Reaching Families Advocacy and Support Group

Reaching Families Advocacy and Support Group is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to support and advocate for East African immigrant families caring for children and adults with various developmental disabilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.

The organization  was founded by a parent raising children with special needs in 2010.

 children and adults with developmental  disabilities in our communities reach their fullest  potential and achieve maximum independence.

*to educate, support, and encourage families to access early intervention services and resources for their children

*to advocate on behalf of children with developmental disabilities and their families in our communities

*to work with service providers, educators, healthcare providers and organizations to meet the needs of the children/adults  and their families

*to raise public and professional awareness in our communities about autism and other developmental disabilities

*to solicit and raise funds to accomplish the above.

SUPPORT

Family SUPPORT 

• providing resources. 
• interpreting and translating information 
• assisting in applying and accessing social and medical services services
• providing emotional support and counseling referral
• provide sibling support through sib-gatherin                                                                                                              

• provide resources for faith and non-faith based organizations within the East African community meet the needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities
• provide resources for communities to include children/adults with disabilities be include                                                                                  

Educate

Family EDUCATION   

• provide monthly educational meetings
• monthly educational phone conferences 
• providing online learning opportunities
• providing information on conferences  
• periodic social skills, pre employment training for young adults with developmental disabilities 

• By providing outreach in the east African community to teach early signs of developmental disability so that community members can identify and get help for their children with autism 

• accompanying families to ARD/IEP meetings , and other agency meetings to advocate and guide families on effective ways of advocating for their children
• teach families to organize and maintain important school, medical, and other records

EMPOWER  Communities

• by openly discussing developmental disability to overcome  stigma