The Informer - April 2026 | | If you would like Flyers for these events to email, print/distribute with your network you can download pdf copies at www.peacenw.org/flyers | | |
PEACE NW 10 Year Celebration -
Events
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Whole Life, Whole Community is a full-day conference focused on supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and the professionals who support them across the lifespan.
Join families, self-advocates, service providers, educators, and community partners for a day of inspiring speakers, practical strategies, and meaningful connection.
Registration is $15 and includes lunch. Scholarships are available so that cost is never a barrier.
More info at:
https://www.peacenw.org/conference
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April Bingo is Here!!!
PHYSICAL COPY OR PRINT: To Download this card to use or print Click here
If you would like to pick up a printed card or have one mailed to you call 360-823-2247
- MARK BOXES: After completing the activity on the box, cross it out. If possible, take a picture of yourself doing the activity, and feel free to use #PEACENWBingo on social media!
- BINGO CARD COMPLETION: If you get a bingo, you can go to PEACE NW’s office to get a surprise. Completing the entire bingo card will have you entered in a quarterly raffle.
- RESOURCES Links:
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Vancouver Mall Walk: https://www.shopvancouvermall.com/services/mall-walker-program
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Learn more at www.peacenw.org/anniversary
Thank you for being part of our journey. Your support, participation, and belief in inclusive community are what make PEACE NW so special. Here’s to continuing to grow together.
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Give back night at Chuck e Cheese!
Join us Thursday, April 9th from 3-close for our April give back night! 20% of all sales will go directly back to Peace NW!
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Mall Walking with Peace NW
Due to its success, Mall walking will continue past February! Come join us every Friday 9:00-10:00 for an hour of building community and healthy habits together!
Contact Christa for more info:
christac@peacenw.org
(360)823-2247
| | PEACE NW Groups and Events | | |
Inclusive Dungeons & Dragons Virtual Club
Every Wednesday 5:00pm -6:00pm
Every Friday 5:30pm-7pm
Parent Volunteer led inclusive Dungeon's and Dragons Campaign. All ages.
Building Independence
Every Thursday 6:00pm -8:00pm
Supporting individuals 18 and Over to Build the Life of Their Dreams
Cafe con PEACE NW
Thursdays at 10:30 am
For Spanish Speaking Families
For more information and to register for these events visit: https://www.peacenw.org/events
For Flyers to print/share visit: https://www.peacenw.org/flyers
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IEP Parent Support Sessions
Navigating the special education process can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to understand your child’s IEP, services, and how to advocate effectively at school. Peace NW is offering IEP Parent Support Sessions to provide families with a welcoming space to ask questions, gain clarity, and feel more confident in the next steps for their child.During these 30-minute one-on-one sessions, parents can receive guidance on topics such as understanding the IEP process, preparing for upcoming meetings, reviewing school communication, and learning strategies to support their child’s educational needs. Whether you are new to special education or already have an established IEP, these sessions are designed to help families better understand the system and feel supported along the way.
Sessions are available:
Mondays from 4:00–6:00 PM and Wednesdays from 8:00–10:00 AM.
Please note: These sessions provide general guidance and information about special education and are not intended to provide legal advice.
Book your session using the QR code or booking link provided here:
Book time with Maryam Wolff: Parent Support & IEP Guidance Sessions
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Senior Parent Group - Legacy Planning
Families united in planning for lifelong care and community connection that endures beyond the parents’ lifetime.
Thursday, May 7 2026 2:00 PM
Area of Aging and Disabilities'
The Legacy Network is a peer-led group for parents of adults with Intellectual/developmental disabilities focused on planning for when they are no longer able to care for their loved ones.
We share tools, resources, and conversations that help families navigate long-term care, decision-making, and community connection so every person can have a secure and supported future
📍 PEACE NW, 9414 NE Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98662 & Virtual
Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/9x8bkgn
For Questions contact Darla Helt 360-823-2247 or darlah@peacenw.org
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So You Want to Date?
In Person at Bridgeview/The Foundation
Dates: April 9, 16,23,30, May 7,14,21,28
Time: 6-8 In-Person
Location: 505 Omaha Vancouver WA 98661
This in-person class series is for adults with disabilities who want to learn about dating and relationships.
Participants will learn skills to help them feel more confident and independent when meeting people, building relationships, and making choices about dating. The series focuses on respect, communication, boundaries, and safety.
This class supports adults with I/DD in building confidence and forming healthy, meaningful connections.
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/wua9bzq
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Need a free low-key space to connect with fellow neurodivergent creatives?
Join us each month for Chill and Chat, a relaxed Zoom gathering hosted by AE-NCC Program Lead Brian Tashima.
When: The 1st Saturday of each month (unless otherwise indicated)
Upcoming Dates for 2026:April 4th, May 2nd
Time: 3:00 PM Pacific
Length: 45–60 minutes (based on group energy)
Location: Online via Zoom
Who’s it for? Neurodivergent Creators Collective members and visiting guests (Membership is free!)
Zoom Link (same each month): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86095978904
Whether you want to share your current creative project, ask questions, brainstorm, or just hang out and listen, you’re welcome here! These chats are not recorded, and you are not required to turn on your camera or speak if you just feel like hanging out and want to get a feel for who we are. No pressure, just friendly faces, creative energy, and good vibes.
