You Are Not Alone

Are you a new parent needing help figuring out how to support your child? Did your child recently get diagnosed with a condition that you are trying to find more information about? Or maybe you are having a lot of interaction with health care professionals and want to know what questions to ask? You are not alone in trying to navigate complex systems and terminology to best meet the needs of your children.

We want to help you as we know that navigating different systems to find supports can be overwhelming.

Our website contains information on specific conditions, local support, national best practices, and statewide resources. Feel free to contact us using this page: northernregionalcenter.org/about/contact/ if you need help. 

Finding Your Way: A Navigation Guide for Wisconsin Families Who Have Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and Disabilities assists families who may have concerns or questions about their child’s development or have recently received a diagnosis of a special health care need or disability. It provides brief descriptions of programs, services and systems of support and gives contact information and links to learn more about these and other resources.

English and Spanish versions of the Guide can be downloaded from the University of Wisconsin’s Waisman Center website:

  • English:(link is external) A Navigation Guide for Wisconsin Families Who Have Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and Disabilities (PDF)

  • Español:(link is external) Una guía de navegación para las familias de Wisconsin con niños y jóvenes con necesidades especiales de atención de salud y discapacidades (PDF)

Parent Support

Parent to Parent of Wisconsin provides parent support to parents of children with special needs through a one-to-one connection with another parent who has similar experience and who knows firsthand about the feelings and realities that come with having a child with special needs. You can reach out to them to find support from other parents or offer support by attending one of their trainings.

Family Voices supports families throughout Wisconsin through trainings, creating useful fact sheets, and their annual Advocacy for Change day at the state capital. 

I have concerns about my child, but my child doesn’t have a diagnosis yet…

It is recommended that you discuss these concerns with your child’s medical provider.  There are developmental screening tools that Other community providers that can assist you are Birth to Three or your school district.