10/19/2022
Ottawa County Family Connections Free Kick-Off Event Filled with Fun, Food, Resources, and Support
MIAMI, OK – An exciting new non-profit, Ottawa County Family Connections, aimed at becoming a group for resources, support and ideas for parents, caregivers and families of Autistic and special needs children is starting off with a free big kick-off event and the public is invited.
This Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Miami Civic Center’s Banquet Room will be filled with participating resource agencies, free fun games and prizes and swag bags for children, food and a giveaway of a gift card. Facepainting, a fish pond, co****le and more will make for a fun time for the kids, and parents and caregivers can find information from attending vendors; Neo Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, Integris Health, Royalty Speech, Grand Lake Mental Health, Project Lifesaver, The Modoc’s Healing House, Blue Sprig, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Oklahoma Autism Network, CREOKS, Epic Charter School, Miami Public Library, Miami Fire Department, Miami Miami Pilot Club, and Northeast Tribal Health System.
The event is Ottawa County Family Connections first get together in what the group’s founders, Kendra Parker and Lynzi Keith, hope to be one of many opportunities for families with special needs children and teens to come together.
“We started with a page to share ideas, information and to discuss and support each other,” OCFS founder Lynzi Keith said, “It’s just taken off big time, the need is so great. Our mission is to connect families together who can support one another while facing similar challenges.”
Keith is the single mother of three children she adopted separately within one year with Autism and varying special needs. Parker has also adopted special needs children.
“I had no idea where to start, where to get testing, diagnosis, and real resources aimed at meeting the needs of my children. My oldest has learning disabilities, my middle son is on the more severe end of the Autism spectrum, and my youngest is mildly Autistic with some sensory issues,” Keith said. “Their needs are very specific to each of them, so I’ve had to research and sometimes struggle to get what they needed. Two are in public school and one is homeschooled to meet their individual level of needs.”
All three are thriving today, and Keith credits the help she has sought but most of all the care of a supportive community and school system.
“It’s not always the case, we get those looks when Emmett is stimming or reacts to certain situations, and we don’t always see it coming, “Keith said. She gave an example of how his Autism affects daily life, telling of how her son recently refused to enter a restaurant bathroom. “It was painted the brightest most intense color of yellow and that was just too much for him,” she said.
Support, understanding, and kindness go a long way during such situations, Keith said, “People can be ignorant or cruel, I’ve had my son called very derogatory names, had people stare. But I believe education is key to acceptance. Most people can’t love what they don’t understand. We want to teach others to love, accept and learn about Autism and Special Needs.”
With support from the community OCFC has been able to provide this much needed support.
“Chief Ethel Cook and the Inter-Tribal Council and several families really came through for us with financial support for this event as did many donors and bidders in our recent online auction,” Keith said. “We can do so much with this. It has moved us to tears in gratitude and to feel such community support.”
Long term plans for OCFC include support groups, ongoing fun events such as family movie nights, advocating for sensory friendly accommodations at local businesses, helping caregivers and families understand and connect with resources, building relationships with service providers and educators. The group wants to host guest speakers, offer workshops, and bring in support. Keith and Parker invite anyone interested in Ottawa County Family Connections Foundation to join their group’s page, attend an event, call 918-676-6262, or 918-533-5404 to find out more.