Support Network - Families Need to Know

Building A Support Network

Your support network is the people that you count on to support your family in ways that help you meet the challenge of raising children with disabilities.

A support network may include:

Someone to sit with your child.

An older sibling, a relative, neighbor, older teen, church member.

Someone you can talk to about your child’s unique growth and development.

A spouse, a parent raising a child with a similar disability, a relative, neighbor, a doctor or therapist.

Someone to provide day care so that you can work outside the home..

A spouse, licensed provider, relative, or neighbor.

Someone you can rely on to act as a guardian for your child if you should die or become injured unexpectedly.

A spouse, older sibling, relative or corporate guardian.

Someone you can talk to about the joys and burdens of parenting a special needs child.

A spouse, close friend, pastor, teacher, doctor, neighbor, relative or parent who has walked the same road.

Someone who will keep your child overnight so that you can get away for work or vacation or emergencies.

A relative, respite care provider or good neighbor.

Someone who will welcome your child into their home, club or center and include them in typical activities.

Neighbors, Scouting, 4-H, school or center, church group, after school program.

Support groups do not happen by magic. You build them by overcoming your natural shyness and asking others for suggestions, support or a commitment. Often you have to train the members of your support network, too. This is called building up the community. It starts with crawling out of your shell, getting to know people in your area, offering to help or support others describing the pickle that you are in and finding someone who is willing to help you.

It involves asking around, checking in the paper, making phone calls and hanging out in the neighborhood. The truth is that no one else will do this for you. Professionals will have suggestions, but it is up to you. Your family can pay a high price in stress, loneliness and anxiety without a support group - so get busy. You are worth the effort!