Wish Book: 'My days consisted of tears': Parents band together to provide help, hope

"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. She also didn't speak much English, having just arrived to the U.S. two years earlier from Vietnam in 2016, which made the whole thing even more difficult."

""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."

Thu Buu Vien arrived in the U.S. from Vietnam in 2016 and struggled when her 2-year-old son Hien was diagnosed with autism, global developmental delay and a seizure disorder. She had language barriers, overwhelming paperwork, unanswered questions and guilt about the pregnancy. Emotional distress gave way after receiving a referral to Parents Helping Parents, a San Jose nonprofit that provides advocacy, education and support. PHP connected her with staff who are parents of children with disabilities and with other families, easing isolation. PHP helped her understand IEP and IHSS processes and identify agencies to support Hien, improving her outlook and confidence.

Read at The Mercury News