MindSource Center

06/18/2025

Today we celebrate autistic identity, community, and joy.

Autistic people bring unique insight, creativity, honesty, focus, and deep care to the world around them.

They notice what others miss. They challenge assumptions. They teach us new ways to listen, learn, and lead.

At MindSource, we are committed to supporting spaces where autistic youth are valued, heard, and encouraged to be themselves.

Autistic pride is about self-understanding, connection, and honoring what makes each person unique.

06/18/2025

Missing children with autism will often head straight to nearby water like ponds. Use this information as part of your wandering/elopement emergency plan. Template linked in comments.

06/13/2025

Summer is almost here, and spots are nearly gone.

Friendship Builders Camp is a joyful and inclusive space where neurodivergent kids can be themselves, build real friendships, and have fun without pressure.

Some weeks already have a waitlist. A few spots are still open, especially in early and mid-July.

If you're looking for a camp that truly understands your child, this is the one.

Register now before school gets out.

Register Today! 2025 SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION FORM Questions? Contact Teresa McCann, BCBA, Summer Camp Director. TeresaM@mindsourcecenter.com or (253) 458-7186 DOWNLOAD 2025 CAMP FLYER – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –...

06/11/2025

We had such a meaningful evening at the Greater Maple Valley Community Center presenting Freedom and Safety: How to Support Autistic Youth and Adults Without Limiting Their Lives.

Thank you to the parents, teens, and community members who came, asked thoughtful questions, and helped make the night a success.

We talked about real risks autistic teens and adults face and how overprotection can sometimes increase those risks.

The goal isn’t zero risk. It’s building trust, skills, and safety through experience and support.

06/09/2025

If your child is prone to wondering, know the 5 closet bodies of water to your home. If you need to call, immediately let First Responders know.

For children with autism, the risk of drowning is 160 times more than the general pediatric population. In addition to swimming lessons, teaching water safety is critical.

06/04/2025

We’re partnering with the Greater Maple Valley Community Center to host a free evening event focused on supporting safety and independence for autistic teens and adults.

We'll explore topics like:
• Water safety in real-world situations
• Preventing isolation and overprotection
• Supporting safe choices without limiting freedom

This event is open to parents, caregivers, self-advocates, and anyone in the community who wants to learn more. You can facebook message questions or information for the Q&A to MindSource Center.

📍 Greater Maple Valley Community Center
📅 Tuesday, June 10
🕖 7:00–8:00 PM
💬 Questions? Email Shayna: shaynak@maplevalleycc.org

Please share with anyone who might benefit from joining the conversation.

05/28/2025

📣 We’re excited to partner with the Greater Maple Valley Community Center for an important community conversation:

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 & 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 & 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬
🗓 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡
🕖 𝟕:𝟎𝟎 𝐭𝐨 𝟖:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
📍 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
📩 𝐑𝐒𝐕𝐏 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐚: shaynak@maplevalleycc.org

This free session is open to families, neighbors, and allies of autistic teens and adults. It takes place during the Friends N’ Fun group’s regular Tuesday time, so teens and young adults attending that group are welcome to join the conversation if they’re interested.

We’ll talk about how to support safety without limiting independence, and cover common risks like isolation, wandering, bullying, and overprotection.

Whether your loved one uses few words or drives and works independently, this session offers practical tools, multiple perspectives, and time for open Q&A.

Please share with anyone who might want to attend.

05/13/2025

Summer should feel like this.
Real friendships, joyful play, and space to be yourself. Our inclusive camp is designed for neurodivergent kids who want fun without pressure.

Spots are filling up fast. Register today.

Register Today! 2025 SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION FORM Questions? Contact Teresa McCann, BCBA, Summer Camp Director. TeresaM@mindsourcecenter.com or (253) 458-7186 DOWNLOAD 2025 CAMP FLYER – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –...

04/30/2025

💬 Laugh. Play. Connect.
Summer adventures built for joy, friendship, and real growth.
🏕️Spots are filling fast. Save yours today!

Register Today! 2025 SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION FORM Questions? Contact Teresa McCann, BCBA, Summer Camp Director. TeresaM@mindsourcecenter.com or (253) 458-7186 DOWNLOAD 2025 CAMP FLYER – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –...

04/30/2025

🌈 On the last day of Autism Acceptance & Empowerment Month, we’re honored to amplify voices like Clare Gibellini’s. Autistic-led research matters.

Community Spotlight: Autistic Researchers

Today, we're shining a spotlight on the impactful research and advocacy of Clare Gibellini (she/her). Clare Gibellini is a woman with multiple disabilities, including Autism, working as a passionate advocate for the inclusion of people with a disability in all areas of the community. She is the former Co-Chair of the Oversight Council for the Australian Federal Government’s first National Autism Strategy, and the Chair of the Board of the National Disability Research Partnership. She is also the Co-Chair for Inclusive Rainbow Voices, supporting LGBTQIA+ people with disability.

Ms. Gibellini currently works as Policy Officer for Women With Disabilities Australia, and independent consultant. She is also an emergency services volunteer with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (WA) and spends time working with various communities to build community preparedness. Ms. Gibellini serves on multiple boards and steering committees focussed on improving outcomes for people with disability, and is a passionate human rights campaigner both in Australia and internationally. She was a delegate to the United Nations in 2022, 2023 and 2024 as part of the Australian delegation to the Conference of State Parties, and in 2025 as the CSO representative on the Australian delegation to the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

[ID: On a green background with the Reframing Autism logo in the top left corner and the colourful knotwork in the lower left corner, white text reads 'Community Spotlight'. Beneath that, there is a photo of Clare Gibellini and beneath that, located in a white text box in large burgundy quotation marks, burgundy text reads 'Autistic led research and advocacy are revolutionising our understanding of Autism, shifting the focus from doing research on Autistic people to doing research with them'. Clare Gibellini.]

04/30/2025

Let’s wrap Acceptance Autism Empowerment Month with a celebration and a challenge! 👣 Wherever you are starting from awareness to deep into empowerment, you’re on the ladder. Keep climbing.

💥 This week, try:
🔹 Reading one autistic-authored story
🔹 Asking your child how they want to be supported
🔹 Sharing a resource with your school or workplace

Small steps = big impact.

💬 What level are you on now—and what’s your next step?

04/29/2025

If the person being supported says, “This doesn’t work for me.” That’s not resistance. That’s communication. Too often, plans are made about people, not with them.
Collaborative support includes:
• Preferences
• Autonomy
• Flexibility
• Real-time feedback

It might take more time, but it leads to better outcomes and more dignity.