Center for Family Involvement Blog
The Center for Family Involvement works with families to increase their skills as advocates, mentors, and leaders so that people with disabilities and their families can lead the lives they want.
Our blog shares snippets of the unique journeys many of us are on – from the celebrations, struggles, joys, pains, and more.
PARENTING IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. We understand this better than most. We’ve been doing it since we became parents. Still, this is different. This is extra. This is terrifying because our loved ones are at a greater risk. So repeat after me: Staying...
LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC
It’s hard seeing memes out there saying “keep calm and wash your hands” when you have a loved one who is medically fragile or susceptible to respiratory distress. We know how to keep calm, we’ve done it many times while rushing them to the emergency room or even...
BURN THE PARENTING BOOKS
I vividly remember how badly I wanted to burn every pregnancy and parenting book I came across when my son was born nearly 10 years ago. None of them prepared me for the shock of finding out my newborn had Down syndrome. None of them offered any comfort for the pain...
‘TIL DEATH DO US PART
For better or worse, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. We truly mean these things when we enter into marriage or a committed relationship. Be we also know that in this modern era, death isn't always taken literally, nor should it be. For some of...
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WILL OUTLIVE YOUR CHILD
Whenever someone implies my son is a burden, I cringe. I’ve said before, the only burdens we face are the hurdles society sets in front of us. But there is one heavy, unspoken burden parents of children with disabilities do carry with them from the beginning. Many of...
PLEASE, TEACH YOUR CHILD TO BE A FRIEND
My heart was broken into a million pieces by a group of elementary school kids today. I was escorting my 9-year-old to the bus for ski club. He loves skiing. He loves ski club. This was his first time getting on the bus without his best friend. The one that took him...
GET YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER
Make 2020 the year you get your financial house in order. It's not as hard as you think. You can do it in 4 hours. Seriously. Once you have children, you know how important financial planning is, as is a will, power of attorney, and advanced medical directives. If...
BABY ON THE WAY? HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME
By Jenny Wise According to the Center for Parent Information & Resources, parents who have recently learned that their child has, or will have, an intellectual or physical disability describe feelings of confusion, devastation, heartbreak, and fear. Reaching out...
NEW YEAR, NEW DECADE, SAME YOU
Happy 2020! We made it. A new year, an entirely new decade, a seemingly clean slate. Whether you love a resolution or not, there is something appealing about starting fresh. There's a reason webpages, magazine covers, and instagram feeds are full of "new year, new...
LET IT GO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Ever notice how when things get to be too much, your schedule is jam-packed, and your just scraping by - the universe comes along and punches you in the gut? It happens in our family several times a year, with something extra special around the most busiest time of...