Lewis County Autism Coalition

08/26/2026

We are happy to share a wonderful **World Dyslexia Day** community event coming to Centralia College on **October 8th!** 💙

**WORLD DYSLEXIA DAY: WHO KNEW?** will feature a free screening of the award-winning film *Who Knew? Dyslexia is a Way of Thinking***, followed by a short community panel, open discussion, and opportunities to connect with local resources.

The Lewis County Autism Coalition is honored to be invited as a panelist alongside other local community partners who have experience either working in the field or are of lived experience.

📅 **Thursday, October 8**
⏰ **6:00 PM**
📍 **Trans Alta Commons 122, Centralia College**
🎟️ **Free admission - RSVP appreciated**

Events like this create opportunities for people to learn from one another, ask questions, hear different perspectives, and build a more informed and welcoming community. We appreciate Lindsay and The Whole Dyslexic Society for bringing this conversation to Lewis County and opening the door for greater awareness and understanding of dyslexia.

Please feel free to share with anyone who may be interested!

*Awareness • Understanding • Belonging • Stronger Together*

*LCAC is pleased to share community events and resources that may be of interest to individuals and families we serve. LCAC’s participation in or sharing of community events does not constitute endorsement of any particular provider, program, methodology, product, or service.*

08/26/2026

💙 THE 15TH ANNUAL SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AUTISM CONFERENCE IS COMING, AND WE’D LOVE YOUR HELP MAKING IT EXTRAORDINARY! 💚

On Friday, October 30, 2026, the Lewis County Autism Coalition will welcome families, self-advocates, educators, healthcare professionals, service providers, community leaders, and partners from across Southwest Washington and beyond to Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound for our 15th Annual Southwest Washington Autism Conference.

This year’s theme is:

✨ THE SPACE BETWEEN
Where Systems End, Community Begins, and Connection Creates Possibility. https://www.lcautism.org/event-details/15th-annual-southwest-washington-autism-conference

As we prepare for this year’s conference, there are three important ways our community can be part of it:

💙 SPONSOR THE CONFERENCE
We are currently seeking businesses, organizations, agencies, and community partners who want to invest in a regional event centered on belonging, connection, access, and stronger communities.

Sponsorship opportunities begin at $500, with several levels available as well as special sponsorship opportunities for lunch, networking, resources, and more.

📌 September 5 sponsorship commitment deadline for inclusion in the printed conference program and event signage.
📌 Final sponsorship deadline: October 5, 2026

If your organization believes in building stronger connections between people, families, systems, and community, we would be honored to have you beside us.

🎟️ COME TO THE CONFERENCE!
Registration is open!

Whether you are a parent, caregiver, autistic or neurodivergent adult, educator, provider, healthcare professional, advocate, first responder, community leader, or simply someone who wants to learn, this conference was created for you.

Our goal has always been to bring people together who might otherwise never find themselves in the same room.

Because sometimes the most important work happens in the space between.

🎨 HELP BUILD OUR SILENT AUCTION
We are also seeking donations of artwork and unique items for our conference silent auction!

We especially welcome artwork and creative pieces donated by people with lived experience, autistic, neurodivergent, and developmentally disabled artists and creators.

Every bid will directly support the work of the Lewis County Autism Coalition and our mission of belonging, connection, independence, and community.

To donate artwork or discuss a silent auction contribution:

📱 Call or text Krystian at (360) 508-5825
📧 Or email Michelle at [email protected]

And if you aren’t able to sponsor or donate, you can still help us tremendously:

💚 Register and attend.
💙 Share this post.
💚 Tag a business or organization that might want to sponsor.
💙 Tag an artist or maker who may want to contribute to the auction.

A conference like this is not built by one organization.

It is built by a community willing to show up for one another.

And we cannot wait to see what happens when we all come together on October 30. 💙💚

15th Annual Southwest Washington Autism Conference
📅 Friday, October 30, 2026
📍 Great Wolf Lodge - Grand Mound, Washington
✨ THE SPACE BETWEEN
Where Systems End, Community Begins, and Connection Creates Possibility.

08/17/2026

Remote Support Training Available in September
The Developmental Disabilities Administration is excited to offer an opportunity to learn about remote supports, and how these services can support people receiving residential habilitation services.

This training will provide clarification on:

• Remote supports and how they can support people.

• The responsibilities of the residential habilitation provider versus the remote support provider.

• How to access remote supports.

• What to do if either service is no longer meeting the client's needs.

Remote Support in Residential Habilitation Services WA DSHS - Developmental Disabilities Administration sent this bulletin at 08/07/2026 01:52 PM PDT View as a webpage August 7, 2026 Remote Support Training Available in September The Developmental Disabilities Administration is excited to offer an o...

