By TAMMY KEITH
Log Cabin Staff Writer

Mothers of special needs children know there are lots of problems that go along with the joys.

Hope Guidry of Conway, mother of an autistic child, described it as "living a nightmare, and you don't know what to do."

	ANTHONY REYES PHOTO   Hope Guidry belongs to the Moms of Children with Special Needs support group. Her son, Joshua, 9, has been diagnosed with mild to moderate autism.

A support group called Moms of Children with Special Needs "has really been a blessing," Guidry said.

Mary Hale of Conway, who has a son with cerebral palsy, started the support group about eight months ago.

What started with six mothers sitting at her kitchen table talking has expanded to a support group with 22-plus attendees.

Hale believes there are many more who could benefit from the group.

"I just know that there are parents out there with special needs kids, really older kids, that is what my gut is telling me."

The group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month in the St. Joseph gymnasium meeting room. The next meeting will be Jan. 28.

Speakers come each month on different issues, such as horse therapy or how to handle school situations.

"There's sharing, where we just sit around and talk. Some of these times have been happy times. Some of these times have been sad times," Hale said.

Mothers of older children are helpful to newer moms, she said.

"Those older moms will say, 'You'll go through this. Here's what I did'."

Special needs children in the group range from age 3 to 16.

"We have a couple of moms who have brought their mothers, because it affects the whole family. She (the grandmother) doesn't know what to do, either. They're just lost."

The support group tries to help them find their way.

Just getting through the initial realization that a child has special needs can be hard.

"I remember when Michael was first diagnosed how devastating it was to hear that," Hale said.

Some mothers have children who aren't diagnosed until they're several years old.

Guidry said she knew something was wrong with Joshua when he wasn't even saying "Momma" at age 2. He would hit himself and spin in a circle when he was frustrated.

Joshua, 9, was diagnosed recently with mild to moderate autism.

"You're so overwhelmed and overloaded when you find out your child has a disability. Just having somebody who's going through it, too, or has been through it, helps."

Guidry and her husband have two other children.

The family lived in Louisiana and after researching other schools, decided Conway was the place to be.

Joshua attends Jim Stone Elementary School. "We love it. He gets speech therapy five days and week and everything just bloomed from that."

Guidry and Hale met at a Bible study at St. Joseph church and "we really clicked."

They both are from Lake Charles, La., and raising special needs children strengthened their bond.

Guidry said she looks forward to attending the support group every month.

"Mary and I, we've passed the initial diagnosis, dealing with families, how to fight for them (children). A lot of these mothers are young mothers, their children have just been diagnosed ... they're just a basket case. They don't know where to go. We can support them through that."

The support group includes mothers whose children have cerebral palsy, hearing problems, autism, Down Syndrome and vision impairment.

A mother called and asked if having a child with diabetes qualified her for the support group, and Hale said yes.

Guidry said even the parent of a child with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder might benefit from the support group.

"Do you go through periods of depression? Are you stressed? Yeah, it's tough," Guidry said.

In addition to supporting and learning from each other, the group has some goals.

Hale said, "The thing we talk about a lot is there is not enough for these kids in Conway."

Hale and a friend started a tee-ball team for disabled kids, "but what about the artistic side, art and drama?"

Guidry said autistic children especially love art and classical music.

Hale said the University of Central Arkansas is working on a grant for music therapy.

"I'm just thankful they're starting this. It may take a little while, but you've got to get things going," Hale said.

For example, Conway needs more playgrounds that are equipped for handicapped children, Hale said, such as equipment that is wheelchair accessible, bars low enough for children with physical problems to reach, swings big enough to support them.

She is trying to get a siblings' support group going, too, by contacting special education classes at UCA.

"If it's tough for parents, you can imagine other siblings dealing with it."

Hale said word-of-mouth has brought many mothers to the meeting. A father called and asked to come, and she told him yes, but he hasn't shown up, yet.

Sometimes mothers find it hard to make the first step to seek help.

"It's hard to hear some of these things. They may not be ready to hear them," she said.

Sometimes, "you're in denial."

When Michael was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Hale said the doctor did her a favor by letting her see what Michael would be able to do.

"I think it's just real important that these moms can accept it in their own time in their own way," she said.

The speaker for Jan. 28 is a physical therapist trained in auditory sensory processing.

For more information on the meeting, call Hale at 328-9001.