Thank You for Your Help – By the McClendon Family

I am a parent of a special needs Black child in a white community of Canton, IL. This will make sense in a second. These past three weeks I have been to every company, business, and my son’s teacher to figure out where I needed to go next. Not one of these entities knew what I needed to do or where to go.  

I googled places here that would maybe help, came across Birth to Five Illinois, and saw there was an office, so I stopped by randomly during a workday last week. I walked into this office at peak lunch time and didn’t expect anyone there or to get help. I walked in the door with my son who was mid-meltdown and was met by Lacie at the front desk. She greeted me AND my child, didn’t look past me, didn’t stare at my child having a meltdown, helped calm my son down, and gave him crayons and bubbles while I asked the questions I needed.  

Y’all, when I tell you, she had the answer for all the questions: who to contact, the numbers, names, and websites. Not only for medical but also for school information. I don’t know how long y’all have been around, but I hope you will continue to be around for a long time, especially in Canton. We need this information and place. As a Black man with a special needs Black child, I feel like this office and especially this person, heard me and helped. I got the contacts for mental health help for myself, special needs contacts, where to get IEP and screenings.  

My wife is the one to do all of this because she grew up here and people in the community are not respective to seeing someone like me here. When I say it didn’t matter to this person, I mean it. This is the first time in the last six years that I have felt my skin color was not even a thought to her. Thank you.  

Thank you from the McClendon family for all the information and love you showed. Because of you, my family is getting the help for my son that we have been searching for over the last three years. Keep up the great work. You specifically are making a difference in our community. I will remember Birth to Five Illinois and you specifically when someone asks who helped and was there.