AHRC New York City’s Post

“Why do special needs parents have support groups and not siblings?” That is exactly what I asked myself before I started Your Safe Space NG, a support group for neurotypical siblings. Neurotypical siblings are persons who have siblings with special needs/ disorders/ disabilities. I founded Your Safe Space NG three years ago with the sole aim of meeting other neurotypical siblings. I saw that my mom belonged to a lot and it helped in the aspect of providing support and care. I wanted the same for siblings of special needs. The aim is not just to provide siblings with support and create an avenue to connect with other siblings but to provide and advise on areas of self-care. Parental battles are not the same as siblings battles. That’s when I started Your Safe Space NG hangouts. Next year, we are set to have a conference that will address not just siblings, but parents and the public. Your Safe Space NG isn't just open to siblings alone but to the general public who want to learn about disabilities. When I see people who are not involved in special needs join my group, I'm pleased because I know how important it is. We live in a neurodiverse world and anything can happen. It may not be to you, or your family members- although, the future holds a lot of mysteries. With that, if you know any sibling struggling with personal affairs or wanting to join a community where she/he can talk to someone about the struggles and joys, please reach out and join. https://lnkd.in/dwbXekQk We’re happy to have you!

⚡Self advocacy is so much more than a definition; it is an action. It's about taking control of your own life.⚡ 💪 SAU1 is on a mission to teach YOU how to take charge of YOUR life and start living YOUR life, YOUR way. You can make your voice heard. Self advocacy is a powerful tool that empowers us to go after what you want. Want to learn more about self advocacy and how it can change your life for the better? Join us at our upcoming events! Check out our event calendar to stay updated on our events that can help you with your self advocacy. 📅 Explore our Event Calendar here: https://lnkd.in/em2cJHyR  #disability  #disabilityawareness  #disabilityrights  #abilitynotdisability  #disabilitypride  #disabilityinclusion  #disabilityadvocate  #disabilitysupport  #autism  #autismawareness  #autismacceptance  #autismfamily  #downsyndrome  #downsyndromeawareness  #downsyndromelove  #downsyndromerocks  #selfadvocate

Part of crafting this week's slides on Navigating Disability Grief in BIPOC Solidarity meant thinking critically about my own grief as a disabled social worker, educator, equity practitioner, artist, etc. and being intentional in my email communication to identify and articulate my own access needs! ✍️🏾 It is still not too late to register for Navigating Grief in BIPOC Solidarity, so please do not hesitate to sign-up if you are Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour, and white folx are welcome to share widely! 🙏🏽 https://lnkd.in/gBFegm-q Dates: Thursdays from February 15 to April 11, 2024 Times: 6-8 pm EST Location: ONLINE Remaining Weekly Topics: March 21, 2024: Navigating (Dis)ability Grief March 28, 2024: Navigating Carceral Grief April 4, 2024: Grief as a Spiritual Practice April 11, 2024: Navigating Climate Grief [Image Description: White text on a black background states, "This email provides information to help you prepare for the 6th session of Navigating Grief in BIPOC Solidarity, should you benefit from additional time to review the materials." Then, underlined white text on a black background states, "Since we are now up to 51 sign-ups, it has become increasingly challenging for me to connect Zoom display names to registrants while facilitating the session, so please make every effort to log into the Zoom space with the name you used to register, as my memory is not what it once was in the aftermath of trauma, COVID-19, aging, etc." Below that, white text on a black background states: Unfortunately, I was notified by Scarborough Arts that Workman Arts was unable to secure BIPOC ASL interpretation services for the series, so my apologies for that gap in access; as of now, none of the 51 sign-ups have noted ASL as an access need. As follows, is our drive, which contains all the slides from Weeks 1-5, as well as the course materials, including journal articles that inform my approach, interviews, poems, essays, etc:] #KrystalKavitaJagoo #IntersectionalEquityInsights #SustainableBIPOCResistance

Is grief & loss limited only to the loss of a loved one? Do you know that parents of children with special needs may go through a prolonged grieving process? We are now into Day 6 of our Neuroequity Campaign. Let’s ask ourselves how we can be the village that parents of children with disabilities badly need. For the full video, go to https://lnkd.in/gZUFFbQB #neuroequity #neurodiversity #equityineducation #learningdisabilities #disabilities #autism #parentingspecialneeds

