We can all probably relate to the struggle of finding fun and safe things to do over the past year. For Pause families, finding safe environments for runners, places accessible to wheelchairs or places to go that are sensory friendly can be difficult to access - Covid times or not. At Pause, we’re all about fun - it’s one of our core values! Family and traditions are also important to us because we believe they nurture family connections, give us a sense of belonging and help us create memories. That’s why we created our annual Easter Eggstravaganza event for families to look forward to each year!

Word on the street is that Pause is getting an office upgrade! Woohoo! As you know, moving comes with exciting anticipation and also the stress of having a space for all. the. things. in the meantime! Pause quickly found itself in desperate need of a moving or storage pod to have a space for all of our event supplies, office supplies, and furniture. Enter: our incredibly generous CAN DO Network!

The Pause program is in the midst of receiving an office upgrade and we were in desperate need of moving boxes to pack up all our event and office supplies. When you serve over 1,287 caregivers, kids and volunteers that means moving a lot of stuff! Last week, Pause received an AWESOME donation of 79 moving boxes from community members like you!

Do you ever wonder what happens after you make a donation to an organization or program? Who does it help? What difference does it make? You’re not alone! Let’s talk about how Pause takes monetary donations and creates unique services and supports for families with disabilities.

Special needs families can often feel isolated in their communities. Remember those 30-80 extra hours a week in care alone for a kiddo with complex needs and limited safe childcare options? They miss being with people. We probably all can relate to that feeling given the past 365 days.

Special needs families can often feel isolated in their communities. Remember those 30-80 extra hours a week in care alone for a kiddo with complex needs and limited safe childcare options? They miss being with people. We probably all can relate to that feeling given the past 365 days.

For so many of us, this year has changed what daily life looks like. In many ways, Pause caregivers have trained for this - navigating crisis’, dealing with isolation and making hard decisions in the midst of scary medical decisions. With kids shifting to remote/virtual learning without aides or intervention specialists, missing canceled therapy appointments and losing the safety and predictability of schedules, many faced regressions of goals they worked so hard to achieve.

For most of us, going back and forth from inside our home to the front yard is something we do without much thought.  For families who have children with medical, physical and/or mental health/behavioral challenges, having a home that is accessible and safe is something that requires thought, intentional planning and resources.

Ever feel so much better when you do something nice for another person? You’re not alone. We all do. It’s brain science!

Special needs caregivers often struggle with finding adequate child care for their kids due to complex needs, limited support circles and/or limited training of providers.