As we turn the page into June, I want to take a moment to reflect on the impactful work we accomplished together in the Spring. True to the saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” we’ve planted seeds of advocacy, inclusion, and literacy that will continue to bloom in the months ahead.
Your support is vital to our work. Whether through a donation, volunteering, or spreading the word, every action makes a difference. Together, we can continue to be a strong, inclusive voice for disabled students and their families in Elk Grove.
While we’ve had a month full of meaningful milestones, we are also facing some urgent challenges. Due to unforeseen constraints, we were unable to participate in Sacramento’s Regional Big Day of Giving. This has limited our outreach to potential donors. We now have a fundraising goal of $2,000 to meet within the next week, and we need your help to reach it.
Thank you for being a part of our community. Your generosity, encouragement, and belief in our mission keep us moving forward.
In Community,
Amanda Scott
CEO, President
| Recap – April and May |
| 🌸 Received 33 book donations for our Lending Library through our Book Drive. These stories will be shared with families throughout our community, helping to promote literacy and representation. 🌸 Raised $180 through our café fundraiser in partnership with A Seat at the Table Books. Every dollar brings us closer to sustaining our mission of empowering disabled students and families in Elk Grove. We received $100 in donations from items purchased at the Cafe on April 12th and $80 in individual, direct donations at our outreach table. THANK YOU to everyone who showed up and supported! 🌸 Elk Grove City Council Autism Acceptance Month Proclamation and recognition of EG SPEAKS: Amanda Scott was invited by Elk Grove City Council to receive the Autism Acceptance Month Proclamation presented by the Diversity and Inclusion Commission. She spoke on the importance of inclusion of the autistic community in our city and the advocacy work that EG SPEAKS has provided to our region.Watch the clip here 🌸 Partnered with the Sacramento Zoo to host inclusive story times for Autism Acceptance Month. We proudly highlighted stories featuring autistic and neurodivergent characters, creating a space where every child felt seen and valued. 🌸 Launched our first “Ask an Advocate” virtual session, where we tackled the topic of paraeducators and how to effectively advocate for para support. The response was incredible, and we look forward to continuing this series. 🌸 $500 Grant From Chalk It Up! We received a generous grant from Chalk It Up! We will be attending the festival on Sunday August 31st to participate in the Grant Presentations. |
| Congrats to the Grads! |
| Congratulations to all the 2025 Graduates! Starting a new grade or moving schools can come with lots of challenges with IEPs, 504 plans, and advocacy in general but its also an exciting time for new growth! EG SPEAKS would love to hear and share graduation stories from disabled youth. We are accepting newsletter and blog submissions at info@egspeaks.org |
| Upcoming Events: Ask An Advocate: Advocacy 101 – Tips for Communicating With Your Child’s IEP Team June 29, 5 p.m. Virtual Session on Zoom. Join us for an empowering virtual event designed for parents and caregivers navigating the special education system. One of our highly experienced special education advocates will lead a valuable discussion on how to effectively communicate with your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) team.RSVP on Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link |
| Announcements |
| Welcome to the EG SPEAKS Board! |
 Jade Rodgers – Board of DirectorsJade Rodgers (she/her) is a Sacramento native and dedicated nonprofit professional with over 15 years of experience in youth development, education, and community-based programming. She currently serves as a Manager at 916 Ink and the Donor Relations & Grant Manager at Celebration Arts theater.Jade holds a double B.A. in Psychology and Reconciliation Studies from Bethel University and is an alumna of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program. Her work is guided by the philosophy of Ubuntu—“my humanity is tied to your humanity”—and centers healing, authenticity, and empowerment.As the parent of a neurodivergent child, Jade brings both personal insight and professional experience to her efforts to foster more inclusive and responsive systems for youth and families. |
| Welcome Volunteers! |
| Kyra Hill-MabeVolunteer Social Media Coordinator Kyra is an ally in the disability community with experience working with and caretaking autistic children and supporting families with disabled children. She has been active in the Elk Grove community as a manager at our local bookstore and community space, A Seat at the Table Books. Thank you for helping us with our social media needs, Kyra! |
| EG SPEAKS Lending LibraryEmpowering Minds, Embracing Inclusion |
| The EG SPEAKS Lending Library is a carefully curated collection of books that highlights the rich diversity of the disability experience. Our mission is to foster understanding, inclusivity, and empathy by providing access to literature that reflects the lives, challenges, and triumphs of people with disabilities. Whether you’re seeking to broaden your knowledge or looking for stories that resonate with real-life experiences, our collection has something for everyone.For Adults: Our adult non-fiction books focus on disabilities from various perspectives, covering topics such as history, personal narratives, advocacy, accessibility, and social justice. These works aim to deepen understanding, spark important conversations, and inspire positive change in communities. Whether you’re an ally, a caregiver, or someone with a disability, these books will help you engage with disability issues in meaningful ways.For Children: Our children’s section features both fiction and non-fiction titles that introduce young readers to the lives of disabled characters and explore themes of inclusion, resilience, and friendship. These books not only reflect the lived experiences of children with disabilities but also encourage empathy and understanding in all readers, fostering a generation that celebrates differences and embraces diversity.The EG SPEAKS Lending Library is a way for everyone to learn, grow, and connect through the power of stories. Join us in supporting a more inclusive world, one book at a time.Join and Explore the EG SPEAKS Lending Library: |
| EG SPEAKS Library EG SPEAKS Library Catalog |
| Donate a Book Apply for a Library Card |
| Volunteer Spotlight:Geovanna Torres Ramos Volunteer Program Coordinator- Play Groups & Social Clubs |
 About Geovanna: A proud mom of two amazing boys, a loving wife, and a passionate advocate for building deeply rooted, meaningful relationships between parents and their children. With nearly a decade of experience in early intervention, I have had the privilege of supporting families as they navigate the joys and challenges of parenthood. Q: What inspired you to volunteer with EG SPEAKS? A: Working in early intervention for a decade now, I’ve come to realize that parents of disabled kiddos are often isolated, burned out, and lacking quality support and education. So when I learned about EG SPEAKS and its mission, I knew I had to be a part of their team. For years, I’ve dreamed of creating a space for parents to build community around inclusion and advocacy while feeling supported and seen. EG SPEAKS is built by parents for parents- that is deeply inspiring. Q: What are you most excited about accomplishing in the next year?A: This year I’m looking forward to connecting with families in my community and really sharing my gifts and expertise with others. I look forward to supporting parents raise resilient kiddos and impacting my community in raising inclusive kiddos. |
| Volunteer With Us! |
| We are currently seeking the following positions: Fundraising Coordinator Support Group Facilitators Kids Group and Activity Leaders |
| Join Here |
| Call to Action: Protect Medicaid! |
| Tell Congress Today: Disabled People Are Counting On You To Protect Medicaid |
| Click Here to Help Save Medicaid |