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New network supports parents of special needs children

By Johanna Weidner, Record staff

WATERLOO REGION - Trish Coupal is grateful for people who are sympathetic and supportive, but real comfort comes only from people coping every day with the same struggles.

And many days are challenging caring for her son, who has Asperger syndrome in the autism spectrum of developmental disability.

"It's just a different level of understanding when you talk to someone who's been there," Coupal said.

Now she's surrounded by people who know what she's going through in the newly formed Waterloo Region Family Network.

Started by a group of parents, the network supports families with children who have special needs through workshops, mentoring and links to local resources.

"If you have a diagnosis, if you don't have a diagnosis, we're here," said Bobbi Holte, one of the founders.

The network recently secured funding for two part-time staff and an office in north Waterloo after running for about a year as a strictly-volunteer organization.

Holte has two children who both have undiagnosed special needs and when she didn't have a clue where to start when she got the news.

"I just absolutely didn't know where to go," Holte said. "I really wanted to talk to a parent."

Navigating all the services was difficult and confusing. Only in the past couple years did she finally feel she had things figured out - about five years after her first child's difficulties became apparent.

"It took me a long time," Holte said.

Holte and a few other parents who met at the KidsAbility Centre for Child Development decided more could be done to help parents, and started asking parents what they would like.

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