Encircle Families - formerly Raising Special Kids

10/29/2026

Parenting can be stressful, and we all have tough days. If you’re worried your child might be picking up on your stress or anxiety, you’re not alone! Child Mind Institute shares helpful tips for managing your own stress and supporting your child’s emotional well-being.

Prevent passing anxiety to your child by managing your stress. Learn mindfulness techniques, boundary setting, and how to talk about anxiety with your child.

10/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who has shared such sweet messages about Kelly. These messages will be shared with her family so they can see the impact she had on our community. She truly was a bright light, and it’s clear how many lives she touched.

Many of you have expressed interest in celebrating her life, and we wanted to share that a Celebration of Life will be held on November 14th at 10:00 AM.

You can find more information and register using the link below. Please be sure to register yourself and anyone else who plans to attend with you.

Thank you all for your love, support, and for helping us honor Kelly’s beautiful memory. ❤️
More information and registration:

Join us in person to celebrate Kelly Randall’s life and share memories with family and friends.

10/28/2026

DDD Announcement:

This year, AHCCCS has engaged stakeholders on the Rule and policies it created regarding the Home and Community Based Services Needs Tool (HNT) and Extraordinary Care Review (ECR) for members under age 18. AHCCCS is finalizing the Rule and policies. Both will be implemented on December 1, 2026. At the same time, DDD is creating policies and procedures to align with AHCCCS requirements.

DDD submitted its proposed process to AHCCCS for approval. DDD will host virtual public forums to provide an overview of what it expects its ECR process to look like on December 1, 2026. DDD will also answer questions about the HNT and ECR. The public forum schedule is:

Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Link: https://azdes.zoomgov.com/j/1658803858
and
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Link: https://azdes.zoomgov.com/j/1656421230

10/27/2026

Election Day is Nov. 3. From Accessible voting options to important Arizona deadlines, find the resources you need to make your voting plan and exercise your right to vote. This and more in this edition of Connecting Weekly. - https://mailchi.mp/encirclefamilies/connecting-weekly-2026-1025

10/20/2026

A National Checkup on Disability Rights and Progress. Read about this and more in this edition of Connecting Weekly - https://mailchi.mp/encirclefamilies/connecting-weekly-2026-1018

10/20/2026

Arizona Early Intervention Program Request for Public Participation

The Arizona Early Intervention Program is seeking public comment on proposed revised policy and procedures. Information for the proposed documents is linked to the AzEIP website under Announcements: https://des.az.gov/azeip.

Policies and Announcements are linked below. Announcements are within their coordinating policy and include instructions for how to submit public comments.

Public Comment Period: October 13, 2026 through November 12, 2026

An accessible version of the proposed procedure can be accessed here:
https://des.az.gov/sites/default/files/media/Accessible-November-2026-Draft-for-Public-Participation-Notifying-PEA-SEA-Procedure.pdf?time=1791929702248

10/19/2026

2026 Disability Vote: A Helpful Resource

We wanted to share this nonpartisan voting guide with you all! We hope it will be a helpful resource as you prepare for the upcoming election.

Every voice matters, and having accessible information can help individuals make informed decisions and participate in the voting process.

📄 Check out the 2026 Disability Vote Guide here! https://care4thecaregivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2026-Disability-Vote-Accessible-1.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawVDGIVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUlGQVdtOENUUlEzSTBISHBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEegNVUdSuS3e9HMSRpQMxJdOMf0PMkeCUrLxQfj3btshJcgsMKz6iNzG3boiQ_aem_ZTtLHnP1lSQpMUwy8Pe7VQ

Please feel free to share this resource with others who may find it helpful!

10/16/2026

🎃👻 Sensory-Friendly Trunk-or-Treat Events in your Community! 🍬🧡

Looking for a fun, welcoming, and inclusive Halloween experience for your family? Join these sensory-friendly Trunk-or-Treat events happening throughout this month! 🧡

These events are a wonderful opportunity for children and families to enjoy Halloween in a more comfortable, supportive, and understanding environment. Whether your little ones love dressing up, collecting treats, or simply enjoying the festive decorations, there’s room for everyone to celebrate in their own way! 🎃🍭

We know that Halloween can look different for every family, and that’s what makes our community so special. Let’s make sweet memories, share smiles, and create a Halloween where everyone feels included! 🧡

https://phxautism.org/events/trunk-or-treat-events/

🎃🧡

10/15/2026

Mail-in ballots were recently sent, and most individuals received theirs last week. Early voting is already available, and Election Day is November 3.

If you need assistance with voting, help is available. Here are some resources:

Voter Guide and Checklist from Disability Rights Arizona: https://disabilityrightsaz.org/resource/access-the-vote-voter-guide-checklist/

U.S. Vote Foundation's Arizona Voters with Disabilities Guide: https://www.usvotefoundation.org/disabled-voter-guide/arizona

Voting information from Encircle Families: https://encirclefamilies.org/make-a-plan-to-vote-arizonas-2026-general-election/

Arizona’s General Election is Nov. 3, and the deadline to register to vote is approaching.

10/14/2026

HUGE THANK YOU to the Route 66 JDM Classic!

We want to send a big shoutout to the team at The Route 66 JDM Classic for supporting Encircle Families once again and putting on such a wonderful, fun-filled event!

The turnout was incredible, and we were blown away to have a guest travel all the way from St. Louis to attend and support our mission. That is true dedication!

A special congratulations to our 2026 "Encircle Families Choice" award winner: Ernie Ruiz and his stunning 1973 Datsun 620!

Thank you to everyone who came out, brought their beautiful cars, and supported Encircle Families. We are so grateful for this amazing community!