Supporting Arbor School's Families

Family support is very important to the health and wellbeing of our families. We currently provide family support through our monthly parent support meetings, parent training classes, outings, celebrations, and field trips. We are also always available to our families through the sharing of resources and conferences.

Parents are the driving force in the lives of our students. They are the ones who will ultimately decide the journey of their child. It is also important to remember that we are there to not only help our students but to support and educate our parents. It can be a daunting task to raise a child with special needs.

Many parents are informed and well versed on the different methods of treatment for their child and they can be a great source of information to teachers, therapists and to other parents. At Arbor School, our school parents are our partners, collaborators, and important members of our team.

Raising children with disabilities can be stressful. Many people do not understand the needs of the children, judging both the child and the parent. A child having a meltdown is seen as a result of poor parenting. Often times, parents feel secluded and helpless when it comes to helping their child.

This can be exacerbated by the strain parents feel from more neurotypical siblings and the financial demands for therapies, specialized diets, and the loss of income. This stress on the family and parents can be devastating with seclusion, depression, and divorce.

Parents are in need of a place that understands what they are going through. Through school social gatherings, the parents are given the opportunity to connect with others, share their stories, and find support in families on the same journey.