Did you know the word mentor actually comes from Homer’s poem Odyssey? Mentor was the name of the man that Odysseus tasked with advising his son. And it has been used since to describe anyone who is a trusted advisor, generally someone who has more expertise on a matter. Like when I needed help when we first moved to the current state we are living in. Moving in of itself is a stressful time but moving to another state with a child with a disability in the middle of a school year was another level of stress entirely.
I needed someone to help me navigate the world of disability in the new state. Research could only take me so far, but first hand experience from a fellow mom who lived in the state was invaluable. Someone who knows about policies, procedures, school districts and even doctor recommendations. This kind of help was also invaluable when I wanted more information about a diagnosis and all that it entailed. The place that I called to get this information and be connected to a parent mentor was from my local parent to parent organization. I’ve called them any time I needed advice or even encouragement about a struggle I was having.
A parent to parent organization provides emotional support, resources, training, and advocacy to help families who have children with disabilities. We were never meant to do life alone, and it’s such a great blessing to be able to connect with others who have gone before us. If you find yourself in need of help or advice, or just someone to talk to, I would highly recommend reaching out to your local parent to parent organization. If you are unsure who to call, go to the National Parent to Parent Organization website, scroll over to your state and it will list the name of your local organization.