Let’s build community, support each other, and grow together—one chat at a time.
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AE-NCC Year One Highlights + Ask Me Anything (AMA)
Join Autism Empowerment’s Neurodivergent Creators Collective for a relaxed one-year recap + AMA! We’ll highlight some of our favorite workshops, events, and Creator Corner resources from our first year, share links and handouts so you can revisit anything you missed, and open the floor for an Ask Me Anything Q & A conversation with Program Leader Brian Tashima and Autism Empowerment co-founders Karen and John Krejcha, about creativity, community, and where AE-NCC may be headed next.
Come to celebrate, get connected, and leave with a handy resource list you can bookmark and share.
Saturday, April 18th, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00-ish PM Pacific Time (allow flexibility based on Q & A time)
Location: Live via Zoom (link will be provided after registration)
Note: This workshop will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing afterward.
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Washington Transition Collaborative Community Listening Session for Students, Family Members and Advocates
April 22, 2026 from 6-7:30 pm
Students, families, and advocates are invited to join a virtual Community Listening Session to share ideas and recommendations to improve transition services as students move from school to adult life. This session is part of a statewide effort led by the Transition Collaborative, a group of state agencies working together to update Washington’s transition plan under recently passed legislation.
Your input will help shape a report to the Legislature due in October 2026. The session will be held online on April 22, 2026 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Registration is required. Accommodation and translation requests must be submitted in advance.
For help registering or questions, call 1-800-634-4473 or email info@ddc.wa.gov.
View the flyer for the listening session
Register for the listening session
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Free check-in service now available in Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat counties!
CDM Caregiving, working with a grant from the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW), now offers a free telephone check-in service for older adults and adults living with disabilities in Clark, Klickitat and Skamania counties.
The new service, RUOK (aRe yoU OK), is designed to check-in daily (or less often as you decide) to see how you are doing. The program is designed to reduce social isolation for vulnerable adults in the community, assist case managers with an additional set of “eyes and ears,” and give peace of mind to family, friends and neighbors.
CDM Caregiving will have current home care supervisory staff doing the calls to participants and they will keep a track of “outside of normal” events to alert a case manager at AAADSW, family, friends, neighbors or emergency services as necessary.
To sign up for the service, you can complete a referral form and return it to CDM Caregiving. You can also use this form to sign up a family member or neighbor. You can find the form online at: Click Here or call CDM Caregiving at 360-896-9695 or AAADSW’s Aging & Disability Resource Center at 360-694-8144.
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Need Help with Taxes?
Ren Locus offers free tax assistance year round to qualified individuals in Southwest Washington. Qualified individuals are: People who generally make $70,000 or less. If you do not qualify, see Other Ways to File.
If you need help filing a tax return, reviewing a letter from the IRS, or just have a tax question, learn more visit: https://renlocus.org/vita
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Swindells Resource Center & Community Partners
The Menopause Conversation: Realtalk with Our Experts (Virtual)
Monday, March 9th 6-7:30 p.m.
Are you approaching or experiencing menopause? Whether you're just beginning this transition or are well into it, understanding the changes happening in your body is crucial. Join us for a comprehensive class designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to navigate this new phase of life with confidence.
REGISTER HERE
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SPOKANE: The 11th Annual Steps for Autism 5K Walk is happening Saturday, April 25 at Riverfront Park, beginning at noon at the Ice Age Playground. Join us for a fun, family-friendly walk to support individuals and families affected by autism.
EARLY BIRD PRICING is officially open, $20 registration, includes a t-shirt…LIMITED TIME ONLY
REGISTER (Early Bird Pricing)
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The benefits of ABLE accounts are expanding
There are lots of exciting things to look forward to as 2025 comes to a close. With life-changing ABLE updates and enhanced online tools, there are great changes in store for your Washington State ABLE account. Catch up on everything that’s happening—and see how to make the most of your account moving forward.
Learn more at: https://www.washingtonstateable.com/
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Reproductive Health Research
People without disabilities may assume that people with disabilities are not sexual and are not interested in having children. But actually, people with disabilities often have the same interests and desires as anyone else. We do research to understand more about sexual and reproductive health needs among people with disabilities. We are also working to develop tools to help support reproductive health.
Click Here for more information
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Public policy
The Community Advocacy Coalition for Developmental Disabilities has released its 2026 priorities, highlighting the most urgent policy needs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Washington. The agenda focuses on protecting essential services, strengthening community-based supports, reducing reliance on institutional care, and advancing equitable, person-centered policies. Read and share the full priorities to support your advocacy this session.
Emily Rogers, WADDC Public Policy Director
Learn more and read the priorities document
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How to Afford Family Caregiving – Part 2: Job Flexibility
This three-part series from Washington PAVE - Partnerships for Action Voices for Empowerment shares ways families can balance work and caregiving. Part 2 discusses job flexibility and possible options for getting paid for what you do as a family caregiver. Read Part 2 HERE
| | | People Empowered and Communities Enhanced | PO BOX 820681 | Vancouver, WA 98682 US | | | | |
