Families Like Ours, Inc.
Families Like Ours, Inc.

Strengthening Bonds and Building Community

Strengthening Bonds and Building Community Strengthening Bonds and Building Community Strengthening Bonds and Building Community

Creating a safe space for Families Like Ours to grow together

Join Us

Strengthening Bonds and Building Community

Strengthening Bonds and Building Community Strengthening Bonds and Building Community Strengthening Bonds and Building Community

Creating a safe space for Families Like Ours to grow together

Join Us

About Families Like Ours Support Center

Our Mission


Families Like Our's mission is to support, encourage, and strengthen individuals and families, to achieve their full potential as members of our community and to facilitate the building of relationships between guardians who have children with developmental disabilities and other members of the community. Our mission is about more than just support—it’s about empowerment. We help families feel seen, heard, and equipped to face the unique challenges of raising children with special needs. Our programs provide not only practical assistance but also foster resilience, encouraging families to approach each day with renewed confidence. Families who join Families Like Ours gain essential resources, compassionate support, and, most importantly, a renewed sense of hope and belonging within a community that understands and celebrates their journeys.


About us

   

 Families Like Ours is here to support families of individuals with special needs in Berkshire County by addressing the daily challenges they face. We help connect families with community resources through our dedicated staff. Our goal is to reduce feelings of isolation and create a sense of unity among families. By doing so, we aim to make a positive difference and empower families like ours. As Margaret Mead once said, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'" 

Our Programs

 We offer a variety of programs, services, and fun events to support families in our community. From parenting support and support groups to case consulting, resource connections, and educational reviews, we’ve got something for everyone. Families can enjoy activities like playdates, picnics in the park, fathers' nights out, CATA Art and Tea Parties, educational chats with providers, and fun community outings. Our goal is to bring families together in a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone can connect and enjoy each other's company.

Our Support Groups

💙 Families Like Ours Support Groups 💙
We’re here for you—with weekly and monthly opportunities to connect, share, and find support.


🚶‍♀️ Walk & Talk in Great Barrington
🕘 Mondays, 9:00–10:00 AM
📍 Now through the end of September
Meet us for a refreshing walk and casual chat!


📅 Weekly Virtual Group (Open to All)
🕚 Thursdays at 11:00 AM (via Zoom)
Join from anywhere for connection and conversation.


👨‍👧‍👦 Monthly Fathers Group
A safe space just for dads to talk, share experiences, and support each other.


❤️ Monthly Caring Hearts Siblings Support Group
Created for siblings of children with disabilities to connect and be heard.


📩 Message us for Zoom links or meeting details!
Let’s keep building community, one conversation at a time.

Rania Markham, MSW, LCSW

Rania Markham, Executive Director and Founder of Families Like Ours is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She has been an advocate for Southern Berkshire families for the past 15 years. Rania runs programs that support parents and caregivers of children with disabilities or special needs. In 2023. in recognition of her contributions, she was named  “Rising Star of the Berkshires” by the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Leadership Award. 


In 2024, she was also awarded a "Reach for the Stars" award by the Department of Disabilities (DDS) for her selfless contributions. This same year, she also received a Citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives by Smitty  Pignatelli. 


Rania Markham’s commitment to supporting families and children in the Southern Berkshire area is commendable, and her work continues to make a positive impact on the community. 


"I started Families Like Ours to help more families like mine. We need support, we need to feel included, even if it looks a little different for our families" -Rania 

RESOURCE DIRECTORY FOR SOUTH COUNTY

Food, Housing, Mental Health, Special Needs & Transportation

Published in Collaboration of Southern Berkshire Public Health  Collaborative, Families Like Ours and Tri-Town Health Department Printed February 2025 

Download Resource Guide

Southern Berkshire County Resource Guide 03.22.2025 PDF (pdf)

Download

CAMP DIRECTORY FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY

Summer 2025

Download Camp Directory

2025 Camp list in Berkshire County PDF (pdf)

Download

FAMILIES LIKE OURS UPCOMING EVENTS

🎃 Families Like Ours 🎃 Halloween Costume Exchange!

Families Like Ours is excited to host a 

Halloween Costume Exchange for all children (18 and under) in Berkshire County!

