Build Skills

We raise voices, educate, and support you in learning how to advocate for yourself or your child.

At FRN, we’re harnessing the collective power of people with disabilities and their families to be active leaders in their communities, and beyond.

Here are some of the projects our participants worked on:

  • Making local libraries more accessible: one group worked with their library to get a sensory inclusive story time on the calendar so all children can participate.
  • Increasing disability awareness at school: others successfully advocated with their school to launch a “disability awareness” day.
  • Raising voices & sitting at the table: dozens of our families succeeded in changing policy by writing letters to oppose a legislative change that would result in medically fragile children losing nurse case managers and access to specialty care.
Lilian: Learning to lead

Lilian: Learning to lead

My 18-year-old son, a senior in high school, has Autism and Dyspraxia. He’s bilingual, loves music, and is passionate about transportation and weather. My 15-year-old daughter has a genetic disorder causing tumor growth in major organs. She sees several specialists, including Neurology, Nephrology, and Cardiology, and has had two brain surgeries. I first called FRN because my son had just lost his services because he turned three, and my daughter was stuck in a restrictive classroom. The school district told me she’d never read (she now reads, writes and plays piano).

At FRN, I attended an IEP class and quickly used what I learned. My son got the services he needed and my daughter moved to a better classroom. I started volunteering so I could help more families like mine with medically fragile children. I quickly realized this was the path I wanted to take. Now, I work to raise voices, educate, and support families in learning how to advocate for their own families.

Two women sit and talk at a table in a classroom or meeting setting. One woman smiles and touches her hair, while others are visible in the background, engaged in conversation. The image is in black and white. A woman in a denim jacket speaks into a microphone during a discussion, gesturing with her hand. Two other people are in the foreground, slightly out of focus. Charts and a flip chart are visible in the background. A woman holding a microphone speaks at a table with others during a group discussion. Food, drinks, and water bottles are on the table. Colorful dolls are displayed in the background. Four women stand together indoors; three listen attentively while one speaks into a microphone. The atmosphere appears relaxed and friendly, with people engaged in conversation in a hallway or office setting. A woman with a black headband and gray top holds a microphone and smiles while seated at a table during an indoor event. Other people and plates of food are visible in the background.

Our approach to building leadership:

Hands-on learning.

All of our trainings are experiential and focused on helping you build skills by trying them out. We’ll also help you understand how to move from advocating for yourself or your child to advocating in a system.

Ongoing support for leaders.

You’ll get ongoing mentorship and support to help you build your leadership. We’ll help you continue building your skills even after your training is finished.

Opportunities to get involved.

We’ll keep you informed with upcoming opportunities in our community and state, including advocacy days or committees.

Did you know…?

Powered by peer to peer support, we provide information, knowledge and experiences so that families can navigate systems effectively and equitably. Every staff member has personal experience as a person or parent of someone with a disability or a special health care need. Many of us first came to FRN trying to find our way and now are dedicated to helping others become powerful advocates for themselves, their families and their communities.

Leading Forward: The Power of Parents

2023 Annual Report

Read The Report