Press
Mom makes web connections for disabled kids
When Dawn Roberts and her husband David moved to Washington C.H. three
years ago, they wondered what kind of services would be available for their
3-year old son Daniel, who was recently diagnosed with Autism.
Dawn was pleasantly surprised. What she found was a wide assortment of
services available for special-needs children and their families.
But there was one problem - there was no central database cataloguing these
services.
"After talking to a lot of other people who lived here, from people who had lived
here all their lives to transplants like us, everyone on both sides was saying, 'it's
nice we have all these services, but they all advertise separately,'" she said.
So in November 2008, Dawn decided to create a website that "would help bridge
the gap."
Only a few weeks later, Fayettefamilynet.com was born, operated solely by Dawn.
The user-friendly website centralizes information on most of the special needs
services and organizations available in the area, such as HeadStart, Help Me
Grow, the YMCA, the Fayette County Department of Developmental Disabilities
and the Fayette County Family and Children First Council, among others.
It even has separate sections, including a calendar of events, a 'Kids' Korner'
with a new game posted daily, a section on other disabilities and their service
organizations, an education section and even a 'Mommy Moments' section, just
for moms of kids with disabilities.
"This is a unique idea, because before, each agency advertised separately," she
said. "Some people didn't know where to look for available services."
The website also features a health section with local contacts for health-related
organizations, a library section and a recreation section, which features
information about the new Adaptive Aquatics class offered at the Fayette County
YMCA, just for children with special needs. The class begins April 13.
Dawn's website also features a section on support services available in Fayette
County, such as the Fayette County Parent Mentor Project, the Hopewell Center
Parents Advocate and the Behavior Support Advisory Council. There's even a
section on disaster and emergency preparation, created with the help of Fayette
County FEMA.
"Every family needs a disaster preparation, especially families with special-needs
children," Dawn said.
Sections on financial help and jobs are currently under construction.
Dawn created this website with no prior experience in website design - only
experience as a parent of a child with special needs.
"The website is really easy, so easy I could do it," she said. "And I'm not a
computer expert."
And it's always growing.
"I'm still trying to get as many agencies as possible (on the website,)" she said.
"I'm always adding resources."
Resources geared as children with Autism and their parents was her initial
driving factor.
"Autism came first because that's so near and dear," Dawn said.
The website even features a special section on Autism, which features general
information on the developmental disorder, signs and symptoms of autism and
even videos.
Since its inception, the website has soon grown to serve other disabilities too,like
cerebral palsy, bipolar disorder and the hearing-impaired.
It's hard to believe this constantly-growing expanse of information all came to
fruition because of a six-year old boy with sandy blond hair and a winning smile.
"I'm still constantly learning new ways to help (Daniel,)" Dawn said. "I thought that
if I'm constantly learning, there must be more services and organizations out
there to help. I'm trying to help bridge the gap, help people know the system."
It's easy to see that Dawn's personal experience with autism has helped make
the website a success for others.
"It's a win-win," she said. " I can help the professional organizations and help the
family and loved ones of a child with disabilities, help them get a much support
as they can"
And she's had some personal success, as well.
Three years after his diagnosis, Daniel is now at the same level or above his
classmates at Sunnyside Kindergarten.
"He's a success story," Dawn said. "When we came to Fayette County, we
thought 'nice area, but what is there for Autistic children?' We were blown away.
Daniel's success is a part of that."
Dawn and David live in Washington C.H. with Daniel and their 9-year old son
Denver, who attends Eastside Elementary.
To see Dawn's website, visit Fayettefamilynet.com.
-Rachel Morgan, Staff Writer
Record-Herald
(March 2009)
When Dawn Roberts and her husband David moved to Washington C.H. three
years ago, they wondered what kind of services would be available for their
3-year old son Daniel, who was recently diagnosed with Autism.
Dawn was pleasantly surprised. What she found was a wide assortment of
services available for special-needs children and their families.
But there was one problem - there was no central database cataloguing these
services.
"After talking to a lot of other people who lived here, from people who had lived
here all their lives to transplants like us, everyone on both sides was saying, 'it's
nice we have all these services, but they all advertise separately,'" she said.
So in November 2008, Dawn decided to create a website that "would help bridge
the gap."
Only a few weeks later, Fayettefamilynet.com was born, operated solely by Dawn.
The user-friendly website centralizes information on most of the special needs
services and organizations available in the area, such as HeadStart, Help Me
Grow, the YMCA, the Fayette County Department of Developmental Disabilities
and the Fayette County Family and Children First Council, among others.
It even has separate sections, including a calendar of events, a 'Kids' Korner'
with a new game posted daily, a section on other disabilities and their service
organizations, an education section and even a 'Mommy Moments' section, just
for moms of kids with disabilities.
"This is a unique idea, because before, each agency advertised separately," she
said. "Some people didn't know where to look for available services."
The website also features a health section with local contacts for health-related
organizations, a library section and a recreation section, which features
information about the new Adaptive Aquatics class offered at the Fayette County
YMCA, just for children with special needs. The class begins April 13.
Dawn's website also features a section on support services available in Fayette
County, such as the Fayette County Parent Mentor Project, the Hopewell Center
Parents Advocate and the Behavior Support Advisory Council. There's even a
section on disaster and emergency preparation, created with the help of Fayette
County FEMA.
"Every family needs a disaster preparation, especially families with special-needs
children," Dawn said.
Sections on financial help and jobs are currently under construction.
Dawn created this website with no prior experience in website design - only
experience as a parent of a child with special needs.
"The website is really easy, so easy I could do it," she said. "And I'm not a
computer expert."
And it's always growing.
"I'm still trying to get as many agencies as possible (on the website,)" she said.
"I'm always adding resources."
Resources geared as children with Autism and their parents was her initial
driving factor.
"Autism came first because that's so near and dear," Dawn said.
The website even features a special section on Autism, which features general
information on the developmental disorder, signs and symptoms of autism and
even videos.
Since its inception, the website has soon grown to serve other disabilities too,like
cerebral palsy, bipolar disorder and the hearing-impaired.
It's hard to believe this constantly-growing expanse of information all came to
fruition because of a six-year old boy with sandy blond hair and a winning smile.
"I'm still constantly learning new ways to help (Daniel,)" Dawn said. "I thought that
if I'm constantly learning, there must be more services and organizations out
there to help. I'm trying to help bridge the gap, help people know the system."
It's easy to see that Dawn's personal experience with autism has helped make
the website a success for others.
"It's a win-win," she said. " I can help the professional organizations and help the
family and loved ones of a child with disabilities, help them get a much support
as they can"
And she's had some personal success, as well.
Three years after his diagnosis, Daniel is now at the same level or above his
classmates at Sunnyside Kindergarten.
"He's a success story," Dawn said. "When we came to Fayette County, we
thought 'nice area, but what is there for Autistic children?' We were blown away.
Daniel's success is a part of that."
Dawn and David live in Washington C.H. with Daniel and their 9-year old son
Denver, who attends Eastside Elementary.
To see Dawn's website, visit Fayettefamilynet.com.
-Rachel Morgan, Staff Writer
Record-Herald
(March 2009)
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