Letters From Families - Chris Curry Consulting

Dear Families Together,

As an educator and parent of a special needs child, I would like to take this opportunity to express our family’s gratitude for the wonderful week-end of respite and knowledge. The wealth of information we received was provided in a comfortable setting by knowledgeable people who were eager to share from their own personal experiences to give us assistance with helping our son find his own path to a fulfilling life. The presentations were not just information-packed, but were presented in a riveting manner.

My husband and I both agree that we learned more from this one week-end than from years of trying to fight our way through miles of local, state and federal red tape. We feel that this experience left
us with invaluable tools to help us LEAP through the fiery hoops of red tape that we sometimes are required to face with something as simple as a doctor’s appointment for our son. We now feel much more confident about how to best go about helping our son find a rich and fulfilling life both now and in the future. “

Sandra Summerfield

Dear Families Together,

My family looks forward to the Family Enrichment Weekends where we can let down our guards and finally relax. For two entire days my teenage daughter doesn’t worry how her peers will react to her younger Autistic brother. And I don’t have to worry about what James is up to. I know that he is well watched over and that your companions are able to handle whatever James can dish out. The weekend is such a treat. It truly allows our family to bond in a way that nothing else has been able to do.

I love being able to network with the other families and learn the way they have handled the special problems with their children. It is always nice to know you are not in this alone. The rural setting is a great place to raise a child with Autism, but in a town as small as Asotin, he is the only child with Autism and it is nice to talk with other parents who deal with the same issues.

Kristi Uptagrafft

Dear Families Together,

Our family went to a Families Enrichment Weekend. We were so welcomed from the moment we walked into the hotel. The girls felt like the staff knew them and were excited to see them. This Weekend started out letting people just be themselves, in dance and singing. No one was judged, taunted or made to feel had about who they were of their abilities. My teenage girls had a blast. I have not seen them just have fun like that in years.

Being separated for the activities where we knew that our children were in a safe environment and being cared for was wonderful. After each event , we got to come back with our kids and share the different activities we were doing. It was so great talking with other families. The whole weekend activities kept our teen daughters engaged. The volunteer that worked with them put the icing on the cake. I was surprised by the girls being so involved that they actively participated with the adults present.

This was a life changing experience for Margaret, our youngest daughter. I must way that she has become a different person from this experience. In school she has not been in trouble, she is turning most of her assignments in and her grades have gone up. Even at home she has become more organized. Several times she has made the statement, “all my teachers love me.” This one statement tells a great story, because this was not the case before, even in elementary school. She has begun to take leadership roles.

I am proud to say that Families Together has brought my husband and me together in working with Margaret.

Brenda Kane