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Advocacy Groups for Families of Disabled Children

Having a child with a disability can drastically change the life you had once planned. A child with disabilities requires special care which may include special education, constant supervision, or continuous medical care and therapy. This special care can take a toll on a family, both financially and in time spent. Advocacy groups are designed to ensure that children with disabilities have access to all the resources they need in order to lead a normal lifestyle.

  1. Partnership for Action, Voices for Empowerment

    • Partnership for Action, Voices for Empowerment, also known as PAVE, operates out of Washington state's Tacoma and Pierce County. Founded in 1979, PAVE is a parent-directed organization that is designed to increase the independence, empowerment and opportunities for children with disabilities. PAVE also provides support for families through training, referrals, support groups and informational materials. PAVE uses newsletters, networking, phone support and conferences to advocate for children with disabilities. A division of PAVE pays close attention to the needs of military families with special needs children. These military services are offered worldwide.

    Parents Helping Parents

    • Parents Helping Parents has 22 groups across the country and was founded in 1976 in San Jose, California. Parents with disabled children run this organization and provide support for children and parents. There are resources available for disabled children with a wide variety of diseases and conditions that may include congenital conditions, learning disabilities, and conditions that have occurred as the result of an accident or illness. Parents Helping Parents provides information, referrals, family support groups, counseling, training and specialty programs to enrich the lives of children with disabilities.

    Mothers From Hell 2

    • Mothers From Hell 2 is an online, national network that was founded in 1992 in Eugene, Oregon. Local chapters of this organization can also be found in northern Illinois, Connecticut and middle Tennessee. With its colorful, flaming website, the mothers in this organization provide support and advocacy for families with children with all types of disabilities. The group's mission is to improve the quality of life of children with developmental and other learning disabilities and to advocate for their proper education. Mothers From Hell 2 also promotes understanding and acceptance of a variety of disabilities. Its humor section includes "Top 10 Signs... That You're Going to Have a Bad IEP Meeting."

    National Challenged Homeschoolers

    • National Challenged Homeschoolers, also known as NATHHAN, is a national network that focuses on support for families who homeschool their disabled children. This organization was founded in 1990 and is a Christian, nonprofit organization providing support and encouragement for these families. It is headquartered in Moyie Springs, Idaho, where it was founded. There is a library, phone network, referral program, and programs for parents and their children. National Challenged Homeschoolers advocates for the importance of education of disabled children and provides families with resources to best educate their children at home.

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