Families Like Ours

06/15/2026

📣 Now Offering Notary Services! ✍️📄

We're pleased to announce that we are now providing notary services by appointment only to help make important paperwork a little easier for our community.

Notary Fees:
✔️ $10 per notarized signature for existing clients/customers
✔️ $15 per notarized signature for non-clients/customers
✔️ Additional fees apply for mobile notary services if we travel to your home, office, hospital, or other location.

Please note:
• Appointments are required.
• All signers must be present at the time of the appointment.
• Please bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Do not sign your documents before meeting with the notary, as many documents must be signed in the notary's presence.

📍 Location: 140 West Avenue, Suite A, Great Barrington, MA
📞 To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 413-645-3300 or [email protected]

Whether you need school forms, legal documents, financial paperwork, or other documents notarized, we're here to help.

06/15/2026

🌲🦊 Did You Know? National Parks Are Working to Become More Inclusive for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities! 🦊🌲

For many families raising children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, visiting a new place can come with questions and concerns about accessibility, sensory needs, and available supports. The good news is that many National Parks offer accommodations and resources to help make these experiences more enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

Some parks may provide:

✨ Information about sensory-friendly items, such as noise-reducing headphones or sunglasses
✨ Alternate formats for printed materials, including large print, braille, digital resources, and audio descriptions
✨ Recommendations for quiet spaces away from crowds
✨ Updates about loud noises, construction, or other changes that may impact visitors
✨ Safety information tailored to outdoor experiences and wildlife encounters
✨ Details about accessible campsites, restrooms, showers, and amphitheaters
✨ Opportunities for hands-on, multisensory learning experiences through exhibits and programs

Before you visit, consider contacting the park directly to discuss any accommodations your family may need. A little planning can go a long way in helping everyone feel comfortable, included, and ready to make lasting memories together. ❤️

Nature belongs to all of us, and every family deserves the opportunity to explore, learn, and connect with the world around them.

🔗 Learn more about National Park accessibility resources: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/intellectual-disabilities.htm

Have you visited a National Park with your loved one? We'd love to hear about your experience in the comments! ⬇️

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06/15/2026

We are so thrilled about our first ever Berkshire County Special needs Community Conference. 🥰

Berkshire County’s first community conference on neurodiversity, special needs support, and inclusive practices for families and professionals.

06/14/2026

FLO's Community Shower & Laundry Pass Program

At Families Like Ours, we know that for many special needs families, the cost and volume of laundry is far beyond what most people see day to day. Multiple outfit changes, toileting needs, sensory-related clothing preferences, bedding changes, and therapy or medical-related messes can quickly turn laundry into a constant and costly cycle.

When families are also facing housing instability or financial stress, access to something as simple as a washer, dryer, or a warm shower can become a real barrier to health, dignity, and stability.

Right now, there is a growing and urgent need in our community. We are seeing families who are struggling to keep up with basic hygiene and laundry needs, and we are committed to helping bridge that gap.

To respond, we are launching a Community Support Fund to provide shower vouchers and laundry gift cards to special needs families and others in need. These small but meaningful supports can reduce financial strain, restore dignity, and offer relief during overwhelming times.

If you are able to give, we invite you to support this effort. Every donation—no matter the size—directly helps a family meet a basic need many of us take for granted.

Together, we can ensure that no one is without the basic care they deserve.

👉 Donate here: https://givebutter.com/community-shower-pass-program-bxajvr

06/14/2026

Join us on Monday for another 💙 FREE Community Supper 💛 This free meal is open to everyone and our own Chef Ko is serving up delicious chicken chili and cornbread! Our friends from Greylock Federal Credit Union will host an info table at this supper to share resources about current frauds and scams

✨As always, Community Supper is free and open to everyone in our community, thanks to our generous sponsors: Greylock Federal Credit Union .foundation Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires and Fallon Health.

06/13/2026

🎨🫖 Are you a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs? Join CATA and Families Like Ours this SATURDAY (June 13) from 10-12am for our free Special Needs Art & Tea Party! Enjoy fun art and dance activities while connecting with other families in our community at this monthly event. Bring the whole family— plus, we’ll have free tea and treats from Extra Special Teas!

🤗 RSVP to [email protected]. Drop-in's okay, too. Visit CATAarts.org/events to learn about our monthly Art & Tea events!

06/12/2026

Dive Into Community: Swim Sessions for All Abilities.
Swim Sessions for All Abilities is happening every Friday throughout the year now from 12:00PM – 1:00 PM at Berkshire South Regional Community Center (15 Crissey Rd, Great Barrington).

This is a relaxed, open swim time for families raising children with all abilities — siblings and parents are welcome, too! No registration required; just bring your suits and come cool off with us.

To help us continue offering this program year-round, we are inviting families and friends to contribute through a “pay what you can” model or a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us cover the costs of keeping this special space open for everyone. https://givebutter.com/COM0KK

06/12/2026

✨ WE'RE SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR FIRST-EVER BERKSHIRE COUNTY SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY CONFERENCE! ✨

Whether you're a parent, educator, healthcare provider, employer, neighbor, friend, or simply someone who wants to learn more, this conference is for you.

Have you ever wondered:
💙 How can I best support someone who is neurodivergent?
💙 What does it actually mean to be neurodivergent?
💙 What should I say—or not say—to a family navigating disability?
💙 What resources and supports already exist in Berkshire County?
💙 How can our community become more inclusive and welcoming for everyone?

This is your opportunity to ask the questions you've always wanted to ask in a safe, supportive, and judgment-free environment.

Join us for a day filled with:
🎤 Inspiring keynote speakers (details coming soon!)
🍽️ Lunch and connection with others in our community
💬 A powerful "Ask Us Anything" panel discussion featuring individuals with lived experience, family members, and professionals ready to have honest conversations and share practical insights.

📅 Wednesday, October 21, 2026
🕣 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 Berkshire Innovation Center Auditorium
45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield, MA

🎟️ Tickets: $60 (includes lunch)

We truly believe that understanding leads to acceptance, and acceptance leads to belonging. Together, we can build a community where every individual and every family feels seen, supported, and valued.

🙌 Shout-out to the amazing partners, advocates, self-advocates, professionals, and families who are helping bring this vision to life. We can't wait to share more details, including our keynote speakers and panelists!

Interested in becoming a sponsor? We'd love to connect with you!
📧 Email us for sponsorship opportunities.

💛 Save the date, spread the word, and join us as we learn, connect, and grow—together.

06/11/2026

TODAY @ 11 AM – Special Needs Support Group (Virtual)

Many guardians raising a child with special needs can feel overwhelmed and isolated. This group is a safe space to remind yourself that you are not alone. 💛

Join us to find validation, resources, and connection with other community members who truly understand the journey.

📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Text/Call: (413) 854-3971
(We’ll send you the link to join!)