Bullying, friendships, safety, community advocacy, college, working, volunteering, housing, and more.

Engagement: It’s up to you! Each meeting will be facilitated to assure all have a chance to join in, ask questions, share their experience, or listen, stay quiet.

Free

PAVE P2P Staff

Related Events

Online – Teen Advocates Collective

June 25 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm PDT

Join teens who are 13 – 17 years of age with disabilities to connect online to share, chat, listen, brainstorm, and shape your future!

Check it out, join monthly, or when you can.

When Do We Meet?

Day: 4th Wednesday of each month

Time: 4-5pm PT

Location: Zoom

What to expect….

Fun: Meetings will use technology, visuals, and games to keep things fun and engaging with simple language and various ways to communicate. You do not need to be tech savvy. We got you.

Guest Speakers: Self-advocates with real-life experience will share their stories and wisdom.

Topics: Bullying, friendships, safety, community advocacy, college, working, volunteering, housing, and more.

Engagement: It’s up to you! Each meeting will be facilitated to assure all have a chance to join in, ask questions, share their experience, or listen, stay quiet.

Free

PAVE P2P Staff

Related Events

Attention Students: Lead your own IEP meetings and take charge of your future

Posted on by Nicol Walsh

If you are a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), read this article to find out how you can be a leader on your IEP team. Your future is counting on you!

A Brief Overview

  • By the time you are 16 years old, the school is required to invite you to your IEP meetings. You can attend any time, and leading your own meeting is a great way to learn important skills.
  • The part of the IEP that focuses on your adult goals is called a Transition Plan, and it is all about you and your future.
  • If you need more help at school or aren’t learning what you need to learn, then your IEP might need some fixing. Your voice matters on the IEP team.
  • PAVE provides an infographic overview of Student-Led IEPs, available for download in multiple languages at the bottom of this article..

Introduction

It’s important to plan your time carefully so that every school day gets you closer to where you want to be when you are an adult. 

Learn to be a self-advocate

 An advocate (pronounced ad-vo-cut) is someone who asks for something in a public way. Public schools get money from the government, so they are considered public entities. When you ask the school to provide you with something that you need to succeed, then you are being a self-advocate.

The word advocate can also be an action word (a verb), but then it’s pronounced ad-vo-cate (rhymes with “date”). You advocate for yourself when you ask for what you need to succeed.

Here’s another way to use this hyphenated word: You can say that you “practice self-advocacy.” Leading your own IEP meeting is a great way to practice self-advocacy and develop important adult skills.

Your Transition Plan focuses on where you want to go

 The part of the IEP that focuses on your adult goals is called a Transition Plan. The Transition Plan is added to the IEP by the school year when you turn 16. The plan includes details about:

  • when you plan to graduate (you can stay in school until your 22nd birthday if your IEP goals require more time)
  • what jobs you might choose
  • whether college is part of your plans
  • what lifestyle you imagine for yourself (will you drive, cook, shop, live alone?)
  • how school is getting you ready for all of that

The Transition Plan is all about you and your future. You can start taking charge of your future by going to your IEP meetings. You may want to lead all or part of the meeting, and you have that right.

By the time you are 16 years old, the school is required to invite you to your IEP meetings. From that year on, your school program is matched to your long-term goals.

The law says it’s all about you

Your rights as a student with an IEP are part of a federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA says that schools must include family members and students on the IEP team. If you don’t play on the team, you can’t win the game, right? This is more important than a game—it’s Your Life!

The IDEA is a unique law because it says you get what you need in order to access school and learning. Getting an education that is specially designed just for you is called an entitlement. What you are entitled to is called FAPE, which means Free Appropriate Public Education.

You can become a leader on your IEP team by learning more about FAPE and how to talk about what it means to you. Public education is free for all school-age students in the United States, but consider this question: What makes your education appropriate?

Here are some questions to help you think and talk about FAPE:

  • What is it like to have a disability?
  • What about your disability makes school hard?
  • What do you need at school that helps you learn?
  • Are you getting better and better at the skills you need to be good at?
  • Are your teachers helping you see what you do well?

If you are learning important skills at school, and your learning is helping you build on your strengths, then you are probably getting FAPE. If you need more help or aren’t learning the skills that you need to move forward, then your IEP might need some fixing. Keep in mind that the school is responsible to provide you with FAPE. You have the right to ask for FAPE.

