Angela Beam, Director
My husband, Jeremy, and I have three almost grown children who are 19 and 17 (twins). Our “youngest” daughter has a chromosome abnormality that causes an intellectual disability, limited speech, and many medical needs.
When our daughter was born with special needs the world became incredibly complicated and confusing. I felt isolated and very overwhelmed.
The moms from our local Parent to Parent helped me understand and navigate the available services. They listened to my struggles and helped me see I was not alone. When we went to the program events we didn’t worry about being different. We felt like we belonged.
Wanting to help other families, I became the Parent to Parent coordinator for a number of years. Then, in 2014, I was 1 of 3 moms who founded the Walla Walla Valley Disability Network. We saw the need for recreation opportunities for those with disabilities in addition to the information and emotional support of Parent to Parent. I am excited to now rejoin the WWVDN board.
I hope all families dealing with disabilities feel welcome and understood. Parenting a child with disabilities can be incredibly challenging and overwhelming, but I believe we can figure things out together.
