The LaChris Connection (TLC) serves families of children with disabilities focusing on their need for adventure and respite!

We simply want to "Lighten the Load" by providing easy access to adventures, respite and information about:

• Specialized Child Care Resources
• Adaptive sports and camps for children
• Parent getaways
• Accessible Family Vacations
• Support Groups and more

Description:
Our focus is to relieve parents of the time consuming searches for the crucial, yet difficult to find, resources for families of children with disabilities.

We do this by bringing the information about these resources to parents via our website and written materials. The LaChris Connection (TLC) also provides for families directly as you'll read about below in the main services we're now performing.

So that each family might spend less time and energy "reinventing the wheel", we will provide:



• A.D.A. home remodeling advice and vehicle modification information and guides
• Adaptive curriculum resources
• An 'alphabet soup' (acronym) sorter and glossary
• Advice & support for dealing with the medical community
  
  
The main services TLC is now performing are:


1. Opportunities for care giver training to equip them for serving special needs children and their families.
2. Recruiting, and providing families access to, a regularly updated pool of childcare providers. Our recruitment sources are: nursing and therapy students via educational institutions, community organizations, and persons of faith via presentations at their congregational meetings.
3. Sponsoring gatherings for families and care givers to meet one another in a casual setting. See "Meet the Parents".
4. Arrangement and funding of evenings out and vacations for parents of special needs children (including the provision of care givers and/or funds to pay for their current care givers).
5. Funding for accessible R&R vacations for entire families of special needs children, including the provision and/or funding of their accompanying care givers.
6. We've founded and continue to facilitate Marin Respite and Childcare Collaborative (MRCC). This is a committee of Bay Area agencies who serve the same clientele. Meeting monthly, we seek solutions to the ongoing need for respite provisions.



History:
The founders of The LaChris Connection (TLC) are Mike & Louise Bruce.

Over 20 years ago we celebrated a wonderful wedding in beautiful Yosemite. We have since enjoyed a marriage cushioned by God's grace and have parented three wonderful children - Laura, Ben and Christopher.

Laura and Christopher were born with special needs - specifically, cerebral palsy, limited vision & speech and the corresponding limitations and delays.

Our middle son, Ben is a bloomin' teenager, and has achieved stardom in a local rock and roll 'garage band' called "15th Hour". He's been an amazing brother to his 'special' siblings. Ben is a great kid to whom good grades and great friends come easily.

The LaChris Connection is named in memory of Laura and Chris. Ben's response to the "LaChris" title was, "what happened to the 'Aura'!"

The difficult part of our story is the deaths of two of our children. Primarily, our children's deaths were unrelated to their disabilities, as they were generally very healthy and expected to live long lives.

Our family was just beyond the one year anniversary of 10 year old Christopher's death, from pneumonia in March 2004, when in April of 2005, our daughter Laura died of intestinal problems.

A deep breath and quieting of mind helps one comprehend, yet not quite reconcile, this reality each time it is spoken.

Laura was a young lady who made an indelible impression wherever she appeared. Her passion for life & friendship taught us invaluable lessons. Christopher's sweet spirit and musical talent softened the hearts of anyone who was near. They touched many, many lives in their short time on earth.

We're continuing their legacy of blessing people's lives through the establishment of The LaChris Connection (TLC).



Contact people:


Louise Bruce, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Mike Bruce, Executive Director, (phone), (email)


Main office number: (415) 721-1905

Address:


603 Manuel Drive Novato, CA 94945 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.lachrisconnection.org

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