Social isolation is an enormous challenge for families of kids with special needs. Many of our friends in the disability ministry movement have come together to create a website “where parents can be real, refreshed, and supported in faith as we raise kids with special needs.”

Not Alone is a collaboration of parents of kids with special needs, writing for other parents of kids with special needs from a Christian perspective. Many parents involved in the project have become widely read authors in their own right. All have firsthand experience with the struggles involved in raising children with disabilities. They seek to provide a place where parents with similar challenges can “do life” together.

If you’ve been a follower of our blog, you’ll encounter many familiar faces at Not Alone. Contributing authors who have guest blogged here include Barb Dittrich, Joe and Cindi Ferrini, Stephanie Hubach, Gillian Marchenko, Jolene Philo, Colleen Swindoll-Thompson and Mike Woods.

As of today, Not Alone has been up and running on the Web for three months. The site is clearly meeting a need. They’ve already accumulated nearly 7,800 followers! They also have an opportunity to receive much broader awareness and recognition for their site… About.com has designated Not Alone as one of five finalists for their 2013 “Favorite Special Needs Parenting Blog” award. Receiving this award will make it much easier for families of kids with special needs to connect with and benefit from their ministry.

Wouldn’t it be great for parents looking for support on the web to be directed to a site developed by caring Christian parents who seek to honor God through caring for and supporting other families of kids with special needs? Here’s how we can all help…

Click on this link to be directed to the About.com special needs page and vote for Not Alone under “Favorite Special Needs Parenting Blog.” While you’re on that page, it will take less than a minute to also vote for SNAPPIN’ Ministries for “Favorite Special Needs Regional Resource. Last fall, Barb Dittrich (Executive Director of SNAPPIN’) was interviewed here on their initiative to train mentors to support parents of kids with special needs.

Thanks for sharing the resources of Not Alone with parents of kids with disabilities who might benefit from relationships with other parents who have “been there” and “done that.”

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Our Key Ministry team will be hitting the road to be part of the 2013 Accessibility Summit, hosted by McLean Bible Church in suburban Washington D.C. on April 19th-20th. This year’s Summit features Emily Colson (daughter of Chuck) As an artist, author, and speaker, Emily is passionate about inspiring others to persevere through their challenges and appreciate life’s gifts. In her book Dancing with Max, she and her late father share the struggle and beauty of life with Max, Emily’s son with autism.

For more on our Key Ministry presentations, click here. For more information on the Summit and registration, click on the Summit logo to the right.