Program areas at WWVDN
Information and support:631 families with individuals with disabilities and community members are reached through our website email marketing, and are sent monthly newsletters that provide information and links to resources and events and support to caregivers. Weekly email reminders on events specific to the coming week are sent and activities and information are shared on social media sites. This fiscal year our website had a 50% increase in visitors (9,008 unique visitors). 132 support meetings (in english and spanish) were held, attended by 872 people. Wwvdn also presented to local service organizations and schools, and attended community expos and fairs to develop outreach, awareness, and education.
Training:walla Walla Valley Disability Network and parent to parent provided 42 trainings including a transition workshop series offered january 2023 march 2023. The transition series trained caregivers on the following topics: ieps & continuing education; dda, dvr, social security & job foundations; guardianship, power of attorney, & self-determination; employment & community inclusion services; transportation & housing options and more. The series concluded with a transition expo attended by 95 caregivers and family members. Parent to parent offered its annual "helping parent training" for parents interested in helping other parents with children with similar diagnosis with emotional and informational support. A peer mentor training was attended by 11 middle and high school students to give them information and resources to become mentors to their fellow students with disabilities. The annual survey conducted in august had 67 english responses and 6 spanish. Of the 13 agencies listed in the survey, wwvdn and the parent to parent program (50), along with the developmental disabilities administration (dda - 37) are where the 73 families are receiving support in our community. Currently only 31 of the 73 participants on the survey are eligible and receiving support through dda, seven (7) are on the "eligible, but no paid service" list, and another twenty-one (21) were either denied services or have not applied for services.
Social and recreation:through the fiscal year, 50 inclusive social events and 38 recreation events (primarily challenger basketball, baseball, and softball) were provided to support family networking, connecting 1,756 attendees (caregivers and individuals with disabilities). Over 50 volunteers, (teen and adult community members) assist our social and recreation programs. "mamas especiales", organized by our hispanic outreach coordinator, walked daily in the summer as a chance to improve physical and mental health as caregivers for children with disabilities. The social opportunities and recreation program created in june 2022 grew to provide outings for teens and adults with disabilities nearly every week of the year.