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Parent to Parent Dru Nordmark The following link(s) will open in one new tab or window. Should you have any questions regarding this article, please follow the specific contact information provided.
North Central NY Regional Coordinator: Dru Nordmark Dru began her work at Parent to Parent in 2005 as Regional Coordinator.
Dru can be contacted at: Web page: http://www.parenttoparentnys.org/Regional/northcentral.htm
What characterizes me that I would like to make sure other people know about me and remember me by? It is my hope that I am thought of as a kind, compassionate and considerate person. I am the mother of four grown children. I am also a wife, daughter, sister and friend. My children, scattered from Boston to Djibouti, continue to bring great pleasure, confusion and intrigue to my life. My son Ian, born with Down syndrome, still lives at home and is a constant reminder to me of all that is important in life. For those who know me, both humor and a positive outlook play very important roles in my life. Why is Parent to Parent important to me? Parent to Parent provides a place for parents to share their feelings safely, ask any question they want, share a triumph or gather a hug after a fall. Simply put, the Parent to Parent organization lets parents know that, along the way, they do not walk alone. Did you contact Parent to Parent when your son was younger? I knew nothing about Parent to Parent when my son was younger. But one must remember that my son was born over 25 years ago. How does the opportunity to connect with other parents benefit families? Parent to Parent employees have an immediate family member or close relative with a developmental disability or special health care need. Because of this unique situation, we understand, perhaps as well as anyone can truly understand, what a parent is feeling. There is comforting in speaking with someone who shares the journey. What happens when a parent speaks with another parent and receives support from another parent? Parents set the tone for their entire household. When a parent is provided with hope and can see even a glimmer of that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, life takes on a whole new perspective.
What qualities do I look for when recruiting parents as supporting parents? The ability to listen nonjudgementally is crucial. A positive attitude, love for one’s family members, compassion, an interest in helping others and a sense of humor are other qualities that make for a good support parent. Being a support parent for Parent to Parent of NYS means a great deal to me personally. It gives me the opportunity to honor those who have traveled this road before me and to provide affirmation and encouragement of someone’s otherwise chaotic life. What kind of information, referrals, or community connections are families looking for? The list is endless! Parents want to connect with someone who has gone through what they are going through at any given moment with their children. Topics range from educational advocacy, respite, support groups, and medical info, to transition, adulthood, guardianship and sexuality. Was there a time when someone went above and beyond all expectations to help you with your child? From the day my son was born over 25 years ago until this very moment, this very day, I have found that support somehow/someway shows up when you need it and often when you least expect it. People have always amazed me with the generosity of their time and spirit. In the beginning it was the nurses in the neonatal unit. Ian’s public school experience had its ups and downs; thankfully we had the support of many wonderful teachers and therapists. Our present journey about future housing for Ian includes a vast support system. I would like to thank my family and friends, along with my colleagues for their continuing support to Ian and my family. To paraphrase a quote by Thomas Carlyle, “I have found that perseverance, persistence and patience--in spite of all the obstacles, discouragement and impossibilities--help to build a strong soul.” Clearly, my soul is under constant construction.
February 2010
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June 2010 Contact Us
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6/2/10 - Consumer Caucus Meeting *Notice* Open Government and the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC). All DDPC meetings are held in Albany, NY unless otherwise noted. Under law, the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) meetings and DDPC Standing Committee meetings are open meetings. If the public wants to attend, they can attend as observers. Participants may be asked to leave during breaks in the deliberations and when the meeting goes into executive session. If more information, please contact the DDPC directly. People First Language The DDPC strictly adheres to and encourages the use of people first language. However you may note that in some articles/stories appearing in the E-Bulletin the language used is not always entirely people first. Articles submitted to the DDPC are taken verbatim from the source and are therefore not edited by the DDPC for correct people first language due to copyright restrictions. |
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