The Special Needs Support Center

What We Offer

Special Needs Support Center (SNSC) offers six basic areas or categories of services for parents and families, with each one having multiple programs. We do not charge a fee for most of our services, but we do encourage families to become a member of SNSC ($25 per year per family) if they can afford it. The membership fee not only provides some financial support to SNSC, but also reflects a commitment and partnership to the work that we do with you and other families.

Our Six Program Areas:

  1. Family Support Services - direct services to parents, families, general public
    • Information and Referral: With decades of service to the residents of the Upper Valley and around the state of New Hampshire, we are aware of most resources for parents and families of children with all kinds of special needs. So, we can help you find what you need; and if we don't know, we know whom to ask.

    • Emotional Support: Raising children in the modern age is difficult enough, but parents of children with a special need face especially difficult challenges. Here at SNSC our staff with lend a good "listening ear," either over the phone, in person, or even by email. And, we also know of other parents who have had similar challenges with whom we can match you - for information, support, and collaboration.

    • Educational Advocacy: See "Educational Advocacy" on our website menu for full details on this important service at SNSC

    • Nathan Hall Library: See "Nathan Hall Library" on our website menu for a full listing of our books and informational materials available to families and professionals.

    • General and Individual Support: Our Goal at SNSC is to provide any resource needed by parents and families who have a child or children with a special need - any kind of need. If we don't already provide it, we will know who does and where and how to contact them. And, if your needed resource does not exist, we will work with you to create it - if at all possible. In other words, SNSC is a "go to and get what you need' organization. We do extensive networking with all other agencies and services in the Upper Valley and around the two states, and we will advocate for your family's needs to see that they are met.

  2. Community Partners - mostly direct services to children, teens, and young adults with any kind of special need
    • Happenings: Look on our website menu for full information on this program - check out the Calendar for upcoming events.

    • Girl's Night Out: This is a recreational activity group for teen and young adult women who meet about once a month with a staff person (Robin Goodrich) for an outing. Sometimes they go to supper and a movie, sometimes another activity of interest to the group. The "girls" pay for their own expenses on their night out, while SNSC picks up those for the staff. Check out the Calendar for upcoming GNO events.

    • Sibshop: This is a special group just for kids, ages 7 through 12 years, who have a sibling with a special need. The kids in Sibshop often have some of their individual needs overlooked or insufficiently met due to the struggles, efforts, and energies that are required of parents and other relatives to meet the needs of the family child with a special need. Sibshop gives these sibs a time just for them.

      A Sibshop is a lively mixture of games, talks, lunch, special guests, and special activities - all with other kids who know what it is like to have sibling with a special need. Sibshop is national program started and run by Don Meyer, who grew up with a brother who has Down syndrome. Our Sibshop facilitators are trained in the Sibshop model.

      Sibshop is a collaborative effort between SNSC and the Boyle Community

      Pediatrics Program, the CHaD Family Center, and PathWays of the River Valley. Sibshop meets seven times during the school year. We ask a donation of $5 per

      Sibshop to cover cost of lunch and other materials, but is waived if needed. We usually meet the first Saturday in October, November, December, February, March, April, May, and June - from 10 to 1:00

      For more information, or to sign up, contact Pam Blair at SNSC 448-1268 or Robin Goodrich at the CHaD Family Center 643-9899. Also, see the Calendar page of our website for a schedule of Sibshop meetings.

    • Special Social Skills Groups: Depending on the identified needs of teens and young adults in any year, SNSC offers a targeted group for the development of social and interpersonal skills by these people with special needs. Contact the office to see what is being offered to whom and when for this year.

  3. Parent to Parent of New Hampshire: Check out our website for a link to our separate page and website for this old and essential SNSC program

  4. Kids on the Block Puppet Troupe - Check out our menu page for this unique and valuable program and how to schedule a performance

  5. Respite Child Care Program: Check our menu page for this program that is available to ALL parents of children

  6. STAR (Steps Toward Adult Responsibility) Program: Check our menu page for this program and its own website. A program for teens with chronic health conditions.