Being A Parent of a Young Adult with Special Needs

Written by: Mary Rich

As a parent of a child with special needs, you are constantly fighting and advocating for your child. Sometimes you need to fight against stereotypes, sometimes you need to fight against people putting limits on your child, sometimes you need to just fight so that people see the gifts and possibilities in your child that you see. In the midst of all that, you also need to fight against losing hope, feeling lost or worse, that you are not being realistic about what they can accomplish.

This fight doesn’t end when your child becomes an adult, in some ways it becomes harder and more urgent.  All those amazing young people from high school move on to college and careers, while your child works twice as hard as anyone else to make gains.  The opportunities for social interactions dwindle.  Your child may feel left behind and wonder how to make new friends.  You are broken hearted for them.

Then, scrolling on Facebook you see a new group mentioned.  You keep seeing the posts and wonder if this could help.  Then a friend from the past reaches out to encourage you to come to a meeting.  You take a leap of faith and attend.  Here you find families just like yours.  You connect with the parents and the amazing young people, while your child smiles and chatters away.

This, this community is what makes Circle of Friends so amazing.  Everyone has their own gifts and talents and we happily work together to encourage socialization while we build for a future for all of us.  I thank God daily for bringing me to this group.