Page 6 - The Binnacle

Aldea LaParr Community Supports

Dee’s Desktop As a parent with a developmental disability, so much went through my
Aldea LaParr head about how I would be able to give my children the best life possible. I
believe one of the best things that happened to me and my children was
Owner/ me reaching out to community supports knowing that I was no longer a self
Webmaster -advocate for me, but for our family. I wanted the best for my children
even if it meant asking for help, which was something I did not do often. I
Aldea is a website was always too proud to ask for help and often fell on my face before doing
designer who actually so. My mother even told me that my life changed when my first child,
Andy, was born. “You are not so selfish anymore,” she said.
got her Bachelor of
Arts in Technical When Andy was 3, he was eligible for home based Head Start. Once a
week someone would come into my home just for him. Or that’s what I
Theatre. She lives in thought. Those once-a-week visits at home when the boys were 3-4 years
Princeton, NC after old, and then 4 days a week at the centers when they were 4-5 years old
living in upstate NY went on for 6 years. All three of my children, Andy, Timmy, and Scott par-
for most of her life. ticipated in Head Start. Those years were life-changing for our entire family.
She is Mom to three But the last 2 years were very special.
sons and Meme to
two grandchildren. When it was time for my youngest son Scott to start his home visits, that is
She loves to
travel and try when Dawn Meyers came into my home, and it never was the same. We
new cuisines.
ended up forming a friendship that I cannot even explain. Whenever I

think of milestones in

my entire family’s life,

Dawn’s there. I would

often escape to her

home to decompress

and have girl time.

She always sent me

home with snacks for

the boys and some-

times even full meals. After the boys were grown Dawn and I became even closer. Here we

are at her family reunion.

6