Learn what your IEP can do for you

Here’s a starter kit to help you understand what your IEP says and how you can ask for changes. When you go to your IEP meeting, you have the right to ask the teachers and school administrators to help you read and understand your IEP.

These are some important parts of an IEP:

  • Category of Disability: This is on the “cover page” of the IEP document. It lists the type of disability that best describes why you need individualized help at school. You should know this category so you can understand how and why teachers are supposed to help you.
  • The Present Levels of Performance: This is the long section at the beginning of the IEP that describes how you are doing and what the school is helping you work on. The beginning of this section lists what you are good at. Make sure that section is complete so you can be sure the teachers help you build on your strengths.
  • Goals: When you qualified for an IEP, the school did an evaluation. You showed that you needed to learn certain things with instructions designed just for you. To help you learn, the teachers provide Specially Designed Instruction. They keep track of your progress toward specific goals in each area of learning. You can learn what your goals are and help track your progress. The I’m Determined.org website provides videos of students describing their goals and other downloadable tools, like worksheets to help you track your goals.
  • Accommodations: You can ask for what you need to help you learn in all the different classrooms and places where you spend the school day. Do you learn better if you sit in a specific part of the classroom, for example, or if you have a certain type of chair? Do you need to be able to take breaks? Do you do better on tests if you take them in a small, quiet space instead of the regular classroom? Do you need shorter assignments, so you don’t get overwhelmed? Helping your teachers know how to help you is part of your job as an IEP team member.

Get Ready for Your IEP Meeting

You can get ready for your IEP meeting by looking over the IEP document.  You may want to ask a family member or a teacher to help you read through the document. If you don’t understand what’s in your IEP, plan to ask questions at the meeting.

PAVE provides a worksheet to help you prepare for your meeting. It’s called a Student Input Form. You can use this worksheet to make a handout for the meeting or just to start thinking about things you might want to say. If you don’t want to make a handout, you might draw pictures or make a video to share your ideas.

These sentence starters might help you begin:

  • I enjoy…
  • I learn best when…
  • I’m good at…
  • It’s hard for me when…
  • I want more help in these areas…
  • I like school the most when …
  • Teachers are helpful when they…
  • I want to learn more about …
  • It would be great if…

You may want to think about your disability and how it affects your schoolwork. You could work on a sentence or draw a picture to help the teachers understand something that is hard for you. These might be the parts of a sentence that you can personalize:

  • My disability in the area of …
  • makes school difficult because…

Your handout can include a list of what you want to talk about at the meeting. Here are a few ideas, but your options are unlimited:

  • A favorite class, teacher or subject in school?
  • A time during the school day that is hard for you?
  • Your IEP goals?
  • Something that helps you feel comfortable and do well?
  • Something you want to change in your school schedule or program?
  • Graduation requirements and when you plan to graduate?
  • Your High School and Beyond Plan?
  • Anything else that’s important to you?

It’s never too soon to plan ahead!

Setting goals and making some plans now will help your school and family help you make sure you’ve got the right class credits, skills training and support to make that shift out of high school easier.

Being a leader at your IEP meeting is a great way to build skills for self-advocacy and self-determination, which is another great two-part word to learn. Self-determination means you make choices to take control of your life. At your IEP meeting, you can practice describing what helps you or what makes your life hard. You get to talk about what you do well and any projects or ideas that you get excited about. In short, you get to design your education so that it supports your plans to design your own adult life.

Learn More

Benefits to Student led IEP's
Download the Benefits to Student Led IEPs
Download the Benefits to Student Led IEPs in Vietnamese
Download the Benefits to Student Led IEPs in Korean
Download the Benefits to Student Led IEPs in simplified Chinese
Download the Benefits to Student Led IEPs in Somali
Download the Benefits to Student Led IEPs in Russian
Download the Benefits to Student Led IEPs in Spanish

Online – T1D Teen Connect

April 14 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm PDT

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Are you a teenager living with type 1 diabetes (T1D)? Join our free monthly Zoom sessions for teens in Washington and across the U.S. who have T1D. Youth ages 12-19 will be able to talk with a young adult about the challenges and realities of living with T1D.

We want to help teens feel more confident about growing up with T1D. We hope your teen can join us!

This meeting starts:
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DOH 141-104 November 2024
To request this document in another format, call 1-800-525-0127. Deaf or hard of hearing customers, please call
711 (Washington Relay) or email doh.information@doh.wa.gov.

