Common Ground Society

10/12/2026

🎃🍂 Six years of pumpkin patch magic, and our hearts are just as full as ever! 🍂🎃

A HUGE thank you to Pronzini Farms for once again hosting our 6th Annual Common Ground Society Pumpkin Patch Meetup! 💛

From the incredible decorations and delicious snacks to making sure every family gets a pumpkin of their own, you go above and beyond to make this event feel special. But what makes it truly unforgettable is the people behind it. Your staff is always so accommodating, thoughtful, and caring, making sure our families feel welcome exactly as they are.
A special shout-out to Lindsay, who puts so much heart into organizing this incredible day. We see the care and effort you pour into making it happen, and we are so grateful!

And a HUGE thank-you to Benicio and the team running the John Deere tractor rides. 💚 One moment in particular reminded us why these experiences and the people who make them possible matter so much.

When one of our kid was having a really hard time, Benicio met the moment with patience, kindness, and understanding. What could have remained a moment of embarrassment for a parent became a moment of pride as their child was supported, given grace, and able to work through the challenge. ❤️

That is what BELONGING looks like. Not expecting every child to have an easy day, but meeting them where they are, making room for their needs, and celebrating them as they are.

Thank you, Pronzini Farms, for giving our families more than a pumpkin patch outing.
You give us a place to connect, make memories, and experience the kind of community where everyone belongs.

We are so lucky to have you in our Common Ground Society family! 🎃💛

10/09/2026

📣 We’re hiring! Join the Common Ground Society team!

Are you an organized, compassionate community-builder who loves bringing people together? We’re looking for someone who can help families feel welcomed, supported, and connected while coordinating programs, meetups, volunteers, outreach, social media, and program data.

The ideal candidate is warm, dependable, detail-oriented, comfortable working with families from many backgrounds, and passionate about creating inclusive communities. Bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred.

Please review the images for the complete job description and qualifications.

📧 To apply, email your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

It starts with HELLO, ends with BELONGING.

10/08/2026

🌟 5 and Under Meetup 🌟

Are you the parent or caregiver of a child age 5 or younger with a disability, medical complexity, or unique need? Come enjoy a morning of play and connect with other families who just get it! Siblings are welcome. 💚

📅 Saturday, October 10
⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Finley Community Center – Valley Oak Room
2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa

The Valley Oak Room offers a fantastic indoor play space with kindergym equipment for the kids and seating where parents and caregivers can relax and chat. Volunteers will also be available to play and help supervise.

A few helpful reminders:

🧦 Shoes are not allowed on the play mats—grippy socks are recommended.
🍎 Food is not allowed in the playroom, but snacks will be available in the lobby.
♿ The community center is wheelchair accessible, with accessible parking available.

This event is free, but advance registration is required:
https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/uqEReg?vid=1sggxg

Registering in advance helps us plan and ensures we can reach you with important updates. Meetups with low registration may be subject to cancellation.

Need translation support? Let us know beforehand, and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Questions? Contact Heidi Wood at [email protected].

Presented by Common Ground Society
Made possible by First 5 Sonoma County and Measure I 💚

10/08/2026

10/07/2026

“Why is it so important that your son is included?”

This is how it all began; the turning point from fighting for inclusion to understanding what BELONGING really means.

Those are words I will never forget. An actual question a general education teacher asked me about my son, James.

She knew James. She knew our family. She knew my kid is JUST a kid, just like her son. But she saw James as a problem that needed to be fixed, not all the beautiful things James brings to any community he is a part of.

Months before, James had experienced incredible growth because a teacher believed in him. She supported him, challenged him, celebrated him and loved him.
James thrived.

Years later, at his IEP, I heard:
“All of the sixth graders… well, and James…”

James IS a sixth grader.
He doesn’t become less of a student because he has a disability or needs different supports.

Every human has something beautiful to offer this world. What could we build if we were brave enough to recognize it and support its growth?

Imagine universally designed classrooms where ALL students thrive. I’m not just talking about students with disabilities, but students above grade level, too. All too often they get left behind when we design education for an imaginary “average” learner, too.

Maybe the problem isn’t our kids. Maybe it’s a system that hasn’t adapted to support this new generation.

Inclusion isn’t putting a child in a room. It’s believing they belong there.

And when we say, “We don’t know how to serve them,” the question should be:

“What do we need to change so they can thrive?”

James doesn’t need permission to belong.

He already does.

It’s time to start building a world where every child has the opportunity to belong thrive and share what they were born to give not fit into a system developed all those years ago.

