Support For Families With Special Needs Children

[DeannaMarie]

I have two children with special needs, and am interested in creating a Catholic family support network in my area. I have a question for other families with special needs children. What type of support would you want from a Catholic group? What type of support are you missing? Social? Spiritual? Financial? Emotional? Respite? Therapy? Education? Mentoring? Friendship? Other? Thank you and God Bless!

 

[bgic]

A Catholic support group is a great idea! I would say in short to answer your question: all of the above. My family is blessed to have two great organizations in our town that support people with Down syndrome: Gigi’s Playhouse and Ups for Downs.

I suppose what is missing for me with these organizations is the religious education and church support. I would like to see the church make an active outreach towards special needs children for involvment in church activities and mass. Maybe your organization could be an advocate to the church.

It would be nice to befriend other parents with the same faith. It would take quite a few social meetings in our groups to even discuss religion. In your proposed group that would be assumed and a given. It would facilitate the spiritual support I am looking for.

Good luck!

 

[jilly4ski]

My wonderful SIL has a special needs child, and her and another lady at the church started an Elizabeth Ministry, it is for women with families, pregnancy, miscarriages, and other sort of loss and struggle associated with familiy life and children.
They provide emotional, spiritual, and social support for women in need in their parish who otherwise won’t get this type of help.

Here is the website. elizabethministry.com/