As parents and caregivers, you have been chosen by God to bring His unconditional love to a child with special needs. Your child is a gift. We know that you need the love of God and your church community to surround your family. We, your church, want to help you with this journey in life. We encourage you to talk to a priest, deacon, parish advocate for disabilities, or a parish council member, to discuss ways to serve the needs of you and your family.
Here are resources to begin that support:
Broken Angels Website - Deacon Mike Quinn, the father of 4 adopted children with disabilities requiring total care daily has chosen to minister to parents and caregivers by designing this site to offer personal encouragement and support. Visit www.brokenbodyangels.com then select “parents and caregivers of people with disabilities”. This site includes:
- Deacon Mike’s Broken Body Angels Page
- Disability News and Info. Here you will find interesting statistics and reports
- Events/Recreation
- Stars of the month. Here a person or agency is highlighted for their outstanding work
- Western New York Service Providers. Learn about guardianship, health providers and more. A different service is selected each month.
- Favorite websites. Be enriched spiritually, learn about resources in the area and nationally.
- Reflections, Poems and inspirational thoughts
The following are not all faith-based supports, but we recognize that God gives us the gift of each other to share in our ministry. You as parents need the love and support of others. We hope you will attend and find strength in these groups.
SS Joachim and Anna is a peer support group for parents and caregivers for people with disabilities. Other caregivers and parents are always welcome (VIEW FLYER)
Parent Network - is an organization that provides current, relevant and comprehensive information to parents/caregivers who have children with special needs. They offer outreach to parents with seminars and training sessions and resource materials. Visit www.parentworkwny.org
Parent to Parent of NY State offers telephone support through Lorraine Blum at (716) 517-3448 for all counties in our Diocese. Visit www.parenttoparentnys.org
For Dad's: "Fathers Are Caregivers Too!" by Steve Fischer at www.fathersnetwork.org
Mom's Only: For mothers of children and young adults with physical disabilities, and also for young adult and adult women with physical disabilities. All are informal gatherings where we share ideas, concerns and life! All events are pay your own way. Contact by email: Chris or call her at 685-3972.
For Siblings: Monthly Sibshop sessions are held at Canisius College. The sessions are offered for both 6-9 year olds and 10-13 year olds. Sibshop is more like a club than a class so regular attendance is not necessary. Sessions are lively and provide support and guidance to siblings of children with special developmental needs. Siblings are encouraged to share the challenges and celebrate the joys with brothers and sisters in similar circumstances. Sessions are held on the first floor of the Health Science Building and ample parking is available along with staff to direct attendees to their designated rooms. Children should be brought to the front entrance at 12:45pm and picked up at 4:00pm. Space is limited. If you have more questions you can call Dr. Susan Putnam at the WNY Sibshop at Canisius College, Dept. of Psychology, HSC 210, 2001 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14208. For more information and registration form please visit: www.canisius.edu/sibshop
My Child Without Limits is a website for parents worried that their child is not developing like other children, to find answers to their questions. This website provides access to accurate information in user-friendly and relevant disability-related organized by experts on early intervention and family support to: 1. understand the disability, 2. plan for treatment and 3. find support. A community section of My Child Without Limits also offers a venue for parents to communicate with each other, ask questions of professionals and service providers and receive support through the critical period of initial diagnosis.
SPECIALIZED SUPPORT
Pioneer parent support groups meets the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30am at the Burger King in Yorkshire. Call (716) 492-0240 for information.
Parent Support Groups in the Western New York Community for: Asperger’s Disorder parent support group meets the first Monday of each month at Summit Educational Resources, 150 Stahl Road, Getzville, NY 14068 from 7 to 8:30pm call Mary Pat Sperrazza at 629-3445.
ADD(Attention Deficit Disorder) support group for parents of children with ADD and adults with ADD meets on Tuesdays from 7 to 9pm in the Orchard Park Library, 4570 South Buffalo Road, Orchard Park. Contact Danielle Tabone at 667-3411.
Apraxia or Dyspraxia support group meets the third Wednesday of the month from 6 -9pm at Temple Beth Am at 4660 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville. Visit www.wnyapraxia.org.
