A Emme (she/her)

Are you familiar with the idea of dignity of risk? Read the latest blog post at @selfadvocatenetwork.com to learn more.

A kayaker sits still on the water as a mother and baby orca approach from the right

I enjoyed watching the orcas yesterday, but this kayaker had the best seat in the house!

Breaking Myths About IDD and Employment: Building an Inclusive Workforce Work is more than a paycheck. It gives people purpose and independence. It helps them build connections. But for many people with IDD, myths and stereotypes get in the way of getting jobs. It’s time to break those myths about IDD and employment! Cynthia Burrow is the owner of Strategic Education Solutions (SES). James Meadours is SES’s Advocacy and Outreach Lead.

Bust some myths! Find out why hiring people with IDD is great for everyone.

Don’t miss new posts—sign up for our mailing list at bit.ly/SAN-Signup

#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #OvercomingStereotypes #InclusiveEmployment

Glad you’re okay! Hope your mom will be, too

We have three crows we feed in our front yard. They like to greet us and sometimes even follow us when we walk our two small dogs.

Today, we heard a loud crow ruckus out front. Turns out, the crows were chasing away a coyote.

Protecting their food or our family? Either way, we appreciate it

Boosting this post for those who might have missed it the first time. Thanks so much to those who have donated!

Donate to H & K's Journey to Safety and Stability, organized by H C Hi, we are H & K (using abbreviations due to safety reasons) and have just reloc… H C needs your support for Donate to H & K's Journey to Safety and Stability

I’ve been working closely with this sweet family to help them relocate to a safer place. They hit a snag on their journey. Please consider throwing a few dollars their way 💜

View from a beach of the water, a clear blue sky, people sitting on or near large driftwood, a ferry, and a section of Mt Rainier with a lenticular cloud on it

Humpback whale partially exposed in the water with a backdrop of a few waterfront houses and a hillside of trees

It’s never a bad day by the sea.

The back left of a gray car in a parking lot fills the screen. A small green bumper sticker sits low on the car and reads “Read a Fucking Book”

Yeah, that

Know someone with a developmental disability who has experienced substance abuse? They can talk anonymously about their experience and get paid for their time.

You can spend today seeking a way to support and uplift the many marginalized groups that Kirk demonized and harmed.

I’m only one person, but I tend to click through when I have key quotes or more insight. Less info leaves me feeling vulnerable to click-baity nonsense.

Elementary. Sherlock and Watson are the quirky duo who want to save humanity through unconventional means while embracing their individuality. They are exactly what I always wanted to be.

Medicaid Matters: Now Is the Time to Advocate Some leaders in Washington want to make big cuts to Medicaid. But Medicaid matters to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It is a lifeline for many people. Medicaid helps people with IDD live in the community, get the care they need, and build the lives they want. That’s why we’re speaking up. Medicaid Matters: It's Personal In a new video, James Meadours talks about why this fight matters.

Check out the latest news, tips, and tools from Self-Advocate Network!

Don’t miss new posts—sign up for our mailing list at bit.ly/Self-Advocate-Network.

#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #MedicaidMatters

Cara was a beacon of joy and positivity. We certainly do miss her.

Light halo surrounds the sun with just a bit of a treetop and small clouds below the halo

Sun halo! It’s becoming a regular occurrence around here!

Our team is excited to share these free online courses for self-advocates. They teach about participatory action research and why it’s important. #Neurodiversity #IDD #OnlineLearning

LGBTQ+ and Disability: Our Identities Are Who We Are Everyone’s identity is made up of many parts. A person can be LGBTQ+, have a disability, and more. The parts of who we are shape our experiences. They also shape how others treat us. Watch this video clip. Paz talks about gender, IDD, and their identity.  Check out the full video on our Seen & Heard: IDD Community YouTube Channel.

Check out the latest news, tips, and tools from Self-Advocate Network!

Don’t miss new posts—sign up for our mailing list at bit.ly/Self-Advocate-Network.

#IDD #Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #PrideMonth #Intersectionality #LGBTQ+ #Community

#PrideMonth is here! Read this blog post to find out how to support people with IDD who are also part of the LGBTQ community. #Neurodiversity

Happy birthday!

Sea clown nudibranch curled among some rocks

Mollusk that looks eerily like an evil grinning mouth

Sea lion posing with head and nose in the air as a ferry just comes into view behind it

Crab hiding under a rock

Low tide, Part 2

Ocher sea star clinging to a rock. Both the sea star and rock are partially submerged.

Four sea stars of various colors are clinging to a crevice that has been revealed after the tide went out

Crustacean sitting on rocks

Close-up of a white sea slug

Low tide, Part 1

Sun halo in the sky with two vapor streaks from airplanes cutting across the left edge of the halo

Sun halo

Special education teachers work tirelessly with dwindling resources to support their students. I know my son’s teachers made a huge difference in his life.

The Department of Justice has cut hundreds of millions in grants. This includes critical funding for groups that support sexual assault survivors with disabilities. Activating Change is one of those organizations.
lnkd.in/eTFKKRE4
#IDD #Neurodiversity #ActivatingChange #Survivors

I love Juni+Si yarn!

Sexual Assault Reporting: A Survivor Shares Words of Wisdom - Self-Advocate Network It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We share a survivor’s story about feeling ready to report and tell how we can all make reporting easier.

Many people with IDD don’t report sexual assault. The reasons are fear, judgment, not knowing who to tell, and lack of support. Everyone deserves safety, respect, and the right to be heard.
#SelfAdvocates #IDD #Neurodivergent #Reporting #SAAM
selfadvocatenetwork.com/sexual-assau...

I worked with Charles Baird years ago. His social justice advocacy is always an inspiration. Hear what he has to say about how he got a job that gives him fulfillment. (Be sure to watch the full video linked in the post.)

Informal Networking: Key to Unlocking Your Career We recently shared exciting news about Virtual Job Coach on-demand. Today, we're talking about informal networking. It's a great way to find a job! What is Informal Networking? Most people cringe when they hear the word, “networking.” We think of a large group of people we don’t know trying to make themselves look and feel important. This can be stressful for most people.

Check out the latest ideas, tips, and tools from the Virtual Job Coach!

Don’t miss new posts—sign up for our mailing list at bit.ly/V-J-C.

#VirtualJobCoach #CareerSuccess #JobSearchTips #DisabilityEmployment #Neurodiversity #IDD #Networking

I recently made the Purl Soho Soft as a Cloud cowl. There are three versions to choose from, and they are all beautiful with just one color—all about the texture.