Parents Helping Parents

06/01/2026

APPLY or LEARN MORE about Parents for Change!
www.php.com/parents-for-change

About Today’s Featured Graduates:

JANE SREERAM
Jane has a master’s degree in Social Work and is a Program Specialist at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City. She is the mother of two boys. Since learning that her younger son is on the autism spectrum in 2020, Jane has dedicated herself to learning more about autism and sensory processing disorder. She has also been actively involved in his therapies and is very engaged with his school. In June 2025, Jane joined the board of the San Mateo Foster City Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing equitable access, opportunity, and experiences to all students in their district. She is interested in increasing inclusion and achievements of students in special education across the district. Jane has seen firsthand the impact of paraeducators. She advocates for increased compensation, as well as onboarding and continuing professional development, for special education paraeducators. Jane believes training for paraeducators should not be seen as an expense, but as an investment in student achievement and staff retention.

PATTY OU
Patty is a mom of three who lives in Mountain View. Her two older boys are ages 9 and 6, and the youngest girl is 4 years old. Patty became knowledgeable of the terms “autism spectrum disorder” and “neurodivergence” when her oldest child was 3. The arduous journey of learning and fighting for her child then began. Patty became a staunch advocate for her son's access to free and appropriate public education, social groups, and peer relationships. As a next step in advocacy for her children, she wants to broaden her scope of influence to effect change, starting at her kids’ school. Patty hopes to collaborate with other parents and empower her children to help make the world a more inclusive place. She has worked with lobbyists on Legislative Day in Sacramento and spoken with her assemblymember about supporting a bill to allow direct access to physical therapy services in California. Patty is also a physical therapist and acupuncturist.

05/31/2026

APPLY or LEARN MORE about Parents for Change!
www.php.com/parents-for-change

About Today’s Featured Graduates:

LOURDES VERONICA REYES
Lourdes is a Registered Nurse with 18 years of experience. She specializes in surveying health facilities with an emphasis on skilled nursing facilities. Lourdes holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a master’s degree in Nursing Administration from San Jose State University. She is currently enrolled in the Doctorate in Nursing Practice program at San Jose State University. When not working as a nurse, Lourdes enjoys watching movies with her children and visiting the park with her family.

JULIA HALPRIN JACKSON
Julia is a mother of two wonderful kids, one of whom has autism. A professional writer and editor, Julia is committed to advocating for change for her children and others’ as well.

05/31/2026

Your voice matters! 📣
Share Your Experience with Stanford Children’s Health to help improve services for families.

Email Casey Krueger at [email protected]

05/30/2026

If you live in Santa Clara County and have a child between 0 and 4 yo with a disability or developmental differences, this event is for you!
Spend a morning at the park with the staff from Parents Helping Parents and other families.

REGISTER TODAY, space is limited: https://forms.gle/f955RgEDoGtrw95e6

It will be the perfect opportunity for the little ones to have fun and make new friends, while the adults have the chance to connect with other parents.

Thank you to the Department of Developmental Services for making this wonderful event possible.

05/29/2026

APPLY or LEARN MORE about Parents for Change!
www.php.com/parents-for-change

About Today’s Featured Graduates:

NIKI HOLMAN
Niki was raised and currently lives in San Jose, CA. She has a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry from San José State University. Niki is the proud mother of two amazing boys who inspire her advocacy work every day and motivate her to leave the world a better place for them. She served on the California Organizing Leadership Committee, where she built strong relationships with trustees from the Santa Clara County Office of Education and co-hosted community meetings. Niki’s passion lies in disability rights for school-age children to adulthood, particularly around autism, language impairments, anxiety, and depression, which are issues she cares about deeply. Niki’s Parents for Change action plan focuses on advocating for full federal funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which was promised in 1975, but has yet to be fulfilled. Without this funding, too many children are left without the support they need and are at greater risk of entering the school-to-prison pipeline.

