The 4 Advocacy Pillars of The Parent Forge: Driving Systemic Change for Families of Children With Disabilities

At The Parent Forge, advocacy is more than a value; it is a strategic, community-centered mission. Families of children with disabilities and complex needs do not just need support; they also need systemic change. This is why our advocacy strategy is rooted in four core pillars.

The Four Advocacy Pillars of The Parent Forge

1. Caregiver Empowerment

We start by creating safe and accessible spaces for caregivers to heal, connect and lead. Through support circles, online communities, and workshops, we honor the lived experiences of parents and equip them with the self-advocacy and leadership skills needed to shape the systems that affect them.

2. Provider Collaboration

We facilitate collaborative training sessions and roundtable discussions for service providers, therapists, and educators to reshape how they partner with their families.

These offerings emphasize trauma-informed care, inclusive communication, and family centered practice; thus, caregivers are not treated as outsiders, but as essential collaborators in service delivery.

3. Policy Engagement

We work tirelessly to elevate the voices of caregivers in the policymaking processthrough storytelling campaigns, community-based research and advocacy initiatives. By bringing real stories and data to the forefront, we push for more inclusive, equitable, and responsive policies that reflect the lived realities of families.

4. Public Awareness & Culture Change

Through podcasting, social media, and speaking engagements, we reshape public narratives on disabilities and caregiving.

Our mission is to move from moral and medical models of disability to a social model that emphasizes inclusion, equity, and the dismantling of systemic barriers.

Storytelling is at the heart of our strategy because when caregivers share their truths, we all begin to see the world differently.

Join the Movement for Systemic Change

Whether you are a parent, provider, policymaker, educator or advocate you have a role to play in advancing equity and empowerment for families of children with disabilities.

At The Parent Forge, we believe that change occurs when we come together across systems, sectors, and lived experiences. Let us co-create trauma-informed, inclusive, and family centered solutions. Advocacy begins with connection and every voice belongs to the table.