Parents who are informed are able to make the best choices for their children.

This blog was created to be a source of information about events in the Western Washington State area for parents and educators of children with special needs and learning challenges.
If you have an event that is not listed here please e-mail us complete information.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Homeschooling - Classical Conversations Informational Meeting

Classical Conversations Informational Meeting - Homeschooling

Come hear Melissa Rubert, Washington State Manager for ClassicalConversations, and homeschool mom. Get a closer look at ClassicalConversations' Programs for K4-12th and our classical communities thatprovide support and encouragement for homeschooling parents.


Lacey – Monday, March 1st, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Fire District#34, 8407 Steilacoom Road, Olympia, WA 98513.

Shelton – Thursday, March 4th, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at First Baptistof Shelton, 428 West Cota, Shelton, WA 98584.

Port Orchard – Friday, March 5th from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at BibleBaptist Church, 6703 Bethel Road SE, Port Orchard, WA 98367. In theoffice building.

Poulsbo – Friday, March 5th from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at North KitsapBaptist, 20516 Little Valley Road NE, Poulsbo, WA 98370.

Bellingham – Saturday, March 13th, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at theWHA Workshops, Immanuel Bible Church, 2000 W. North Street, corner North and Lynn streets, Bellingham.

Vancouver – Monday, March 15th, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at BrushPrairie Baptist Church, 11814 NE 117th Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98662.(Back Parking Lot, Room 3)

Unless noted, to RSVP or for additional information, please contactMelissa Rubert at mrubert@classicalconversations.com or 360-870-5163.Also, please check out our event calendar for updated information atwww.classicalconversations.com.

Reach for The Stars - Dinner and Auction for Programs - Autism

Reach for The Stars
Dinner and auction benefiting program for children and young adults with autism.

March 13, 2010
5:30PM


With almost 1 in 90 children getting diagnosed with autism and effective programs few and far between, FEAT of Washington needs your support now more than ever.

Hyatt Regency Bellevue
March 13, 2010- Saturday
5:30PM-10:30PM
$150.00/dinner ticket
Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Washington will host Reach for the Stars, a dinner and auction benefiting programs for children and young adults with autism, on March 13, 2010, 5:30 PM at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. More than 250 guests from Greater Seattle's information technology, business, nonprofit, financial, and philanthropic communities enjoy cocktails, dinner, and frenzied bidding at this fun annual event. For more information and to RSVP, please click here.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Gig Harbor Gluten Free - Pizza Party Meeting

March 15, 2010

Gig Harbor Gluten Free Support Group

Pizza Party Meeting

for information on time and location please contact: Flute4him@yahoo.com

Gig Harbor Gluten Free - Dr. Kornberg Presenter

April 21, 2010

6:30 p.m.

Location: Peninsula Retirement Home
3445 50th Street Court NorthwestGig Harbor, WA

Speaker: Dr. Jack Kornberg

Despite his success as a surgeon he began to doubt that his patients needed the multiple procedures he was performing. That led him to the Institute for Functional Medicine Research Center in Gig Harbor.
He's lectured internationally on health and wellness, particularly on
personalizing therapeutic lifestyle programs for chronic inflammation,
altered immunity, and cardiovascular disease to help address the root causes of these conditions.

Gig Harbor Gluten Free - Cooking Class on Gluten Free Spring Desserts

May 19, 2010

Spring Desserts - Gluten Free

Location: Peninsula Retirement Home
3445 50th Street Court NorthwestGig Harbor, WA

Presenter: Susie O'Brien will conduct a cooking class on "spring desserts"
Susie is a gourmet cook, baker, cooking instructor, food-management consultant
and lives in Gig Harbor.

Gig Harbor Gluten Free - Dr. Wangen Presenting on Gluten Intolerance

June 23, 2010

6:30 p.m.

Location: Peninsula Retirement Home
3445 50th Street Court Northwest, Gig Harbor, WA

Speaker: Dr. Stephen Wangen

Dr. Wangen serves on the Board of Trustees for the Gluten Intolerant Group of North America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for people with gluten intolerance. His enthusiasm for quality health care is the result of a lifelong interest in human potential.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Homeschooling High School Seminar

Homeschooling High School Seminar

Monday, March 22, 2010

4:30pm - 7:30pm

Garfield Book Company at Pacific Lutheran Univ.
208 S. Garfield St., Tacoma, WA

Presented: Janice Hedin, homeschool parent and advocate. She serves on the Washington Homeschool Org. Advocacy Committee. She is co-presenter of the popular parent-qualifying course, OPTions for Parent Teachers.

$40 inclues parents and teen(s) in family
$10 discount for all WHO members

Pre-register by sending registration fee payable to Janice M. Hedin, along wtih number of people attenting to: Janice M. Hedin 23923 SE 202 St., Maple Valley, WA 98038

For more info contact Janice at elcamino6486@msn.com

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Vestibular Processing: A Key to Visual Function and Balance

Vestibular Processing: A Key to Visual Function and Balance

Speakers: Curtis Baxstrom, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, FNORA and Jason Clopton, OD, FCOVD.

Friday, February 19- Saturday, February 20, 2010

Seattle/Tacoma, WA

For more information and to register, call 877-372-2567.

