April Autism Acceptance Month

What is Autism Acceptance Month?

April is Autism Acceptance Month. During Autism Acceptance Month, we focus on sharing positive, respectful, and accurate information about autism and autistic people.

Autism Acceptance Month promotes acceptance and celebration of autistic people as family members, friends, classmates, co-workers, and community members making valuable contributions to our world. Autism is a natural variation of the human experience, and we can all create a world which values, includes, and celebrates all kinds of minds.

In a nutshell, Autism Acceptance Month is about treating autistic people with respect, listening to what we have to say about ourselves, and making us welcome in the world.

You probably know an autistic person already. Get to know us a little bit better.

How did it get started?

Autism Acceptance Month takes place every year during April. The first Autism Acceptance Month celebrations were organized by Paula Durbin Westby in 2011, as a response to traditional “Autism Awareness” campaigns which the Autistic community found harmful and insufficient. “Autism Acceptance” as a concept has a history as long as the Autistic community itself, dating back to Jim Sinclair’s seminal classic “Don’t Mourn For Us” and perhaps most visibly popularized by Estee Klar’s “The Autism Acceptance Project.”

Why acceptance?

Because autistic people are you friends, family members, children, partners, co-workers, fellow-citizens, customers, and neighbors.

Because autism is a natural part of the human experience.

Because autistic rights are human rights.

Because autistic people can speak for ourselves, and we want you to listen to us.

Because we aren’t going anywhere.

Because this is our world too.

Because there are all kinds of minds, and this world is big enough for all of us.

Get the most out of your Summer!

Camp

We have three therapeutic day camp programs, offering three levels of staffing, depending on your child’s needs. We are located in West Seattle and open during school holiday and summer breaks for children needing specialized care due to behavioral difficulties. Staffed transportation is available!

Our therapeutic recreational camps are unique because they are designed for children with behavioral issues, mental health diagnoses, developmental challenges, or for those in special education.

Our camps feature fun, physical, and therapeutic activities in our recreation spaces and in the greater West Seattle community. Staffed by our skilled and trained behavior specialists, the camps are open for children ages 5-18 or up to 21 for those still enrolled in school and living in King County. Camp runs during Winter, mid-Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks and staffed van transportation is available for specific pick up/drop off sites.

Camp Specifics and Structure

Our camps are staffed according to the camper’s specific needs, with a variety of staff to camper ratio options including 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 ratios. Campers are assigned to a “POD,” a family-like group with whom they stay all day. Every morning the POD meets to review goals, behavioral expectations, and activities for the day. A lead staff supervises and works with his or her POD throughout the scheduled activities and programming. Campers are engaged in activities including board games, task boxes, and POD outings, including activities at the park, geocaching, swimming, beach, hiking, crafts, science experiments and more.

Staffed van transportation

Campers may also be dropped off and picked up at camp. Camp rates vary from $350-$1,250 per week depending upon the level of staffing, and transportation needs.

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Now accepting applications for 2018 camps

• Spring Break Camp April 9th-13th
• Summer Camp June 26th-August 24th

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Click here to register for camp today!

Looking for ways to entertain you kids on the cheap end?

Looking for ways to entertain your kids on the cheap end? Here's

a roundup of free and nearly-free events that your kids are

sure, to love. It includes workshops, summer camps, story

times and more.


01 The Home Depot Kids Workshops 







Bring out the do-it-yourselfer in your child by taking part in the

free Kids Workshops at Home Depot. Workshops take place

the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. - noon at all store

locations. You child will receive a free orange apron, and a

new pin for their apron, each time they complete a project.

Adult participation is required. These events are popular, so

be sure to register ahead of time to guarantee your spot.



02 Lowe's Build & Grow 






Lowe's is another good source for free D-I-Y kids' projects.

Clinics are offered on a bi-weekly basis from 10am-11am, and

all building materials and tools are provided. Spend an hour

with your child, and come away with a cool project that you

built together.



03 Michael's Kids' Club 







Have crafty kiddos? Then, the Kids' Club at Michael's is a

must-do. It features a new craft each Saturday. Just drop in

anytime between 10 am and noon; pay $2; and you're free to

shop while they create. There's also Camp Creativity in the

summer. It runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and

costs $3 per session, less if you buy three sessions at a time.

Check the store calendar for more free Make-It-Take-It events

that you can participate in as a family.












04 Barnes & Noble Storytimes 



Foster a love of books in your child by participating in one of

Barnes & Noble's free story times, which include a story and a

creative activity to go along with it. Themes and times vary

from location to location, so check with your nearest store for

specifics.



05 Pottery Barn Kids In-Store Events 






With a summer reading program, story times, character meet

and-greets and more, there's always something fun (and free)

to do at Pottery Barn Kids. 



06 The Apple Store Youth Workshops and Summer Camp 






Sign your kids up for a free one-hour workshop, where they

can learn how to do things like make movies or record

music. There's also a free three-day summer camp for kids

age 8-12, Choose between coding and robotics, moviemaking

or storytelling. Camp tends to fill up fast. Sign up to be notified

when registration opens, so you don't miss out.



07 Lego Store Free Mini Builds 






Each month, Lego Stores offer a free building event for kids

ages 6-14. Register in advance to claim a spot for your

kids (Registration opens the 15th of the month for the next

month's event). They'll get to build the monthly model, and

take it home with them. That means a free activity and free

Lego bricks!
 Note: You now need to be a Lego VIP member to

participate in the monthly builds. It's free to sign up.



08 Kids Bowl Free 





Register your kids on KidsBowlFree.com, and they'll get two

free games of bowling each day this summer, at participating

bowling alleys. This doesn't include the shoe rental, but some bowling alleys allow you to purchase an unlimited shoe rental pass.



09 Free Museum Admission 


If you're a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch customer, be sure

to take advantage of their Museums on Us program. Just flash your credit/debit card and I.D. at the admission counter to get free admission to hundreds of museums on the first full weekend of every month. The list of participating locations includes children's museums, history museums, botanical gardens and more. Use this program to cover your adult admissions, so you only have to pay for your kids. Some of these museums already offer free admission for kids, making for a totally free outing once a month.

Sources: https://www.thebalance.com/free-and-nearly-free-kids-events-1388453