Walla Walla Valley Disability Network

SUPPORTS CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH TRAININGS AND RESOURCE REFERRALS AND PROVIDES COMMUNITY INCLUSION SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

INFORMATION AND SUPPORT:507 FAMILIES WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE REACHED THROUGH OUR WEBSITE E-MAIL MARKETING, AND ARE SENT MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION AND LINKS TO RESOURCES AND EVENTS AND SUPPORT TO CAREGIVERS. WEEKLY UPDATES ON EVENTS SPECIFIC TO THE WEEK ARE SENT. THIS FISCAL YEAR OUR WEBSITE HAD A 12% INCREASE IN VISITORS (5,979) VISITORS, 178 SUPPORT MEETINGS (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH) WERE HELD, ATTENDED BY 905 PEOPLE. WWVDN ALSO PRESENTED TO 28 LOCAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS (AROUND 542 PEOPLE) TO DEVELOP OUTREACH, AWARENESS, AND EDUCATION.

SOCIAL AND RECREATION:THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR, 33 INCLUSIVE SOCIAL EVENTS AND 18 RECREATION EVENTS (PRIMARILY CHALLENGER BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, AND SOFTBALL) WERE PROVIDED TO SUPPORT FAMILY NETWORKING, CONNECTING 1,117 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 SPRING AND SUMMER AS A CHANCE TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AS CAREGIVERS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. THE SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RECREATION PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO OVERSEE EXTENDED SOCIAL AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS AND ADULTS STARTING IN JUNE 2022.

TRAINING:WALLA WALLA VALLEY DISABILITY NETWORK AND PARENT TO PARENT PROVIDED 21 TRAININGS INCLUDING A TRANSITION WORKSHOP SERIES OFFERED JANUARY 2022 MARCH 2022. THE TRANSITION SERIES TRAINED CAREGIVERS ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, GUARDIANSHIP/POA/SUPPORTED DECISION MAKING, EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, JOB FOUNDATIONS AND MORE. THE SERIES CONCLUDED WITH A TRANSITION EXPO, 65 CAREGIVERS ENGAGED IN THIS SERIES. 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 CONDUCTED AT COLLEGE PLACE HIGH SCHOOL TO BEGIN A BUDDY PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL. THESE TRAININGS AND MORE WERE ATTENDED BY 269 PEOPLE. THE ANNUAL SURVEY CONDUCTED IN AUGUST HAD 59 ENGLISH RESPONSES AND 5 SPANISH. OF THE 14 AGENCIES LISTED IN THE SURVEY, WWVDN (48) AND THE PARENT TO PARENT PROGRAMS (40), ALONG WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION (DDA) ARE WHERE THE 64 FAMILIES ARE RECEIVING SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY ONLY 25 OF THE 64 PARTICIPANTS ON THE SURVEY ARE ELIGIBLE AND RECEIVING SUPPORT THROUGH DDA, FIVE (5) ARE ON THE "ELIGIBLE, BUT NO PAID SERVICE" LIST, AND ANOTHER TWENTY-THREE (23) WERE EITHER DENIED SERVICES OR HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR SERVICES.