DESCRIPTION: National Center on Deaf-Blindness, Paul's Support story.
ANGELICA: You know, I'm learning every day through the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation what other things-- or through other families that are really active on Facebook-- and see what other things that I should be requesting for Paul. We started a playgroup through CDBS, California Deafblind Services, about four years ago, almost four years ago. So we used to get together every other week. We got a grant for that. But once the grant was over, we'd still get together once in a while. We talked about insurance or how to get this service or this other thing, and-- just to get together and have support.
DESCRIPTION: Paul holding onto the rail and jumping on a small trampoline.
ANGELICA: So a couple of years ago, we went to the CHARGE Syndrome Conference in Chicago. It was really nice to see how kids with CHARGE syndrome-- older kids, adults, all the things that they're--
PAUL (FATHER): How they're doing.
ANGELICA: How they're doing, and you'd really feel like positive about--
PAUL (FATHER): Yeah, you'd start thinking more positive about your child.
ANGELICA: Nobody looks at you different. Nobody looks at your child different, because it's all families who have kids with CHARGE syndrome or a special needs family. But it's just-- everybody understands.
DESCRIPTION: Photo of mom and Paul on a dance floor with kids.
PAUL (FATHER): Well, as for me, social media is everything. And it was really hard, I believe, for a father to go through having a special needs child. So I started a group, Fathers with CHARGERS, as my way of communicating with other fathers, because not everybody's going to know what you're going through. But another CHARGE father would.
DESCRIPTION: Dad pulling Paul in a red wagon with a fabric roof down a sidewalk.
ANGELICA: I mean, I'm involved in a lot of different Facebook pages for feeding or hearing loss or vision loss or heart issues-- you know, there's a page for everything nowadays. If there is a question about something, you just go to the main Facebook page for CHARGE syndrome and then somebody is going through the same situation or they have gone through the same situation, and you can get advice from them.
The professionals in CHARGE syndrome, I feel that they're really involved. There is always a professional who will answer your question. And a lot of them, we met them when we went to the conference, and they are really active. So I really feel like we get a lot of support. Any other family, I think, with a kid with CHARGE syndrome gets a lot of support from the professionals or Facebook page.
Say hi! Say hi. Where's your glasses? Where's your glasses? Where's your glasses?
DESCRIPTION: Paul crawling onto dad's lap. Mom making the sign for "glasses" while asking where his are. Paul clapping.