You want everyone in your family to have their needs met and to feel that they matter as much as the person with a developmental disability.
And you want to achieve that as easily as possible. Simply put, more 🙂 and less 🙁
You, and others in your family, may feel stressed, resentful, and unimportant.
You may be unsure if you can fix that, if you even have the time and energy.
You’re probably worried about everyone’s wellbeing – and your own sanity.
This is what I believe:
No matter your family situation, there is always a way to improve it. Life is about the choices you make.
And you made the smart choice to look online for help. You’re already on your way to improving things.
And there are always options if you know where to look.
Everyone in your family (that includes you) deserves to feel important, validated, appreciated, and secure.
They deserve to feel that they matter just as much as the person with a developmental disability.
That’s why I created The Different Lane.
I’m Tanya Savko.
Personally and professionally, I know how difficult life can be in a family with developmental disabilities and mental health disorders. I’m the mother of two adult sons, one with autism, epilepsy, and bipolar. I was a single parent for 16 years, and have struggled with bipolar myself.
Not only am I a parent in your shoes, I am a Behavior Consultant and have worked with families experiencing various types of developmental disabilities – those with little kids, teens, and adults – and many different disorders and and/or physical disabilities. I’ve worked with foster and adoptive families as well as single parents and blended families.
I am also a Dual Diagnosis Specialist, certified by the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (those who have both developmental disabilities and mental health disorders).
I’m here to help other families not to feel the way I felt – isolated, overwhelmed, and unable to meet my other child’s needs, much less my own.
The Different Lane is about empowering you with the tools and a plan to better navigate the challenges you face and meet everyone’s needs.
I’m really glad you’re here.
