"Thu Buu Vien didn't know just what to do. Her 2-year-old son Hien had just been diagnosed with autism, global developmental delay and a seizure disorder. She had questions but no answers, stacks of paperwork but nobody to help her make sense of it, and plenty of guilt surrounding the situation, blaming herself for things she may have done wrong during the pregnancy."
"My days consisted of tears, Vien said through a translator. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't understand what to do or where to start. I didn't believe that anyone could help me at that point. Then she got a referral to Parents Helping Parents, a San Jose-based nonprofit that aids families raising loved ones with disabilities through advocacy, education and various means of support. And her story changed."
"I was able to connect with parents who had been there and with families who faced many challenges but were moving forward, Vien says. Thu Buu Vien, of San Jose, plays with her son Hien, 9, at Fair Oaks Park's Magical Bridge Playground in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Vien is one of the parents with a child with disabilities who receives help from the nonprofit Parents Helping Parents. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)"
Thu Buu Vien struggled after her 2-year-old son Hien was diagnosed with autism, global developmental delay and a seizure disorder. She experienced language barriers, overwhelming paperwork, guilt about pregnancy and lack of guidance. A referral to Parents Helping Parents connected her with bilingual, experienced staff and peer parents who provided advocacy, education and emotional support. PHP helped her understand and navigate the IEP and IHSS systems and connected her with other families facing similar challenges. The support reduced isolation and hopelessness and enabled practical steps to access services. Hien is now 9 and Vien reported a changed perspective and renewed hope.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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