The Power of Showing Up: A Family’s Story of Inclusion and Support
During their school years, our sons were deeply engaged in a vibrant mix of social and sports activities. Life revolved around team practices, social groups, and games. But when our older son, Tim, graduated from high school, everything shifted. The structured world of school-based activities disappeared overnight, and we found ourselves searching for something meaningful to fill that void.
That’s when I came across a program called Social Seekers, offered by Reach for Resources. I can’t even recall exactly how I found it. Maybe it was a flyer, a conversation, or a lucky click. But I knew right away it was something special. Designed for teens and young adults on the autism spectrum and with similar conditions, Social Seekers met weekly to build social skills, play games, and most importantly, foster friendships. It felt like the perfect next step for Tim. He joined and participated for several years, finding joy and connection in a new community.
Eventually, our younger son, Brian, joined Social Seekers too, and he still attends to this day. It’s one of the highlights of his week. Brian, who has profound hearing loss, underwent cochlear implant surgery in 2019. The recovery was tough. He had no hearing for a time and had to rely on alternative communication methods, including sign language interpreters when we could find them.
Despite these challenges, Brian was determined to keep attending Social Seekers. But without usable hearing, we needed support. I reached out to Reach to ask if they could provide a sign language interpreter for the sessions. They said yes, but the cost was significant and strained their budget. That moment of generosity and commitment to Brian’s inclusion moved me deeply. I knew then that Reach was where I wanted my donation dollars to go. Even though the need for an interpreter was temporary, I’ve continued donating monthly ever since. Their willingness to step up for Brian when he needed it most meant everything to us.
Over the years, Brian has explored many of Reach’s adaptive recreation offerings: mini golf, movie nights, arts and crafts, bingo, and more. He’s made great friends and found joy in the variety of activities. Sports might be next on his list, but with his full schedule, there are only so many hours in the day.
Supporting Reach feels like a natural extension of our values. It’s a way to uplift individuals with disabilities and ensure they have access to the social, recreational, and developmental opportunities they deserve. In a time when federal and state budgets are tightening, organizations like Reach need our support more than ever to continue thriving.
If I could share one message, it would be this: supporting organizations like Reach doesn’t just benefit the people they serve. It benefits all of us. Everyone deserves the chance to live life as fully as possible, regardless of their challenges. The world becomes a better place when we all do better. The people at Reach are passionate, dedicated, and deeply committed to improving lives, and that’s something worth standing behind.
Join us in making a difference. Whether through a donation, volunteering your time, or simply spreading the word, your support helps Reach continue to provide life-changing programs. Let’s build a more inclusive, connected community together.