Families Like Ours

05/16/2026

Looking for support, career guidance, independent living services, or disability resources in Massachusetts? MassAbility is here to help individuals with disabilities live life on their own terms. ❤️

Applying for services is simple through MassAbility Connect, where you can explore programs and complete an application online with support from dedicated staff every step of the way. Whether you need help with employment, assistive technology, home care, benefits counseling, brain injury services, or youth transition services, MassAbility offers a wide range of supports designed to increase independence and opportunity.

Their team can assist:
• In person
• Online
• Over the phone
• With virtual consultations
• Gathering documentation
• Understanding eligibility

Programs include:
• Career & Vocational Services
• Home & Community Life Supports
• Assistive Technology
• Student & Youth Services
• Brain Injury Services
• Benefits Counseling
• Independent Living Programs and more.

📞 MassAbility Connect Help Desk: 617-204-3665
📧 MassAbilityConnect@mass.gov

Start your application here:
Apply for Services

05/15/2026

Dive Into Community: Swim Sessions for All Abilities.
Swim Sessions for All Abilities is happening every Friday throughout the year now from 12:00PM – 1:00 PM at Berkshire South Regional Community Center (15 Crissey Rd, Great Barrington).

This is a relaxed, open swim time for families raising children with all abilities — siblings and parents are welcome, too! No registration required; just bring your suits and come cool off with us.

To help us continue offering this program year-round, we are inviting families and friends to contribute through a “pay what you can” model or a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us cover the costs of keeping this special space open for everyone. https://givebutter.com/COM0KK

05/15/2026

We are so incredibly grateful for CTBTV and the love and support they continue to show us. 💙

These videos truly give our community a voice, and that means so much. Families Like Ours (FLO) members often report feeling isolated, and seeing stories like these reminds us all that we are not alone.

Thank you for helping bring connection, visibility, and understanding to our community. 💙

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

05/14/2026

TODAY @ 11 AM – Special Needs Support Group (Virtual)

Many guardians raising a child with special needs can feel overwhelmed and isolated. This group is a safe space to remind yourself that you are not alone. 💛

Join us to find validation, resources, and connection with other community members who truly understand the journey.

📧 Email: Rania@familieslikeoursinc.com
📱 Text/Call: (413) 854-3971
(We’ll send you the link to join!)

05/14/2026

Rooms are still available at Windflower Inn!

If you’re looking for a welcoming place to call home, now is a good time to reach out for details or a tour.

This former inn now operates as a comfortable housing community that provides an affordable option for essential workers and others looking for a low-cost option.

Rooms currently available are priced at $850 to $950 per month, depending on the room.

~ Month-to-month leases.
~ All rooms have a private bathroom.
~ The Windflower was formerly an inn and is currently built with shared washer and dryer on site.
~ A large, shared, commercial kitchen is available to all tenants.
~ All utilities included: heat, electric, WiFi, air conditioning, and garbage pickup.
~ Parking included. Plenty of spaces for everyone.
~ Community spaces include a large yard, patio, living room, and lounge area.
~ All rooms are furnished.
~ 3 miles from the center of Great Barrington.

If you or anyone you know might be interested, please apply today. Send any questions to Kate Coulehan at: kcoulehan@constructberkshires.org.

05/12/2026

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our special needs moms out there. 💙

Parenting may look a little different for us. Our days are often filled with therapies, appointments, IEP meetings, advocating, sleepless nights, celebrating milestones others may not understand, and loving our children through every challenge and triumph.

But one thing remains the same — the love we have for our children is endless.

To the moms who are exhausted but keep showing up…
To the moms who feel unseen…
To the moms balancing it all while carrying so much behind the scenes…

We see you. We hear you. And you are doing an amazing job.

Today, we hope you take a moment to recognize the strength, patience, and unconditional love you pour into your families every single day.

You matter too. 🌸

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Families Like Ours.

05/08/2026

What you see in this picture is community. ❤️

What you don’t see are the friendships that have been built between people who experience the world in similar ways. You don’t see the caregiver burnout, the stress, the masking, the hiding, or the constant struggle to keep up with appointments, IEPs, therapies, work-life balance, eloping, smearing, Feeding tubes, disabilities, OCD, ADHD, Autism, Down syndrome, and so much more.

It doesn’t matter what the diagnosis is. Every situation is unique, but so many families carry the same weight. Life can be harder. Life can be exhausting.

If you have a family member or friend raising or caring for a child or adult with disabilities, don’t wait to check in. Reach out. Suicidal ideation is real, and we need to talk about it more openly.

When someone says “I’m fine,” it’s okay to say, “Be honest with me.”

Helping doesn’t always mean taking our children so we can get a break. Sometimes it means showing up at a FLO event with us. Sometimes it means bringing dinner, helping fold laundry, reading a book to the kids while we do dishes, or simply sitting with us so we don’t feel alone.

We are incredibly grateful for the support the Berkshire Coalition for Su***de Prevention provides throughout the year in helping address caregiver burnout and mental health awareness in our community.

If you are in crisis, the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text 988 for support.

If you are experiencing caregiver burnout, please check out our website and join our once-a-month meetup focused on grounding techniques, emotional support, and coping skills for caregivers.