INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Westfield officials are taking a big step toward creating a more inclusive community for families living with disabilities.

The initiative is called “All in for All Abilities.” The Westfield Family Network hopes the initiative will build long-term support system for families navigating disabilities and make inclusion a priority.

The Westfield Family Network, a new community driven initiative by parents who have kids with disabilities, is partnering with the Governor’s Council for People of Disabilities and Westfield Washington School District to create a network of support.

“We’re actually living in a time where this landscape is changing,” said Patrice Smith, communications lead for Westfield Family Network. “People are actually seeing a drop in some of their Medicaid support. We want to help families be solution-sided.”

The network was given a $100,000 grant by the Governor’s Council for People of Disabilities to create access to relevant resources, host inclusive events and programs, provide workforce development opportunities, and partner with local organizations.

Earlier this year, the Westfield Mayor’s Council on Disabilities launched a Workforce Development Partner Program to encourage businesses to employ people with disabilities.

“Those things are already working to support families, but what was missing, and what was going to fill in and align those gaps is the Westfield Family Network,” said Mendi Cooley, team lead for Westfield Family Network. “It’s a network of us: The community.”

Cooley is also an occupational therapist and mom to a first grader with down syndrome. She said it’s important to raise awareness about the unique needs within the disability community, as parents can oftentimes feel alone.

“Ian’s life, and through being a mom, I really see things in a different way,” Cooley said. “He’s been able to show me that it’s really the peer-to-peer family support that sometimes makes the difference.”

The group is hosting a park pop-up event on August 31 at Freedom Trail Park to introduce the network to the community,

“We’ll have music, face painting, goody bags, and you can also meet some of our community partners as well, but most importantly, you meet other families on a similar journey, which is so important,” Smith said.

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