Kang Family Testimonial

When my son Sam was diagnosed with autism at three and a half, he had about 25 words. He could say "go" and "ball," and he knew the names of 23 animals.
Sam started at a school for students with special needs, and for a long time, he was happy there. He made so much progress exploring his interests and growing his skills.
But over time, he began to struggle. The structure of a traditional school day became overwhelming, and it took a real toll on him. One day he looked at me and said, "I just can't do it anymore."
Around that time, one of Sam's former support team members told me about Mar 5. She said it was a resource for families like ours and that I should consider sharing any needs we had. My first thought was, "That's so nice for needy families." But I was a working parent. I had a graduate degree and a career. Raising my kids was my responsibility.
Then came Sam's sixth-grade graduation. It was supposed to be a happy celebration, but Sam spent most of the ceremony curled in a ball on the side of the room, unable to take part. I knew something had to change. To get him into a program that truly met his needs, I would need an attorney, and I didn't have the resources. I needed help.
And sometimes, when it rains, it pours. A fire broke out in our apartment building, and we lost all of our furniture, including almost everything in the bedroom Sam shared with his brothers.
That's when I remembered the warm invitation I'd received about Mar 5. It was hard to be vulnerable and ask for help, but I took the risk. Everyone I met was kind, compassionate, and so accepting. Mar 5 helped me find the right attorney to get Sam into a school that truly serves him. They even helped rebuild a bedroom where my boys could feel at home again.
I will be eternally grateful to this community for showing up for us in ways I never could have imagined, at the moment we needed it most.