10/06/2026

A huge thank you to the Charles M. Schulz Museum for opening your doors early and hosting a Common Ground Society Sensory-Friendly Morning! 💛

Before the crowds arrived, families got to explore at their own pace, with quieter spaces, softer stimulation, and room to simply be.

One guest shared that it was so nice to move through the museum in their wheelchair without navigating big crowds, and that the calmer environment made the experience easier and more enjoyable for both them and their kids.

That’s what belonging looks like: not just being allowed in, but being able to fully enjoy the space.

Thank you, Schulz Museum team, for your warmth, flexibility, and commitment to making Sonoma County a place where everyone belongs. 🙌

Have you been to the museum? Drop your favorite exhibit below 👇🏼

10/06/2026

📚 IEP STUDY HALL
📅 Friday, October 9
⏰ 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Common Ground Society
1260 N. Dutton Avenue, Suite 220, Santa Rosa

Bring your organized binder—or your overwhelming stack of paperwork—and join people who understand! Work on your IEP, 504 Plan, IFSP, IPP, or other special education, disability, medical, or advocacy-related tasks in a welcoming and supportive community.

Professional guests from SELPA, SCOE, Matrix, and more will be available to offer information and support. We’ll also provide snacks, supplies, and reference materials.

📰 Special note for October: A reporter from EdSource, a nonprofit news organization covering education, will be joining us. You are welcome to interact with the reporter as much or as little as feels comfortable. Speaking with them is completely optional, and you are not required to answer questions or participate in an interview.

✅ This event is free, but registration is required:
https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/HgHAeg?vid=1sle5o

Need translation support? Please let us know in advance, and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Questions? Contact Heidi Wood at [email protected].

Presented and hosted by Common Ground Society™
Made possible by Community Foundation Sonoma County and Matrix Parent Network & Resource Center.

10/01/2026

Common Ground Society has a lot of great new meet ups this month, check it out!

Common Ground Society ™
October Meetups

👶 Belonging from the Start -Thursdays @ 10:00 am *Session 2- October is full. Registration for Session 3 - January is available

🎳 Bowling League - Thursdays @ 3:30 pm *Register by October 5th

📖 Club - Friday, Oct. 2nd @ 10:30 am

🐾 Family Meetup - Saturday, Oct. 3rd @ 9:00 am

📓IEP Study Hall - Friday, Oct. 9th @ 9:00 am

🎃 Family Meetup - Friday, Oct. 9th @ 4:00 pm

🚼 5 and Under Meetup - Saturday, Oct. 10th @ 10:00 am

🐴Connections with Teens and Adults - Sunday, Oct. 11th @ 10:30 am

👥Neurodivergent Mixer (ages 16+) - Tuesday, Oct. 13th @ 6:00 pm

☕️Caregiver Coffee - Wednesday, Oct. 14th @ 9:00 am

♣️ Dad’s Meetup - Thursday, Oct. 15th @ 5:30 pm

👥 Neurodivergent Mixer (ages 16+) - Sunday, October. 18th @ 4:30 pm

🙂 Sibling Support Meetup (SibShops) - Tuesday, Oct. 20th @ 4:00 pm

🍕 Mom’s Meetup- Friday, Oct. 23rd @ 5:30 pm

📝 504 Plan Presentation- Tuesday, Oct. 27th @10:30 am

🌟 Neurodivergent Bingo (13+) - Friday, Oct. 30th @ 5:30 pm

🚨 Registration is required for all meetups and events🚨

09/30/2026

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Wikiup Tennis & Swim Club, Rancho Obi-Wan, and Kendra Scott for generously welcoming Common Ground Society™ and hosting our meetups throughout September! 💚

Each of these wonderful community partners helped us create joyful, welcoming spaces where individuals with disabilities and unique needs—and the people who love them—could connect, have fun, and feel a true sense of belonging.

We are incredibly grateful for your hospitality, kindness, and support of our community. Thank you for helping us show that when everyone is included, everyone benefits!

It starts with HELLO, ends with BELONGING.™

09/18/2026

🫶🏽BELONGING doesn’t just happen overnight.

It takes all of us.

Our Common Ground Society swim party was such a beautiful reminder of that.

Thank you to Wikkiup Tennis and Swim Club for hosting our families with such care. And sincere thanks to the Welfare League of Sonoma County for funding this special day.

When we create spaces where every child, teen, adult and every family can just show up and be themselves, we build something bigger than any one of us.

A community of BELONGING, where everyone is a valued member of our community.

It starts with HELLO, ends with BELONGING.

HELLO. BELONGING.