Finding appropriate activities and services for a child with special needs can be a challenge even in a big city. Michelle Burdine and her daughter live in a small town and those kinds of opportunities seemed doubtful.
"I really didn't know who to call. My 24 year-old daughter has Down Syndrome and I was looking into some kind of social activities for her. Since she got out of school, those kinds of opportunities are pretty much non-existent."
Michelle spoke with an ASK parent liaison. "My ASK parent liaison helped steer me in the right direction and helped me know what to ask and how to ask. She told me what was reasonable and taught me how to deal with providers in a congenial way. She gave me the confidence to stand up and be the advocate I need to be, keeping an open dialogue with the providers and services that I need to work with for my daughter."
At ASK's initial contact with Michelle, she was searching for activities to engage her daughter in some social opportunities. Her ASK parent liaison was able to provide Michelle with several options to look into and completed a conference call with the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services. Based on this call, the two were able to determine Stephanie will be targeted to receive services through the Medicaid Waiver program. The ASK parent liaison was able to explain what the services were and how the family life could be impacted.
When asked what she would tell other parents about ASK, Michelle said, "No one understands what you're going through better than another parent, like an ASK parent liaison, who has a child with a special needs. Dealing with all these agencies is a struggle, parents should take advantage of ASK resources."