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Please email us at
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Family Voices of Washington

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Online – Teen Advocates Collective

April 23 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm PDT

Join teens who are 13 – 17 years of age with disabilities to connect online to share, chat, listen, brainstorm, and shape your future!

Check it out, join monthly, or when you can.

When Do We Meet?

Day: 4th Wednesday of each month

Time: 4-5pm PT

Location: Zoom

What to expect….

Fun: Meetings will use technology, visuals, and games to keep things fun and engaging with simple language and various ways to communicate. You do not need to be tech savvy. We got you.

Guest Speakers: Self-advocates with real-life experience will share their stories and wisdom.

Topics: Bullying, friendships, safety, community advocacy, college, working, volunteering, housing, and more.

Engagement: It’s up to you! Each meeting will be facilitated to assure all have a chance to join in, ask questions, share their experience, or listen, stay quiet.

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Online – Special Education Trainings 2024-2025 

April 9 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm PDT

You must register to receive the meeting information! Register today!

Special Education Trainings 2024-2025

These trainings are supported in partnership with ESD 114

Join our virtual training sessions to learn about key aspects of the special education process. Gain valuable insights, ask questions, and connect with experts to better support students with disabilities.

Dates and Topics:

Date:   September 25th, 2024

Time: 4pm – 5:30pm

Topic:  Understanding the Special Education Process

Description: This training will bring understanding to the Special Education Process and how it works to ensure students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education. It will also clarify the rights and responsibilities under IDEA. Participants will become knowledgeable in navigating the Special Education process from eligibility, evaluation and the development of IEPs and their implementation. After the training, an IEP Clinic is available to participants to share their questions and concerns regarding their students, Evaluations, IEPs, or meetings.

Date:     January 29th, 2025

Time: 4pm – 5:30pm

Topic: Washington State Governors Office of the Education Ombuds overview

Description:  Overview of the OEO’s work and how the office supports families, communities, and schools addressing the concerns that impact all students’ education.  There will be an IEP clinic to address individual questions and concerns.

Date:  April 9th, 2025

Time:  4pm – 5:30pm

Topic: School To Adulthood: Planning The Path

Description: This training will provide information to parents, guardians and professionals who are assisting student with disabilities in planning a path for their future. It’s never too soon to begin planning to ensure a smooth process from School to adulthood.

Date:  May 7th, 2025

Time: 4pm – 5:30pm

Topic: Assistive Technology (AT): Does my student qualify for Assistive Technology

Description: This training will cover the : What, When, How, Who, and Where of Assistive Technology for students on 504 and IEP’s.

You must register to receive the meeting information! Register today!

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PTI Program

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Tacoma – Young Adult Advocates Collective

April 16 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm PDT

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Join other young adults 18 – 26 years of age with disabilities and connect online or in-person in Tacoma. Share, discuss, listen, brainstorm, and shape your future! Check it out, join monthly, or when you can.

When Do We Meet?

Day: 3rd Wednesday of each month

Time: 4-5pm PT

Location: Hybrid

Virtual: Zoom

In-Person:

PAVE Office

6316 S. 12th St.

Tacoma WA 98466

What to Expect…

Fun: Meetings will use technology, visuals, and games to keep things fun and engaging with simple language and various ways to communicate. You do not need to be tech savvy. We got you.

Guest Speakers: Self-advocates with real-life experience will share their stories and wisdom.

Topics: Bullying, friendships, safety, community advocacy, college, working, volunteering, housing, and more.

Engagement: It’s up to you! Each meeting will be facilitated to assure all have a chance to join in, ask questions, share their experience, or listen, stay quiet.

Register to join

Free

PAVE P2P Staff

PAVE Headquarters

6316 South 12th St.
Tacoma, Washington 98465
2535652266
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Online- South Sound Autism Partnership Meeting

April 11 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am PDT

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The South Sound Autism Partnership is a gathering of individuals, families, providers, and organizations who are part of the Autism community within the South Puget Sound area of Washington State. Our primary purpose is to increase awareness, acceptance, and advocacy of Autism in order to provide support for our community and impact change.

This meeting supports:

Inclusive and Welcoming Environment: The support group is a safe space where all, regardless of background or experiences, are welcomed and embraced.

Information Sharing: Valuable information about autism, including the latest research, therapeutic interventions, educational strategies, and community resources, is shared within the group.

Guest Speakers and Workshops: The group might invite guest speakers, such as autism experts, therapists, educators, and medical professionals, to provide insights and guidance on various topics related to autism and parenting.

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