As a special needs parent, feeling alone is par for the course. Breaking through life’s busyness to build relationships can be hard. Today, guest blogger Kristin Faith Evans provides suggestions and resources for special needs parents so that you can find the support you need.

Our compassionate God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV).

Caring for a child with a chronic illness or disability often isolates special needs parents. Yet, social support is a critical factor in helping disability parents thrive. Sometimes it takes energy, courage, and creativity, but there are many ways that special needs parents can connect.

Barriers to Connection

Possibly two of the biggest hurdles to spending time with other special needs parents are the constant caregiving demands and maybe even the medical fragility of your child. You may feel exhausted just thinking about lining up caregiving, planning for your child’s needs, or packing up all their gear to go somewhere. These can be difficult barriers to overcome. But it’s not impossible.

You might also wonder, “What’s the point? No one can understand what I’m going through.” I felt this way when my medically complex daughter, Bethany Grace, was little. Every caregiving parent has their own unique story. However, though your experiences may not be exactly the same, there are other parents who can relate to what you’re going through and empathize with you.

Benefits of Support:

Social isolation can increase mental health symptoms, strain relationships, and impede adapting, but special needs parents who do find social support:

Become more resilient

Lower their stress levels

Improve their mental health

Strengthen their relationships

Cope and adapt better

Find new perspective

Support Groups

If you aren’t already, I encourage you to attend a support group. Ideally, you could attend in person, but sometimes that’s just not feasible, or there may not be a group in your area. If this is the case, there are also live online groups. By attending a support group, you can:

Feel understood and encouraged

Receive grief support

Process faith questions and struggles

Learn tips and discover resources

Help encourage other parents

Build new friendships

These are some possible places to find a support group in your area:

• Churches with disability ministries (find a church at Key Ministry)
• Local children’s hospitals
• Pediatric therapy centers
• Local Facebook groups
• Your child’s syndrome organization regional chapter

Other ways to connect:

• Strike up a conversation during your child’s therapy session
• Meet other parents at your child’s school
• Enroll your child in Special Olympics to talk on the sidelines
• Go to a special needs family camp or retreat

I hope that you’re able to connect with other special needs parents in more meaningful ways.

What’s one way you find support from other parents? Please share your idea in the comments.

Blessings,

Kristin

Additional Resources:

Parent to Parent USA

Rising Above Ministries

Walk Right In Ministries

Joni & Friends

Wonderfully Made Family Camp

Especially for Dads (since there are fewer resources):

The Special Fathers Network

The Dad’s Fire Circle

Dads on Special Assignment (DOSA)

Dad to Dad FB Group

Special Needs and Disabilities Life of Dad FB Group

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Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash