Support group helps families, children with disabilities
Fourteen years ago our son Jordan was born. The birth was traumatic, however, after two weeks in Sacred Heart Medical Center we had high hopes for a normal future.
He progressed normally, until age two, when it became increasingly clear that his language skills were delayed. At first we just assumed he was a "late talker" and that with time he would naturally progress. By age five, his speech was still much delayed and we noticed he played differently than other kids his age.
We took him to the University of Washington in Seattle for testing and after a week there they gave him the diagnosis of mental retardation of unknown origin.
As parents what we didn't know was that we were headed down a very different road — one without road signs and maps, and to an unclear destination. We had to grieve over what might have been and come to accept the reality of his limitations.
Maybe you have a similar story to ours, or maybe you have just received your child's diagnosis. Maybe you have had the diagnosis a while but are new to the area and things are still unfamiliar and overwhelming. You realize that you have to become your child's advocate in life but maybe lack the energy, the resources, or the time to do it effectively.
In any case we want you to know you are not alone in this, and that there are resources available to you in this community.
The local hospital provides many therapies; from speech and language to physical and occupational. There are agencies that provide developmental therapy and intensive behavior intervention as well as service coordination.
Service coordination refers to an individual assigned to help a family locate resources they may need in the community (or farther). They help families to obtain funding through various programs, set up meetings with care providers, provide advocacy support at school Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings and follow an on going plan that outlines the needs of your child now and where you as parents would like to see things headed.
There are agencies that focus on children's mental health; public education systems that must provide a free and appropriate education; personal care agencies that provide in-home care; pediatricians that provide valuable insights and help us to access the latest technologies; and more!
Finally, but perhaps most importantly, a parent support group has been formed (by parents) that meets once a week at The Badger's Den restaurant from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
We discuss everything from behavior issues to foods that seem to help for everything from Autism, ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, Down's Syndrome, Klinefeltor's Syndrome to traumatic brain injury and emotional disturbances. We talk about garage sales and exercise and lack of sleep.
We vent our frustrations and we listen to each other and we laugh together. It's a form of parent therapy that lifts the spirit and wards off the isolation.
We welcome anyone who has, knows, works with or is an advocate for a child or person with a disability.
We also welcome any individual that is interested in learning more or feels they have something to contribute.
We want the person who just likes to listen or the person who needs to talk the whole hour to feel better.
If any of this interests you, please join us for a Family Festival Barbecue at the Fairgrounds, June 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. There will be food by Jo-Jo Baker, fun and activities for all ages and information about local resources.
This event is open to the community and is being sponsored by Regional Early Childhood Committee (RECC) and Children's Mental Health Council and hosted by parents with children with special needs.
Call Tanya at 267-1203, Mary at 267-3597, or Anna at 267-6452 for more information.
Mary and David Mendenhall,
Parents and advocates of Jordan
Bonners Ferry