About Sandy and her family:

I live in a tiny hamlet on the Oswegatchie River in St. Lawrence County.  I am the third generation of my family to own and raise my family on this piece of land and enjoy passing down the stories from our family history. I have two teenage children, both were born prematurely and one has multiple developmental disabilities.

What characterizes me that I would like to make sure other people know about me and remember me by?

I find good in any situation and see a problem as a challenge to find a number of possible solutions from which to choose the best one.

Why is Parent to Parent important to you?

Parent to Parent is such a huge part of my life because I believe 100% in the mission – to connect and support families of individuals with special needs.  Every family feels isolated and needs to know they are not alone.  Every family needs a continual access to information to help them make informed decisions.  Parent to Parent is also important to me because of the support I receive from being a part of it – my child’s life and future is much better because of what I have gotten from Parent to Parent. 

What happens when a parent speaks with another parent and receives support from another parent?

Mostly I hear parents speak of the relief they feel when they realize others have felt what they are feeling.  And then the information they receive begins to empower them.

How does the opportunity to connect with other parents benefit families?

Support received by other parents is a form of caring for the caregiver.  It recharges the parent’s batteries and often gives them a direction to go in with the new energy.  This results in an improvement in the child’s situation and lessened stress in the family which in turn can improve all relationships within the family unit.

What kind of information, referrals, or community connections are families looking for?

Help with education matters is the most frequently sought resource which makes sense since most therapies are delivered through the school system.    Once a parent becomes aware that additional services exist they begin to ask how they can get those services for their child.

What qualities do you look for in Support Parents?
(Support parents are part of the parent to parent network and have made the offer to provide support to another parent).

Every parent has something to offer another parent.  However, Support Parents must have a willingness to help others and be trustworthy regarding confidentiality.

Was there a time when someone went above and beyond all expectations to help you with your child?

At the county fair when my daughter was about three years old there was a small elderly gentleman who approached and handed me a dollar.  He told me buy my daughter an ice cream or something.  My instant gut reaction was to reject his pity. However, I quickly realized the man did not make the gesture out of pity.  A second look at his face and I saw only fondness and a genuine spirit of kindness.  That man - one from a time when a child such as mine would have been institutionalized without a second thought - was simply giving a little girl a good memory from her day at the county fair.  Not only did my daughter get that ice cream but I learned it is better to accept kindness when offered rather than assume pity as the motive.