USA -Jasour- News Desk
Searching for disability and special needs resources can feel overwhelming, but the results are worth it. Winnie Burnett knows the process from the ground up. In Pendleton, Burnett coordinates Special Needs Families Connect, a monthly peer support group that serves as a place for questions, problem solving, and support in a safe environment surrounded by families with lived experience.
People are often overcome by having so much to process, she says. You’ve been dealing with these symptoms and behaviors, the reason you’ve got the disability diagnosis, and now all of a sudden you’re being rejected by the normal progress of things and it is overwhelming.” For family members just starting the process of finding services, Burnett first recommends meeting with other families in peer support groups. “I would start with something like the support group because it’s more personal and you can find parents who’ve been through it. You realize you’re not alone,” she says. “People have been there and come out the other side. It isn’t easy, but we’ve done it.”
In Hermiston, the peer support group KoffeeKlatsch is run by Cindy Middleton. “The most important thing when looking for resources is to cast a wide net, don’t give up on your searches, and look for resources outside of a single diagnosis,” Middleton offers.Other parents can answer questions and suggest a clear path forward. Families will need to contact the county-designated organization to sign up for many services. Each county handles resources slightly differently. In Hermiston, for example, programs are handled through the Umatilla County Community Developmental Disabilities Program, while Union County services go through the Center for Human Development Inc.