SANIA SYED
Sania is a parent and advocate for her oldest daughter who has autism. Alongside her husband and two younger daughters, she has been deeply involved in supporting her daughter’s journey from preschool to early adulthood. Over the years, Sania has had to advocate to ensure her daughter receives the services, supports, and accommodations needed to live a full and meaningful life. Sania joined the Parents for Change Advocacy Training to learn how to help drive meaningful change, not just for her family, but for others like hers. She is especially passionate about addressing the lack of services for individuals with disabilities after they turn 22 and age out of school-based programs. Sania’s goal is to help build inclusive, community-based options that allow every person to live with dignity, joy, and a sense of belonging.

05/29/2026

APPLY or LEARN MORE about Parents for Change!
www.php.com/parents-for-change

About Today’s Featured Graduates:

ALEXIA WORSHAM
Alexia works for NAMI Santa Clara County, where she speaks in classrooms and gives community presentations about the impact of mental illness on individuals and families. Previously, she worked with the County of Santa Clara as a behavioral health services program manager. Alexia’s motivation for community advocacy work grew out of her lived experience with family members affected by mental health conditions and other disabilities. The challenges of navigating the special education system for her two children prompted her to apply for the Parents for Change Advocacy Training, and she plans to advocate for increased transparency and accountability at her local school district. Her previous volunteer experiences include serving as a board member for Hope Services and Greater Opportunities, organizations that provide services to people with developmental disabilities, and as an officer of the California Democratic Party Disabilities Caucus. Alexia and her husband, Gary, live in the Los Gatos mountains with their young adult twin sons.

JAY MCMILLIN
Jay is a native of California and single parent to three children (13 years, 7 years, and 16 months) in San Jose. Jay is a UC Berkeley graduate with a degree in Ethnic Studies and an extensive background in child development. As a Community-Based Program Specialist for Girl Scouts of Northern California, Jay runs scout troops for incarcerated youth in juvenile detention facilities, which has been a huge motivating factor in their advocacy work outside of their own children’s diagnosed needs. Jay has a particular interest in exploring the school-to-prison pipeline, how youth with disabilities are disproportionately affected by this, and how intersectionality plays a role for youth of color and LGBTQI+ identifying youth who are also disabled. Jay’s Parents for Change action plan involves pushing for legislation that would afford legal representation to students with disabilities who are being considered for expulsion from school.

05/26/2026

What Regional Centers Can & Can’t Do When Parents Are No Longer Around 💫
https://conta.cc/4tVtwru

Email from Parents Helping Parents We would love for you to join us! Have you registered yet? There is a spot waiting for you What Regional Centers Can & Can’t Do When Parents Are No Longer Around   R

05/26/2026

El Futuro Sin Nosotros: Apoyos del Centro Regional para Cuando Yo ya no Esté 🌟
https://conta.cc/3RrJAUF

Email from Parents Helping Parents ¡Nos encantaría contar con tu presencia! ¿Ya te registraste? ¡Hay un lugar para ti!   El Futuro Sin Nosotros: Apoyos del Centro Regional para Cuando Yo ya no Esté ¡R

05/26/2026

¿Se está preguntando cómo solicitar IHSS para su ser querido con Discapacidad? 🌟 ¡Si su respuesta es sí... Esto le interesa!
https://conta.cc/3RneMEy

Email from Parents Helping Parents ¡Nos encantaría contar con tu presencia! ¿Ya te registraste? ¡Hay un lugar para ti!   Cómo Solicitar IHSS para un Ser Querido con una Discapacidad ¡Regístrese Ahora

05/26/2026

🍃 You don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

Join a community where you can learn, share, breathe, and find balance again.
Parenting is hard — and when your family includes a loved one with a disability, the challenges can feel overwhelming. Support for Caregivers is here to lighten that load.

🌟 What to expect:
• Weekly sessions led by a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
• Sessions are designed to reduce caregiver overwhelm
• A focused topic each week, including 30 minutes of “stay & chat”
• Space to share your experiences, celebrate wins, and support one another
• Come for the full series or drop in when you can — you are always welcome

All PHP support groups are confidential and designed with caregivers in mind.

🎯 For Santa Clara County residents only

🗓️ Please register for each weekly session: https://www.php.com/support-for-caregivers/

🪷 You deserve support, connection, and a place to exhale.
Let’s walk this journey together.