There are so many thoughts that run through our minds each day. From those thoughts, we begin to shape who we are—our identity, our expectations, our goals, and our dreams. And yet, so many of those thoughts stay quiet, held back by the fear of being judged.
We're told to "just be yourself" or "be authentic," but that can feel incredibly confusing when you've spent your life masking, people-pleasing, and trying to fit in. The truth is, not everyone will understand—and not everyone will be kind. Learning to let go of that and stand in your truth takes time.
It took me a long time.
My middle child was two years old when he was diagnosed with nonverbal Level 3 autism (DSM-5). I had noticed the signs around 18 months and was expecting the diagnosis, but even then—it was still hard. Everything I thought life would look like shifted. My expectations, my plans, my vision of the future… all had to change.
I had no experience with disability. I didn't know where to start. I spent countless hours searching through websites, reading posts, trying to piece together information that could help my family and prepare us for what was ahead.
What I was really searching for was connection.
I tried to connect with other parents, but often felt out of place. Conversations sometimes turned into comparisons—who had it harder, whose child struggled more. I found myself staying quiet, feeling like my experience didn't matter because someone else always had it worse.
I didn't know the "right" words to use. I didn't know the etiquette. I worried about saying the wrong thing or unintentionally offending someone. And over time, I began to lose confidence in myself.
So I stayed quiet.
I pushed things down.
I told myself I shouldn't complain.
I told myself to just be strong.
And while there is truth in the idea that others may have different or greater challenges, that mindset can also quietly wear you down. It took time for me to find my way back—to a place where I could feel grounded, supported, and experience real joy again.
To the parents who feel alone
I see you.
I see you trying to make the best decisions for your child while learning something completely new and unfamiliar. I see the weight you carry, the questions you ask yourself, and the love that drives everything you do.
This platform was created for you.
Disability Connection Hub was built from that place—the place of feeling lost, searching for answers, and wanting to feel understood. It is my way of creating the connection I wish I had.
You are allowed to feel that this is hard.
You are allowed to have difficult days.
You are allowed to say, "I don't know how I'm going to get through this."
None of that takes away from your love.
If anything, it shows just how deep that love runs.
Parenting a child with a disability is not easy—but it is meaningful, powerful, and transformative in ways that are hard to put into words. We grow in ways we never expected. We become stronger, more compassionate, and more aware of what truly matters.
Even on the days when you feel like you're barely holding it together—you are still showing up. You are still loving your child in the best way you know how.
And that matters.
Disability Connection Hub exists to bring people together.
To make it easier to find support.
To connect with professionals and services.
To discover businesses that understand.
To create a space where no one feels alone.
Because connection is how we grow.
Connection is how we heal.
Connection is how we become stronger.
Find your phoenix
This website is the Phoenix from my ashes. If you're in a hard place right now, I want you to know this:
You will be okay.
You are stronger than you think.
You are doing better than you feel.
And you are not alone.
Find your phoenix.
Let it rise.
And don't apologize for who you are becoming.