By JENNA RHUDE
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley has a great resource available to families with special needs children. REACH is a collection of moms who have gathered to form support and provide available resources for families with special needs.
REACH stands for Resource Education Awareness Comunity Help. Each of those words stands out on their own, but the last word is what the group is all about.
“We are a group of people that understand what you are going through and that you are comfortable with,” Jenean Staton said. “You don’t have to worry about your special needs child bothering anyone.”
Staton is mother to Maddon who was born with 5p- Syndrome (five p minus), also known as Cat Cry Syndrome or Cri du Chat Syndrome.
Recently REACH had a pizza social at the Old Overton Gym. Flyers were passed out at all four Valley schools to invite families in the area to gather and interact. The group also provides support to the siblings of these special kids. Participants do not have to have a school age child to join this group. Older children, as well as those not old enough for school, are welcome.
Erika Whitmore, Tameran McClure, Jennifer Adams, Korindi Totten, Danielle Huwe and Brittany Evan’s are the main resource officers for this group. Each of these women has a child with extra needs. “We are here to support each other and find resources to help others,” Whitmore said.
The group currently has children that are on the autism spectrum, downs syndrome, William’s syndrome or other chromosomal disorders, cerebral palsy and those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
“Sometimes we get together, just for a moms night out,” Staton said. “We are also happy that our other children can associate and get support from the siblings of the other families.”
Anyone interested in learning more about this resource can check Facebook at Moapa Valley REACH.
1 thought on “Program Supports Families Of Special Needs Children”
Can Families in the Mesquite area attend your meetings too? I am a Special Ed teacher at Virgin Valley ES in the Autism program. I also do private tutoring for families. Their community is also in need of finding resources. I would love to help get a program like REACH going in their valley as I know many teachers and parents would be on board.