The Sisters Rise Circle is one of about a dozen circles run by Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, a nonprofit based in Oakland that uses restorative practices to address conflict and promote healing.
Organizers launched the circle last fall as part of a response to what they saw as a large, unmet need among the communities and families they serve.
In 1996, a group of 10 Asian American families founded a support network for people with disabilities and their caregivers. The organization eventually became a nonprofit called Friends of Children with Special Needs.
Today it serves over 1,500 Bay Area families, about half of them Chinese American, and offers a variety of programs across three locations.
Caring for children with special needs is demanding work. Without adequate support or rest, parents can end up feeling depleted and alone.
The solution, according to experts and parents who have faced these challenges, is to reach out for help, connect with other families of children with disabilities, and prioritize self-care.