There is simply no preparing for the moment you’re told your child has a disability. There’s no universal guidebook on how to process quite possibly the most devastating news you’ll ever hear, and more often than not, there’s absolutely zero warning this life-altering moment is coming. In the case of my daughter, Callie, I gave birth to her, moments later I was completely numb listening to the doctor tell us she had a chronic heart condition that required open heart surgery immediately AND she had a lower limb deficiency. It happened that fast. In a heart beat. As soon as the news of Callie’s diagnosis made it out of the hospital room, my husband and I were flooded with messages of support from friends and loved ones who wanted nothing more than to help. Early on, when anyone asked what they could do to help, my numb response was “I don’t know.” It was the truth. I was struggling just to breathe, and the thought of ideating and delegating tasks was so far beyond my mental capacity. Fast forward nearly 15 years, and I’m beyond grateful to share my now teenage (slow down time!!!) daughter is sassy, vivacious, kind-hearted, and thriving. It’s been a life-defining journey, to say the least, and when I look back on those first few months, I felt called to leverage our learnings to help guide others on how they can best support a mama whose child has received a disability diagnosis. Of course, every situation is unique, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, I want to share five things you can do to support a mom who’s child was just diagnosed with a disability (plus three things not to do) in hopes that it might spark the idea that’s right for you. #disabilityadvocate #writer #author #disabilityfamily #inclusion

New research from Coram Voice finds children in care and care leavers with disabilities are missing out on vital support. "Young people shared that disability can mean different things, like neurodiversity, which can make everyday life harder. Mental health issues, like depression and anxiety, are not included in the ‘disability codes’ used by local authorities." Disability, Disparity, and Demand: an analysis of the numbers and experiences of children in care and care leavers with a disability or long-term health conditions. https://lnkd.in/eZGGuvsi

This great article by Hari Srinivasan highlights a few complexities around loneliness in the disabled community. It also calls out the idealized notion of "independence," because we all need to be heard, we all need connection, and we are all dependent on others to conduct and enjoy our lives. For many autistic people, experiencing a world that is not made for you is isolating. This experience is replicated for many parents and of neurodivergent children, who are also isolated, ostracized, blamed and criticized. We are addressing these issues as part of our work and community at The Undaunted - raising awareness, taking action to fix broken systems, and elevating the voices of the unheard. This quote of the articles sums it up well: "Addressing the loneliness epidemic in the disabled community necessitates a nuanced understanding of independence because in actuality, all humans live in a cycle of dependency. The perceived division between independence and dependence is a flawed notion." https://lnkd.in/egv7uEG2

Are you a parent to a child with special needs? If so, you understand the unique challenges and uncertainties that come along with this responsibility, especially when it comes to securing your child's future. A special needs trust could be the solution you're looking for, and we'd like to share a client story that exemplifies this. https://bit.ly/4bdvV8n #specialneeds #estateplanning #autism #specialneedstrust

Throughout history, there have been behaviours and practices that were once widely accepted or overlooked, only to later be recognised as harmful or abusive. Take smoking, for example. For decades, it was promoted as a healthy habit, but we now know what effects it can have on health, and people can make an informed choice about it. Similarly, domestic abuse was often dismissed or normalised, with victims suffering in silence due to societal stigma and lack of awareness. It took years of advocacy and education to bring attention to the issue and provide support for survivors. Parental alienation is another complex and often misunderstood form of abuse that follows this pattern. Despite the overwhelming evidence of its harmful impact on children and families, there are still those who deny its existence or downplay its severity. This denial only adds insult to injury for those of u who have experienced its devastating effects firsthand. Alienated children are now coming forward in greater numbers to corroborate the experiences of parents who have had their loved, previously loving children turned against them unjustifiably. While parental alienation may not yet be officially classified as a mental health disorder, its profound and lasting effects cannot be ignored. Awareness of parental alienation needs to extend beyond those directly affected to encompass legal and mental health professionals, as well as educators and law enforcement. As with cigarette packages, some parents should have warning labels—am I wrong? WARNING: THIS (PARENT) COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO YOUR (MENTAL) HEALTH. About the artist, Claudia Kaak: Her brilliant work has a social narrative focusing on her childhood experiences and mental illness. Her artwork deals with existential feelings, human inner strife, and the extreme, unlimited emotional and physical experience of pain. #charliemccready #parentalalienationcoach #parentalalienation #parentalalienationawareness #coparentingwithanarcissist #childcustody #childabuse #familycourt #highconflictdivorce #custody #custodybattle #parentalalienationischildabuse #parentalalienationisacrime #fathersrights #mothersrights #childrensrights #parentalrights #sharedparenting #parentalalienationsyndrome #familyviolence #fathersmatter #mothersmatter #survivingparentalalienation #generationaltrauma #parentalalienatingbehaviours #falseallegations #traumabonding #traumabond #coercivecontrol #narcissisticparent

Growing up alongside a sibling with a disability can be a rewarding journey that's filled with strength, resilience, empathy and understanding. While there can be moments of confusion, remember that tremendous growth often results. Discover how we're helping families support their children on this journey! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4dy1jyQ #ADHDAwarenessMonth #SEND #SENDParents