08/03/2026

***IMPORTANT Sensory Swim Update*** ***IMPORTANT Sensory Swim Update***

We are thrilled by the level of interest in Friday evening’s pilot sensory swim! Due to the overwhelming response and because this is a specially staffed pilot session, it has been decided that space for this pilot session will need to be limited and advance RSVP will be strongly recommended/mostly required.
This experience is intended for children with additional support needs and the family members or support people accompanying them. PLEASE RSVP to the City of Chehalis Parks & Recreation Department at (360) 748-0271

Thank you for helping us ensure a safe, calm, and positive experience for participating families and pool staff.

🏊‍♀️ **THIS FRIDAY EVENING - FREE SENSORY FAMILY SWIM!** 🏊‍♂️

We know this is a little last-minute, but we are so excited to invite families to a special **Sensory Family Swim pilot session** this Friday, August 7, from **6:15–7:15 p.m. at the Shaw Aquatics Center!**

The City of Chehalis reached out to explore how we might collaborate to offer a welcoming swim opportunity for families with autistic, neurodivergent, and developmentally disabled youth... something that is not currently available in our community.

Because this is a pilot session, we especially need families to come, participate, and help us learn! We want to hear what went well, what could be improved, and what would make future sensory-friendly swim opportunities comfortable, accessible, and enjoyable for your family.

Caregivers and parents should come prepared to be in the pool with their youth. A brief feedback survey will be provided following the session.

💙 **There is no cost to attend!**

Your participation and feedback could help shape a new community offering for the next aquatics season, so please join us, and help spread the word!

07/29/2026

🎙️ Introducing M.A.P. Forward: Meaningful Autism Perspectives

We are so excited to share something new from the Lewis County Autism Coalition. M.A.P. Forward is our brand COMING SOON!! new podcast, created for parents, caregivers, educators, and providers who want honest, hopeful conversations about autism.

Hosted by Kristal Vega Carrasquillo and Aliza R. Quinlan, each episode explores different aspects of the autism journey. Topics include understanding what autism truly is, navigating evaluations, identifying the initial supports that can help, advocating for your child at school, and creating a safe home environment. The podcast features genuine conversations about evaluations, therapies, school advocacy, meltdowns, and much more, all without judgment.

This is not a lecture. It is a conversation, built by people who live this work every day, for parents, caregivers, educators, and providers who are living it too.

🎧 New episodes launching soon. Follow this page so you do not miss the first one.

💛 You are not alone. Lewis County Autism Coalition is here.

.A.P.Forward

07/29/2026

The conversations that happen between systems can change lives. Join us this October.

07/27/2026

What a wonderful time had by everyone! Be sure to watch until the end of the video for a special message!

07/23/2026

🌉 Save the Date: 15th Annual Southwest Washington Autism Conference! 🌉

Mark your calendars - Friday, October 30, 2026, from 9am to 4pm at Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound!

This year's theme is "The Space Between: Where Systems End and Community Begins; and When Connections Create Possibility" - a full day built around connection, lived experience, and the community support that shows up right where it matters, in the spaces in between diagnosis, services, school, healthcare, and community.

Here's what you can expect:
🎤 A keynote and breakout sessions across multiple tracks
🎬 A special session and short film screening opportunity from filmmaker Tyrone Greenidge, exploring how storytelling can open doors to Belonging, mentorship, and opportunity for autistic and neurodivergent individuals
🍽️ Breakfast and lunch included
💬 A live case-panel lunch plenary, watch how systems and community partners come together in real time to support a family, with takeaways you can bring home
🤝 A resource fair with exhibitors from across the region

Great News! We have extended Early Bird pricing this year! Register by August 20th for just $60 (jumps to $75 after that, and late registration will be $90 starting October 15).

Interested in hosting a resource table or vendor? Go to the link below to learn more!

👉 Register here: https://www.lcautism.org/event-details/15th-annual-southwest-washington-autism-conference

Tag a friend, share with your people, and let's fill that room. See you in the space between! 🧡

The conversations that happen between systems can change lives. Join us this October.

07/22/2026

Hey Kids! Want to win a Bike?! All you have to do is color your best and then get it turned in to the Centralia, WA Police Department by July 29th!

07/22/2026

Lewis County Parent to Parent has a wonderful opportunity coming up soon! This is the second year P2P has offered Barn Buddies at the SWW fair.

This is an opportunity for kids with a disability, ages 5-18, to partner with a 4-H buddy and show an animal. They will learn about 4-H, the process of caring for an animal, and then get the opportunity to show a goat or sheep at the fair with the assistance of their buddy.

Know of any kids who may be interested??? Sign ups open until July 28th! RSVP by scanning the QR code or calling Parent to Parent at (360) 736-4359.

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