Message From The Co-Chair
My daughter, Marykate, was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at the age of 18 months. As her Mom, I wanted to do everything I could to understand the disorder, which was then completely new to me, and to find out what help was available to our family.
When she was first diagnosed, I didn’t know where to go for information and needed to find out as much as I could immediately. I would spend hours looking for programs and services that would help her development, clicking on website after website and compiling my own list of resources. It was after this frustrating year-long struggle that I went to the Somerset County Department of Human Services who created the Somerset County Childhood Disability Coalition to develop this resource directory for all of us.
Marykate is now five years old and doing very well. I can’t thank the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the caring members of the Somerset County Childhood Disability Coalition enough for all of their time and expertise in creating this essential resource. The Coalition will continue to meet and move forward in providing services to the parents and children with disabilities in Somerset County. Please pass the information along to other families that can benefit from these services.
Sharon Lutz, LSW, CPS
Co-Chair, Somerset County Childhood Disability Coalition
Executive Director, EmPoWER Somerset
