When you get a new diagnosis for your child that you never expected, it is life changing.  Isolation and grief come flooding in along with the questions of why me?  Why us?  It can feel like no one else knows what is going on and that is where a parent match comes in and saves the day. Finding another parent that knows those feelings and has had similar experiences can mean so much. I didn’t get individually matched when we got our diagnosis for my daughter but I found the support through groups such as Holland, or the Autism support group helped so much. I have made friends that I never would have met otherwise and they are some of my best friends.  After having received this support I wanted to share with other parents that might be getting a new diagnosis- to help them through those questions and feelings I had when we were new on this journey.  I attended Parent to Parent’s Helping Parent Training, and then about a year ago, I was matched with a parent that had received a new diagnosis for her child that was the same as my child’s. Even though this mom lived hours away, we were able to connect via text.  Over the last year we have kept up texting when something was going on or that mom had a question. Being able to share my experience or give validation to how she is feeling really makes me feel great as well, and it also reminds me that there are more people out there that are going through the same thing. Awhile back I got the privilege of meeting her as they were in town for an appointment. When I walked in she gave me a hug and it was like seeing a long lost friend that I haven’t seen in years. We sat there and talked for almost 2 hours about different things with our children and what was new or going on. Meeting her just brought joy to my life and I could see the joy in her face of being able to talk to someone that understands. The next morning I got a sweet text from the mom thanking me for meeting her and talking with her.  She thanked me for my kindness and friendship. This connection and match has meant just as much to me as it does to her. I have made a new friend for life. By Danielle W.

In 2017 my son Travis was referred to see a PT and OT at just 3 months old. I thought I was failing him as a mom, and it was the worst feeling I have ever felt.
After a few short months of him being in therapy they brought up SSP2P and told me I should reach out. I was very hesitant, and it took me a couple months to reach out if I am being honest. He was about a year old when he finally had his evaluation with Danielle Gardner (Family Resources Coordinator) and Erin Murray (Home Visitor). I started to realize I wasn't alone, and these amazingly kind people were here to help me and Travis.
He got started right away with Erin and she was amazing. She came to the house every other week and played with Travis and we talked about all the accomplishments and milestones he was hitting and even all the tougher things that weren't going right for us. She was a listening ear for me to talk and vent to all while playing and engaging with Travis to help reach goals, we set every 6 months or so. Having her come to the house was such a blessing and even more so when I had my second son Thomas. She was understanding if I wasn't as engaged in the session because of Thomas and would give Travis the undivided attention he needed while I was attending to my newborn. When we moved she was so flexible and made arrangements for us to visit in office.
Thomas was always welcomed with open arms which was a blessing because as a stay at home mom I had no childcare for him while Travis was having his visits. Travis was getting older and hitting all sorts of milestones and our team started talking about the next steps to get him into school because he was phasing out of B-3 as sad as it was. He started going to some toddler groups which I feel helped him a lot being around other kids who weren't his brother. Danielle and Erin helped get us set up with the developmental pre-k in our school district and made the transition so smooth but again so sad as this phase was coming to and end. I am forever grateful for all that SSP2P has done for my family.
When Sylvia Davenport (Helping Parent Transition Coordinator) came to me in a toddler group and asked me to think about becoming a helping parent, I was ecstatic! I was so excited and wanted nothing more than to help other parents who were going through life as a parent of a special child. I wanted and still want to make sure no parent goes through this alone. As if just being a parent wasn't hard enough adding stresses of having a developmentally delayed child just made it so much harder. I became a helping parent because I know how I felt going through the waves of life alone when Travis first started PT and OT and realizing that he wasn't going to lead a "normal" life.
I wish I would've reached out sooner because in my 2 short years of being apart of this program I have learned and received so much support and, friendships for both of my kids. Now that I am a helping parent and attend the weekly Mom 2 Mom group on Zoom I feel so much more connected with other families around me that are going through very similar situations. This Is a very different life we are all living these days and feeling alone and isolated are probably the top 5 feelings I feel on a regular basis but having these women to turn to and vent to and bounce ideas off of and just support me makes the hour a week I give to the group worth it. Knowing that I'm not alone and that just about every other parent out there is feeling just as overwhelmed as I am makes me feel a little less alone and overwhelmed. Our Mom 2 Mom group is about togetherness, laughing, crying, being happy, and sharing frustrations and accomplishments. I am forever grateful for this program and all it has given me and my family. I can't imagine how much different our lives would be without everyone who's apart of SSP2P. By far the best phone call I ever made 2 years ago.  

Spanish versión: Mi nombre es Flor Yenis Flores, soy casada tengo dos hijos, una niña y un adolescente que el siguiente siclo escolar va entrar a la high school. Desde que me conectaron con un padre Ayudante, con la cual considero que es muy empática, amable y siento que tiene mucha experiencia con la labor que hace con nosotros y eso me impresiona mucho, tanto que me hace sentir mas orientada y confiada. Me da mucho gusto tener alguien con quien platicar acerca de nuestros hijos que tienen el mismo diagnóstico. Además, hay que considerar que, tener a alguien con quien hablar y confiar que además habla el mismo idioma, que entiende nuestras costumbre hace una gran diferencia. Ahora me siento más tranquila, que no estoy sola y que no soy la única, la verdad me siento mas consolada. Entiendo que, por el momento no podemos reunirnos en persona por el covid y también porque nuestros hijos están en casa y estamos mas ocupadas, pero saber que puedo hablar con mi padre ayudante la vida me es de mucha ayuda, lo cual agradezco mucho.

English versión: My name is Flor Yenis Flores, I am married and I have two children, one little girl and a teenager who is going to start high school the next school year. Since I was connected to a Helping Parent, with whom I consider very empathetic, kind and I feel that she has a lot of experience with the volunteer work she does with us and that impresses me a lot, so much that it makes me feel more oriented and confident. I am very happy to have someone to talk to about our children who have the same diagnosis. In addition, we must consider that having someone to talk to and trust who also speaks the same language, who understands our customs, considering the difference in experiences each of us have makes a huge difference. Now I feel more calm knowing that I am not alone and that I am not the only one, truthfully I feel more comforted. I understand that, at the moment, we cannot meet in person because of COVID and also because our children are at home and we are more busy, but knowing that I can speak to my helping parent is very helpful for which I am very grateful.  

As a parent that has spent the last decade walking through the IEP and 504 process I have learned so much.  Sometimes these lessons have been painful. As a helper parent I love that I can share what I have learned with other parents who are new to the IEP process. My goal is to be the person who walks alongside these families and let them know they are not alone. As I sit with them I feel great joy in seeing moms and dads become empowered just by having a helper parent in their corner.

I also enjoy the fact that as a helper parent I can choose when I volunteer giving me time to focus on taking care of my son, when he needs me, but still help out when I can.

My wife Sarah Coomber and I adopted our son Daniel from India at the age of 3. As Sarah and I have journeyed through the process of finding the support we need to care for a child with special needs, one thing that's been particularly helpful is the dad's conversation group that Jeremy Van Pelt and I started in early 2019. It has truly been a rewarding experience to connect with and learn from other dads who are experiencing similar parenting situations. And having recently participated in Parent Helper training, I now have a fresh lens with which to offer support to the other dads that I come into contact with. Thank you for the training and equipping that you are doing in this important area! -- Jon Suomala Pictured: Jon Suomala and family w/ Jeremy Van Pelt and family at Camp Prime Time summer of 2019.