LIFRC Weekly Community Spotlight and Update

Haga clic aquí para obtener instruciones para traducir este boletín al español.

LIFRC Weekly Community Update

Weekly Spotlight

ALIGN (Advocates of Lopez Island Gathering for Neurodiversity) was formed by parents and caretakers of neurodivergent children. Through education, awareness, and advocacy we are working to create a society that does not disable the neurodivergent, but enables them—valuing their equal inherent dignity.

Since ALIGN began collaborating a year ago, we have completed various trainings to work with neurodivergent and/or disabled youth, educated ourselves on current information from the neurodivergent community, connected with Foundations for Divergent Minds (founded and led by multiply-neurodivergent autistic people), and collaborated with community organizations such as Lopez Island School, Lopez Island Family Resource Center, and Lopez Library.

We are here to advocate for the rights of neurodivergent and/or disabled children, and to create a culture that doesn’t disable them, but enables and empowers them.

We are not interested in neurodivergent and/or disabled children conforming to the systems put in place by dominant neurotypical society, but in “neurocosmopolitan”—a term coined independently by Ralph Savarese and Dr. Nick Walker—"extending the cosmopolitan spirit of open-minded acceptance and appreciation to the realm of neurodiversity.”

Is your kiddo neurodivergent and/or disabled?

Join ALIGN (Advocates of Lopez Island Gathering for Neurodiversity) for dinner, drinks, conversation, and collaboration.

November 3^rd, 6-7pm @ Grace Hall
Childcare provided.

Let us know you are coming and what sort of accommodations you might need by emailing us at: lopezaligns@gmail.com.

Can’t make it? No worries. Check out weALIGN.org for future events.

Have a quick minute?
We’ve created a needs assessment neurodivergent and/or disabled youth, as well as their parents and caretakers. We’d love to know what services and supports you’d like to see on Lopez Island. Click on the button below to take our anonymous needs assessment.

Updates and Reminders

We are excited to offer enriching learning activities FREE of cost to Lopez Island youth K-8th grade. Apply for a spot for your child in the new 21st Century Community Learning Center After-School-Program starting November 7, 2022 by filling out the following form: https://bit.ly/3CT3RaA

You talked, and we listened!
We’re moving Parent-Tot group back inside to have another awesome *dry* play space for the 0-5 age group! Come join us, upstairs in the Family Room at LIFRC, on Fridays from 10:30-11:30 for snacks, play, and seasonal activities with bilingual instructors

San Juan County is administering FREE Flu Vaccines for kiddos 6 months to 18 years old this Thursday October 27th in the Multipurpose room of the Lopez Island School.

Just a reminder that the big Day of the Dead celebration is this Sunday, October 30th, from 3-7PM at the Lopez Island Community Center, totally FREE of charge. Let us know you are coming by filling out this form (that way we can calculate how many tamales to make!)

Other Ways You Can Collaborate

P.O. Box 732 Lopez Island, WA 98261
(360) 468-4117 info@lifrc.org

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list at any time.

October 25th, 2022