April showers bring May Flowers
Apr 29, 2025
In This Issue
- Fun Times with the PTSO
- What we’ve been working on
- Upcoming Events and Happenings: Last of the year!
- Food For Thought: April was Autism Awareness Month
- Did You Know: Info and resources
Fun Times
Sensory Friendly Egg Hunt
Kids had fun finding thousands of eggs and meeting the Easter Bunny. We had a egg recycle station and candy trade in table for those with food allergies or adversions. Thank you to everyone who donated time, money and candy to make this possible!
Partnership with The Camas Lions and Live Well Camas
Garden: We reached out to The Camas Lions asking for their help with a gardening project to help teens from the ATTC (Adult Transition Training Center) program to learn gardening skills like growing a plant from seed, and potentially selling plants at the farmers market. The Camas Lions along with Live Well Camas who run the garden officially started working on the garden project on April 7th.
Yoga: Along with help in the garden, Live Well Camas will be offering a Yoga class for students with disabilities that take DDA respite hours. The Camas Lions awarded Live Well Camas with funds for adaptive equipment to make sure they have what they need. More info to come soon!
What We Are Working On: If any of these interest you, we need your help to get them off the ground!
DDA Respite Community Providers: Camas only has one program that takes respite funds for students over 16 years of age. We are trying to get more programs and businesses to contract with DDA to serve those living in and around Camas.
High School Aged Social Group: We heard that older students need a space outside of school to create friendships.
Parent role in the IEP process: Does the parent feel like they are a part of the IEP team? What role do they play and how to make sure their voice is heard.
Special Programs Student Directory: How do students that are unable to communicate with their peers form friendships and connections? We are working on getting the special programs within the district to create contact lists so that parents have a means to contact other parents to help their students connect.
Upcoming Events and Happenings
Virtual Meeting Check In: May 6th 6:30 PM
Join us for a short check in where we talk about what we did this year and our plans for next year. Share your feedback and ideas.
Meeting ID: 858 0154 8734 Passcode: 7sYrcB
Click HERE for the slides
Drop In Parent/Caregiver Support Group: First Monday of the month @ 6:00pm – 7:30pm at the Camas Public Library (Upstairs)
A free drop-in group for parents and caregivers of children offering a safe space for conversation and commiseration on all things parenting. This group is all-inclusive and all are welcome! Topics include: behavior, rules and discipline, parenting styles, self-care, special needs support, IEP/504, neurodivergence, equity and inclusion. Please join us and bring your questions, concerns, challenges, and success stories!
Drop in format: New people and discussions each time. Come when you can and leave when you need to. Adults only please. Guided by Tori Watrous, M.Ed., LMHC
*May 5th will be the last support group for this school year.
Inclusion in Action Play Group: 2nd Tuesday of the Month 4-5 pm at Dorothy Fox Elementary.
*May 8th will be the last play group for this school year.
Book Club: Paused
Do you like to read and want to make some new friends? Read the book and then meet in person to discuss. Different people choose bestsellers and we meet every other month at a local café.
*Book club is paused due to the book study at GroWild Boutique Playroom
Book Study: Uniquely Human written by Barry Prizant
Fridays starting May 16th – June 13th at 4:30 – 5:30 PM. GroWild Boutique Playroom. 6923 NW Friberg-Strunk St STE 110, Camas. Uniquely Human written by Barry Prizant
Organized by Miesha Oxley, SLP over at Grass Valley Elementary.
From Miesha “This spring we are holding a book study of Uniquely Human written by Barry Prizant. This text was a game changing book for me as an educator and person working with Autistic individuals.
It is my hope that these book club sessions provide connection, education and support for parents of Autistic students in the Camas School District. Prior to the session, I will send out communication on what sections of the book we will focus our chat around. We will talk it out as a community and work through any questions or ideas that this section of the book brought fourth.
I invite you to take a look at the book, read the reviews and consider this opportunity as an experience for you. The intention of this book study is to affirm, validate and get curious about the Autistic experience.
GroWild Boutique Playroom is a clinic opening up this spring in Camas. One of our very own Grass Valley moms who is also an incredible occupational therapist has welcomed us into her beautiful space.”
It is free to bring children and will not be open to the public at the time. All ages welcome but the play clinic is geared more towards ages 3-10. *Contact Miesha for any questions at Miesha.oxley@camas.wednet.edu
End of Year Party: May 27 6-7:30 pm at Helen Baller Elementary. RSVP HERE
Food for Thought
April is recognized globally as Autism Awareness Month, sometimes also called Autism Acceptance Month, which marks a time to promote understanding, inclusion, and support for individuals on the autism spectrum.
How We Can Support Those with Autism:
💬 Listen to Autistic Voices
- Follow autistic self-advocates online or read their books, blogs, or social media.
- Prioritize first-person experiences over assumptions or stereotypes.
💙 Be Inclusive and Respectful
- Accept different ways of communicating or socializing.
- Don’t force eye contact, hugs, or “normal” behavior—respect boundaries.
- Use identity-first (“autistic person”) or person-first (“person with autism”) language depending on individual preference.
📚 Educate Yourself and Others
- Learn about how autism manifests differently in people (especially across genders and ages).
- Challenge harmful myths like “autistic people lack empathy” or that all are the same.
🏫 Support Inclusive Education
- Advocate for better support and accommodations in schools and universities.
- Push for sensory-friendly environments and flexible teaching approaches.
🧩 Support Neurodiversity-Friendly Workplaces
- Promote hiring practices that recognize the strengths of neurodivergent individuals.
- Encourage flexibility in how people work, communicate, and interact.
💰 Donate or Volunteer
- Support organizations led by autistic individuals.
- Be mindful: not all autism-related charities represent autistic voices—look for those that prioritize inclusion and lived experience.
IEP or 504 Meeting Feedback
Would you like to provide anonymous meeting feedback regarding your IEP/504 meeting experience? What worked and what didn’t? We will continue to get data from this survey throughout the year to share with the district. If they don’t know they can’t change!
Meeting Handout
Have you received the meeting handout we created with district input at your last meeting? This handout gives you a place to jot down notes, record important names and titles, a list of common acronyms used in special education and a flow chart of where to go if you have questions or concerns.
Resources
We are constantly using and recommending the below resources. Check out how they can support you and your family.
- Camas School District Resource Center: The FCRC seeks to offer a sense of community and an abundance of resources so we can fulfill our common goal as a school district for ALL students to thrive. If you need ANY type of support, this is a great place to check out!
- Peace NW: Their mission is to enhance community for individuals of all abilities. On their website you can find resources, informational and fun events and get help.
- Pave: PAVE provides support, training, information and resources to empower and give voice to individuals, youth and families impacted by disabilities in Washington.
Important links
Facebook : Where the most up to date info is posted, where resources are shared.
Website : One stop to find everything you might need.
Volunteer Page : We need your help!!! Please let us know if you are interested in volunteering so we can reach out.
Event Page : Where all the events are listed and the details, RSVP links.
Get to Know You Questionnaire : We want to know who you and your family are!
Please consider becoming a member. We cannot continue without membership dues! You can purchase memberships here.
Next Newsletter will be SUMMER.