Have you ever watched someone you love struggle with something that used to be effortless? Maybe it was your father pausing at the checkbook, pencil hovering, confusion clouding his eyes. Or your sister taking twice as long to button her coat, frustration tightening her features. Or maybe it was yourself, realizing one ordinary Tuesday that […]

It’s 3 AM. You’ve finally fallen asleep after helping your loved one through another difficult evening when the soft call comes again. As you rise, for the third time tonight, you catch your reflection. The person looking back appears more exhausted than you’re ready to admit. When was the last time you slept through the […]

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Community Members, As I look at the photograph of our dedicated team gathered together… I’m filled with immense pride and gratitude. Twenty years ago, Community Direct Services began with a simple yet powerful vision. To provide personalized, compassionate care that truly empowers individuals with mental and physical disabilities to live with […]

As a parent of a child with special needs, you’ve mastered the art of multitasking. Medication schedules, therapy appointments, doctor visits, school meetings. Each day brings a new logistical puzzle. Many parents tell us they’ve memorized phone numbers of specialists they never imagined they’d need and can recite insurance codes in their sleep. What if […]

As a parent of a child with disabilities, you already know what it means to be a fierce advocate. You’ve mastered medical terminology, navigated complex systems, and fought tirelessly for your child’s needs. Now, there’s another challenge on the horizon. Proposed Medicaid cuts in 2025 that could fundamentally alter the support your family depends on. […]

Ever notice how you’re constantly building bridges between what your loved one needs and what’s actually available through existing support systems? That space, what we call “The Care Gap”, has been widening for many families lately. The distance between ideal care and available resources grows larger. Forcing you to construct increasingly complex bridges to span […]

Imagine this. The pharmacy calls, your loved one’s crucial medication is ready, but the price jumped again. A knot forms in your stomach. Does walking this financial tightrope feel familiar? For families like yours, the rising cost of everything is more than just an economic trend. It’s a daily pressure cooker, impacting your ability to […]

You know that feeling in your gut? The one that says Mom or Dad might need a little extra support? Let’s talk about it. The Truth About Aging Alone (It’s Not What You Think) Here’s something that might surprise you. Right now, 33% of adults aged 50-80 experience regular loneliness. Yes, that’s actually better than […]

The Moment Everything Changes Remember the first time you realized your loved one needed help? That pit in your stomach, the late-night worries, the questions that kept circling in your mind. “Is this really happening?” “What does this mean for their future?” “Who are they if they can’t do everything themselves?” These thoughts keep you […]

Hey there, if you’ve been lying awake at night wondering why your child struggles with certain behaviors, you’re not alone. (Those 3 AM worry sessions? We’ve all been there.) Let’s talk about something that might just help bring some clarity to your situation: A Functional Behavior Assessment, or FBA for short. What’s an FBA, Really? […]