May is Bike Month! Let’s Get Rollin’

National Bike Month is celebrated throughout the month of May.

National Bike Month was established in 1956 and is currently celebrated in communities across the country. It is recognized as an opportunity to highlight the many benefits of cycling and encourage more people to try their hand… or rather, for most people, their feet… at riding a bike. (Learn more about National Bike Month at bikeleague.org/bikemonth.)

Biking is a great activity for physical fitness, as well as mental health. It is an activity that can be done for recreation or sport, and in a variety of settings. It is an activity that can be done independently or with family and friends. Biking also supports environmental and other community goals.

For individuals with disabilities, adaptive cycles are available. Options include three-wheeled trikes that are close to the ground, hand-cycles, tandem cycles, and e-bikes. The Seattle based, nonprofit organization Outdoors For All offers adaptive bike rentals, beginning this month, for both children and adults with disabilities, as well as bike lessons and equipment fittings for those interested in purchasing a ride of their own. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/2pmc662j.

The theme for National Bike Month 2022 is: #BikeThere.

The goal is to consider all of the ways that biking can improve individual and community wellbeing and how biking can connect individuals with their community.

As shared by The League of American Bicyclists: There are so many ways to celebrate Bike Month and to #BikeThere. Whether you’re riding for fun, fitness or with family, or taking essential trips to work or shop, you are part of our movement for safer streets, connected communities, a healthier planet, and happier people. (Read more at bikeleague.org)

So, hop on your bike all through this month!

Bike here…,

#BikeThere…,

Bike, bike everywhere!

(And CLICK HERE for a map of bike paths and trails in Snohomish County.)

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Snohomish County “Bike Month” Resources

• Love to Ride Washington: “Bike Everywhere Challenge” — net/Washington (Teams of up to 10 riders can compete for prizes and bragging rights!)
• Cascade Bicycle Club: Bike to School Program — com/mryfj3pz (Individual students and/or schools can participate for the chance to win prizes!)
• Bike Everywhere Day: Everett Station Celebration (May 20th, 7 am - 12 Noon) — Community event with prizes, cycling safety training information, bike checks, information about new bike paths and trails, and more! (Location: 3210 Smith Ave., Everett)

Additional Resources

• 10 Ways Riding a Bike Can Save the World [Infographic], by Joe Peace — com/2vmhkdbb
• 11 Amazing Benefits of Biking — com/yfuxc4rx
• 19 Bike to Work Day Facts, by James Partlow — com/3kxjhkjv
• 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Cycling for Kids, by Mahak Arora — com/4b7f56mp

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Whitney Stohr is the Leadership & Independent Living Program Manager at The Arc of Snohomish County. She is passionate about advocating for medically complex children and children with disabilities and their families. She is a mom and medical caregiver herself, who is energized by working closely with other parent/family caregivers. She lives with her spouse and their four-year-old son Malachi in Lynnwood. Connect with her on Instagram @rollin.w.spinabifida. Contact: whitney@arcsno.org.

LEGO Club Projects: A Minecraft Creation by Luca Keogh of Lynnwood

Thank you to Luca Keogh — one of our regular LEGO & Arc Club participants — for sharing this photo of the LEGO project he completed during our monthly club meetings!

The project shown here is a LEGO kit featuring a Minecraft scene. Great job, Luca!

In recent months, Luca has undertaken a new project: a LEGO Tyrannosaurs Rex!

The Arc of Snohomish County’s LEGO & Art Zoom Club meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month, from 1 PM to 2 PM. It is an inclusive club and open to individuals and families of all ages and abilities.

Register to attend the next club meeting through our online calendar of events: arcsno.org/calendar.

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Whitney Stohr is the Leadership & Independent Living Program Manager at The Arc of Snohomish County. She is passionate about advocating for medically complex children and children with disabilities and their families. She is a mom and medical caregiver herself, who is energized by working closely with other parent/family caregivers. She lives with her spouse and their four-year-old son Malachi in Lynnwood. Connect with her on Instagram @rollin.w.spinabifida. Contact: whitney@arcsno.org.

Hot off the Press:

Recent News to Read from Around the Region

Unlearn Ableism with these 4 Talking Books

By David Wright — The Seattle Times (4/8/2022)

“Love audiobooks? Thank a person with a disability. Originally termed ‘talking books,’ audiobooks were first created to make print books more accessible to people with blindness or low vision, just one among many modern conveniences such as speech-to-text and voice-recognition software, closed captioning, electric toothbrushes and curb cuts that were first conceived as adaptive technologies.” In this article, David Write, a librarian at Seattle Public Library’s Central Branch, recommends four audiobooks that address ableism and help us identify ableist attitudes and perspectives in ourselves and others. Read more: tinyurl.com/ys2auxyz.

Meet the woman Behind Stanwood’s Autism Acceptance Library

By Claudia Yaw — Everett Herald (4/14/2022)

“At Stanwood Tattoo Company, locals can book an appointment to get inked, or to sit down and chat with autistic activist Lei Wiley-Mydske. Tucked away in the chic and buzzing tattoo parlor is Wiley-Mydske’s autism acceptance library — a sky blue cabinet filled with anthologies, resources and picture books by autistic authors and scholars. When the collection started in 2014, it was the first of its kind, Wiley-Mydske said. Now, she’s helping other neurodivergent activists start their own little libraries around the globe.” Continue reading: tinyurl.com/yckptxth.

