Jeff and Debbie Thibault

I want to start by letting you know that I am not a licensed professional. The only "credentials" Debbie and I have come from raising our four children, including our youngest, Claire, who has an intellectual disability and an anxiety disorder.

Very early on we noticed that Claire processed things differently than her peers. As time went on, we saw more signs that confirmed she had some delays, and that is when we decided to seek help. We found ourselves on a journey we never expected. Claire is now 26 years old, and she is truly amazing! Over the past 26 years, we have learned so much about fighting for the needs and rights of a child with a disability and now we want to help other families.

As for my "formal" training, I have a Bachelor's Degree from GCU and a Master's Degree from Fuller Seminary. I spent 25 years working on the Young Life staff and another 10 years as the Marriage & Family Pastor at North Bible Church. I also served as the Director of Operations & Training for StrongFamilies for 2 years. It was during those years that I developed a passion for helping families, especially those going through a similar parenting journey like ours. Raising a child with a disability comes with many additional responsibilities, expenses, and concerns, especially when it comes to getting the necessary resources to help your child thrive. Debbie and I often felt like we were in uncharted territory while researching and applying for the services Claire needed, but we were determined to help her live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

I never planned on starting a nonprofit like Parenting Special Kids Network, but after going through our own experiences and talking to so many other parents and caregivers, we realized there is a huge need for this kind of service. So if you have any questions about getting services for your child, if you want to connect with other parents who are on a similar journey, or if you need help starting a support group, please reach out to us, we would love to help you.