Autism:
Did you know that current studies show that 1 out of 91 children are diagnosed with Autism? Autism is a complex neurological disorder characterized by difficulties in repetitive/restrictive behavior, communication and socialization. Here are opportunities to learn more about Autism: Interactive Collaborative Autism Network (ICAN) ICAN offers online instructional modules on autism spectrum disorders. Topics include: Characteristics, Academic Interventions and Assessment. Each topic includes an introduction, lecture, quiz, FAQs and references. The site is: http://www.autismnetwork.org/index.html
Canisius College and Summit Educational Resources offer WNY a Regional Autism Center at http://www.wnycenterforautism.org/. The center offers conferences, a library, research and fact sheets. A great Autism fact sheet may be downloaded from the site.
Southtowns parent support group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at Chapel Park Villa Head Start at 7pm, e-mail Gail at duffonthelake@aol.com or call 947-0085 to confirm. Family Support for parents in Erie and Niagara County meets once a month. Call (716) 825-1353 for information.
High Functioning Autism/Asperger’s support group at Autistic Services, 4444 Bryant Stratton Way, Williamsville on the third Thursday of each month. Contact veronica@autisticservices.org
Behavioral, Social or Emotional Issues
In Niagara County, parent support groups for parents of children with social, emotional or behavioral issues meet in Niagara Falls, Lockport and North Tonawanda. Call (716) 433-4487 for information.
Brain Injury Support Groups
Peer support group for mild to moderate injury every Monday at 7pm at 856 Ridge Road Peer support group meets the last Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8pm at 856 Ridge Rd.
Family and Caregiver Support meets the first Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8pm at 865 Ridge Road
TBI clubhouse(Social Meetings) are held the first and third Tuesday at 6pm at Aspire, 7 Community Drive , Cheektowaga
Southtowns Family Support Group meets the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm at Sterling Medical Center , 200 Sterling Drive in Orchard Park , call (716) 824-1761(after 4)
Neonatal brain injury support is offered by Parents’ Link. Call (716) 774-0027.
Developmental Disabilities support group for families (Family Support Consumer Council) for Western New York, call (716) 649-3374 for information.
Disabilities
In Niagara County: A youth group for 14-21 year olds meets the second and fourth Friday. Young Adults meet the second Monday of the month Deaf Group meets the third Wednesday. All are sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Center for Independent Living at 1522 Main Street in Niagara Falls. Call (716) 284-2452 for information. Parents and caregivers of children ages 0 to 5 meet monthly at 25 Chateau Terrace in Amherst. Email info@bornhava.org or call (716) 839-1655.
Support for families of children with special needs 0 to 5 provided by Early Childhood Detention Center. E-mail vrubin@kaleidahealth.org
Down Syndrome
Parent groups meets monthly at Cleveland Hill Elementary School Cafeteria for more information visit, www.dspgwny.org. In Cattaraugus County, parent support is offered on a one to one. Call (716) 372-9401 for more information.
Learning Disabilities
In Chautauqua County, support groups are held monthly for ADD, Autism, Adults at 1Park Place, Suite 248 in Fredonia. Call (716) 679-1601 for information. Adults with Learning Disabilities meet monthly at 2355 Elmwood Avenue in Kenmore Call (716) 284-2452 for information.
Support group for parents of children with nonverbal learning disabilities meets at the Jewish Community Center at 2640 N. Forest Road in Getzville. E-mail kaefe1313@aol.com.
PKU Parent and Family Support groups meets throughout WNY. Call (716) 838-3452 for information.
Spina Bifida Parent and family support group meets monthly at Northwoods Medical Center, Robinson Road, Amherst. Visit www.sbawny.org or call (716) 446-5595.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy support for families of children with SMA provided by WNY Chapter for Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. E-mail wny@fsma.org for information.
Tourette Syndrome:
- Adult Rap group
- Children’s Rap group
- Adolescent Recreation group
- Chapter Meetings
All offered by WNY Chapter Tourette Syndrome Association. Call (716) 839-4430 for information.