Why Are Moms so Lonely? (And What to Do About It)

By Rebecca Hastings — Parent Map (3/15/2022)

“Invisible. Unknown. Never by yourself, but feeling completely alone. These are just some of the ways moms describe loneliness. It’s more than a lack of friends (although that can be part of it). Loneliness is deeper, affecting people in varied ways.” This article identifies some of the factors contributing to loneliness in motherhood, including disability caregiving, and what can be done to address them: tinyurl.com/ycx64cpy.

‘We Can Do Hard Things’: Morgan Models Resilience Amid Stress and Challenges

By Susanna Block — Seattle’s Child (3/28/2022)

“Morgan is 32 years old and was born extremely premature (at 25 weeks, while a full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks). While he has had a lifetime of health challenges, surgeries and hospitalizations, Morgan describes them as “unwanted visitors” that do not define him. His parents taught him at an early age to ‘control the things he can and not try to control the things he can’t.’ He takes that to heart.” This article shares Morgan’s insight on resilience and goal-setting: tinyurl.com/3rnd74rf.

New Lake City Café Provides Unique Opportunity for Neurodiverse Community

By Chris Cashman — King5 News (3/28/2022)

Located in Seattle, In the Loop Café is a unique business venture and partnership between Ryther and Thrive Seattle Living, a housing program for young adults with autism and related disabilities, that seeks to create a café environment supportive of the neurodiverse community. The café is located on the bottom floor of a new micro apartment community, operated by Thrive Seattle. Autistic baristas are provided professional training and work opportunities at the café. Learn more: tinyurl.com/3uhhyfp6.

Meet Sara Carmen — Arc Sibshop Super Sib!

Meet Sara Carmen — one of our SUPER SIBS at The Arc of Snohomish County!

Sara lives in Snohomish County with her two sisters, her mom and dad, and the family’s two dogs. One of her sisters experiences developmental disabilities.

In her free time, Sara likes to listen to music and sketch. She describes both music and art as a way to “have her own space.” For her, it is a way of setting her own boundaries, “resetting her brain,” and going over things in her head. She shared: “[My sister] knows that when I’m listening to music, it’s my time.”

(What a wonderful example of how essential it is for all of us to set aside time for self-reflection and to know what we need for ourselves as we sort through our thoughts and feelings and take the time to “reset” our own minds. Thank you, Sara, for sharing that insight.)

Sara is currently in the ninth grade and enjoys attending online school.

When asked about her future “dream job,” she shared: “For a long time, it was to be a singer. But I’ve kind of moved to a different point. Right now, I would like to try to become a Home Care Aid.”

She wants to support people with disabilities, who are living in the community. She is also teaching herself American Sign Language (ASL) by watching YouTube videos. She is a natural leader and educator.

“In 3rd grade, I used to go to public school and would go to the Life Skills Class to hang out during lunch,” she elaborated. “I knew all the kids there; all of their names and their disabilities, and all of their teachers. I learned stuff about the kids.”

They quickly became friends, and Sara shared stories of times when she raised awareness about disabilities and stuck up for her friends against bullying. She often stands up for her sister, too, as well as others.

“I’ve always had feelings that every kid needs to be treated the same,” she said.

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The Arc of Snohomish County’s Sibshop program is a specially tailored program for children, ages 8 to 12, and teens, ages 13 to 18, who have siblings with developmental disabilities. (Learn more about the national Sibshop program at siblingsupport.org.)

Sara has attended Sibshops for some time. She talked about how nice it is to meet other youth who share the experience of having a sibling with developmental disabilities. She enjoys talking to other siblings as it provides her an opportunity to learn about other types of disabilities and to connect with other kids who understand some of her feelings.

One of her favorite Sibshop activities is completing the ropes course and zipline at High Trek Adventures in Everett. She also enjoys the art activities and will sometimes submit the artwork she completes at Sibshops to display in the youth art exhibit at the Evergreen State Fair.

Sara even acts as an unofficial community ambassador for Arc Sibshops. When she meets other siblings of kids with disabilities, she makes certain to tell them about The Arc and how much FUN you can have at Sibshops. She encourages them to participate and shares that Sibshops might be a way for them to “find friends that know how they feel and what they are going through at home.”

Thank you very much, Sara, for helping us get the word out to all of the amazing Sibs in Snohomish County! You are quite the Super Sib yourself!

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Whitney Stohr is a Parent to Parent Coordinator at The Arc of Snohomish County. She is passionate about advocating for medically complex children and children with disabilities and their families. She is a mom and medical caregiver herself, who is energized by working closely with other parent/family caregivers. She lives with her four-year-old son Malachi and husband Jason in Lynnwood. Connect with her on Instagram @rollin.w.spinabifida. Contact: whitney@arcsno.org.