Hello!
We are so glad you have found us. We are a group of Christian parents who all have children with disabilities or additional needs. We are a varied group with a huge range of needs represented – physical and intellectual disabilities, autism, rare or undiagnosed syndromes, and many other complex health challenges. We also have children of all different ages – right from newborn through to adult children. Our stories are all very different.
What we do have in common however is that we have all had to wrestle with the reality of having something hard happen to our child – something that at first glance might not have seemed like “God’s plan” for us or for our child.
We are also a group of Christians who want to continue trusting God with whatever journey we find ourselves on. We want to keep remembering the truth from Psalm 139 that we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made” and that “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). We know that God has good plans for us and for our children and that He is the one who will keep giving us the strength that we need. We are also a group of parents who want to connect with others who understand some of the challenges that we face each day. Life is better when it is shared and sharing with those who have walked a similar path can bring so much strength and encouragement to us as individuals.
The 139 Collective was started in 2020 as an online Facebook group. We have grown rapidly to become a group of over 250 members from all parts of Australia. We hope that you find this website a helpful place to hear about the journeys of other parents and be encouraged by God’s good plan for all of His people.
Would you like to find out more?
If you are a parent of a child with a disability or additional needs, please join our Facebook group here.
We would also love to support those who have received a pre-natal diagnosis for their child. Please contact us here if that is you.
If you are not a parent of a child with a disability but would just love to know more about how to support those in your life who are walking this path, then please read more of our stories here.
Two quick notes as you browse this website:
Although we have used the term “parent”, The 139 Collective is for any primary caregiver of a child with a disability. We have just used the term parent for simplicity.
Every parent has a unique perspective on their family’s experiences. Some prefer to use the language of additional needs, special needs, or neurodiverse. We want to be an inclusive space. Please substitute the term “disability” in your mind for whatever you prefer. We have primarily been guided by the advice put out by the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations who have a helpful language guide that can be accessed here.