Friday, February 12, 2010

TACA - Using a Defeat Autism Now! Approach

June 19, 2010

Julie Anderson, ARNP

Using a Defeat Autism Now! Approach

Ms. Andersen graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa and worked as a Registered Nurse for 7 years before pursuing a Master's in Nursing degree from the University of Washington. She then worked in geriatrics/internal medicine at Group Health Cooperative before beginning private practice in 1999.


Time:10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Coordinators:Denise Fulton and Chelsi Coate
Child care:Not offered at this time, sorry.
Location: Building E Auditorium, South Campus, Bates Technical College, 2201 South 78th Street, Tacoma, WADriving Directions

TACA (Talk About Curing Autism) Elizabeth Sheehan, DC CCN

May 15, 2010

Elizabeth Sheehan, DC CCN presenting. Check TACA website for updates on topic. http://meetup.tacanow.org/washington/index.html

Time: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Coordinators:Denise Fulton and Chelsi Coate
Child care: Not offered at this time, sorry.
Location: Building E Auditorium, South Campus, Bates Technical College, 2201 South 78th Street, Tacoma, WADriving Directions

TACA - Balancing Relationships & Marriage While Parenting Children with Autism

April 17, 2010

Lisa Hardebeck, PhD

Balancing Relationships & Marriage While Parenting Children with Autism

Dr. Hardebeck specializes in the neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental assessment of children and adolescents and conducts ongoing counseling and treatment of a wide variety of mental health issues, for children and adults including marriage/relationship counseling. This lecture is for parents of children with autism.


Time:10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Coordinators:Denise Fulton and Chelsi Coate
Child care: Not offered at this time, sorry.
Location: Building E Auditorium, South Campus, Bates Technical College, 2201 South 78th Street, Tacoma, WADriving Directions

TACA - Sleep and Autism - Dr. Chapman

Day: March 20th
Meets the 3rd Saturday of the Month

Time:10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Leigh Ann Chapman, ND

Research Updates & Sleep and Autism

Dr. Chapman is currently involved in clinical research on autism as a condition of oxidative stress. Specifically, she is studying glutathione replacement therapies in autistic children. She is also collecting preliminary data on Vitamin D levels in families of children with autism.

Dr. Chapman provides integrative healthcare in Portland, Oregon. She has a special focus in pediatric developmental disorders and utilizes both natural and conventional therapies in the treatment of Autism, Asperger syndrome, sensory integration disorders and ADHD.

Coordinators:Denise Fulton and Chelsi Coate
Child care:Not offered at this time, sorry.

Location: Building E Auditorium, South Campus, Bates Technical College, 2201 South 78th Street, Tacoma, WADriving Directions

TACA (Talk About Curing Autism) Coffee Talk

Coffee Talk

Come and receive some extra support or to chat all topics related to autism and meet other TACA families.

February 20, 2010
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Location to be announced

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Autism Society National Conference

Autism Society National Conference

July 7-10 in Dallas

Plan to join us for the 41st Autism Society National Conference and Exposition at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas July 7-10. Bringing together the expertise and experiences of family members, professionals and individuals on the spectrum, attendees are able to learn how to more effectively advocate and obtain supports for an individual with ASD. The ultimate goal is to empower family members, individuals on the spectrum and professionals to make informed decisions.

Registration will open on February 15. This year all registrations will include full access to the recordings of all conference sessions as part of the registration fee.

We expect close to 2,000 attendees at this conference, representing service providers, professionals, parents, individuals on the spectrum, state and federal government representatives, nonprofits supporting autism and others. The exhibit hall has over 140 booths representing the products, services and organizations of the autism community. To become a part of the exhibit hall or learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Meg Ellacott at ellacott@autism-society.org or 302-260-9487.

The call for papers is now closed. Decisions will be emailed by February 15, 2010.

Questions? Please e-mail conference@autism-society.org.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Seven Steps to a Special Needs Plan

Where: At Albertson Law Group's Kent office classroom

When: Thursday, February 11, 2010

Time: 6:30 pm - 8 pm (with time for questions afterward)

Cost: Free

RSVP: to mark@albertsonlaw. com or call Albertson Law Group at 253-852-8772 (space is limited to 25 people)


Parents who have children with special needs understand that planning of any kind is very different than with typically developing children. Estate and financial planning is a particular challenge, and the government doesn't make it easy to understand. Mark Albertson, Senior Counsel at Albertson Law Group, has created this workshop for parents, caregivers and professionals who work with families with children with special needs, to present in a clear way the steps that are needed in order to prepare properly.

The workshop will cover:
* Getting the right advisors to help you
* Understanding how to create a "lifecare" plan
* Drafting a will or living trust
* Understanding how goverment benefits work
* Establishing a special needs trust
* Determining how to fund a special needs trust
* Considering a guardianship and exploring the alternatives

Monday, February 1, 2010

Free Dyslexia Presentation by Susan Barton

Date:Monday, February 22

Time:6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location:Mt. View Christian School2810 NE 259th Street
Ridgefield, WA 98642

To sign up, call Renee LaCombe at (360) 980-0317

Learn about dyslexia at a free 3-hour presentation featuring leading dyslexia expert, Susan Barton.

Dyslexia affects 20% of the population, and is the most common reason a bright child will struggle with reading, writing and spelling. Find out why these children struggle and what you can do to help.