We’ve already collected over 200 gently used costumes — and we’re expecting to have over 500 — for children to choose from for free.


If you’d like to donate costumes, please reach out to us for pick-up times or a list of drop-off locations. This a community wide event. 


Date: October 11, 10:00am to 2:00pm
Location: Family Resource Center 141 West Ave, Great Barrington, MA 01230


🎃  We hope to see you there. 🎃 

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It’s a wrap!

The big day may have come and gone, but keep in touch as we’re always up to something new and exciting.

2025 🎃 Families Like Ours 🎃 Halloween Costume Exchange!

Thank you to all our Costume Exchange Sponsors.

Capturing Memories: Our Family Photo Gallery

    Support Families Like Ours Mission

    Your contribution helps us create a stronger community by empowering families in need. Your contributions help those in need beyond imagination, your support of any donation from the smallest to the biggest is changing lives in our communities. The link for donations is pay.familieslikeoursinc.com  



    Donate Today

    Families Like Ours Programs & Additional Information

    Programs for Children

    Our programs are designed to help children develop social skills, build self-confidence, and learn new things. We are dedicated to providing support and resources for families in our community. Join us in creating a strong and connected community for families of all backgrounds and sizes. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and play no matter their abilities.


    Keep an eye out for

    training opportunities.  

    Support for Parents

    We offer a variety of programs for parents, including support groups, help filling out intake forms and connecting families to resources, and educational workshops.


    Special Needs Virtual Support Group every Thursday at 11 am

    Raising a child with disabilities can be overwhelming. This weekly virtual group provides validation, resources, and the opportunity to build friendships with people who face similar challenges.  

    Contact Us

    In the Paper

    If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our programs and services, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you! 

    Please reach us at rania@familieslikeoursinc.com  

    call 413-854-3971



     “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi 




    In the Paper

    2025 Halloween Custome Exchange

    In the Paper

    For parents of kids with autism, help is here. BY HEATHER B ELLOW The Berkshire Eagle

    https://tinyurl.com/Berkshire-Eagle-Rania-Markham 

     

    GREAT BARRINGTON — Rania Markham knows what it’s like to feel isolated, to stop going places with a child, to not know what to do. She knows so well how parents, siblings and families struggle to cope when a child among them is diagnosed with autism, genetic disorders and/or various other developmental disabilities that make them extra- sensitive or affect their behavior in other ways.......

    2025 Halloween Custome Exchange

    2025 Halloween Custome Exchange

    2025 Halloween Custome Exchange

    October 11, 2025 

    10am -2pm

    Families Like Ours will host a Halloween costume exchange for all of Berkshire County. We have collected over 150 used customers and hope to have over 300 costumes for all kids to pick from for free. If you would like to donate costumes please reach out to us for pick-up times and a list of where our collection boxes are located. 


    Hosting us is The Family Resource Center (CSO)  located at 141 West Ave, Great Barrington, MA 01230 

    Help With Forms

    2025 Halloween Custome Exchange

    2025 Halloween Custome Exchange

    Free Services Offered


    Do you need help applying for special needs services or filling out resource forms? 


    DDS- Department of Disability Forms


    Assessments from Shriners, Boston Children's Hospital and Pediatrics 


    Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 


    Connection to Resources in Our Community

    **New** We are now Pass the Bricks Ambassador

    **New** We are now Pass the Bricks Ambassador

    **New** We are now Pass the Bricks Ambassador

    How It Works


     **New** We are now Pass the Bricks Ambassadors. HOW IT WORKS
    Pass the Bricks has a simple process. We collect used LEGO bricks, sanitize and sort them, design “new” sets, and distribute them to kids whose families cannot afford them. To donate your Legos, please contact us at Rania@familieslikeoursinc.com  


     Pass the Bricks | Lego 

     


    Education Advocacy and Case Reviews

    **New** We are now Pass the Bricks Ambassador

    **New** We are now Pass the Bricks Ambassador

    Our Rates 

    Individual Education Programs (IEPs) & 504 Accomdiations can feel impossible to understand. It is okay to be scared and not have all the answers. 


    Through Zoom case management meetings, we hope to foster independence and empower guardians to understand the process and advocate for their student's needs. 


    Our current rate is $60.00 an hour for case review. Most cases require a two-hour minimum. If you cannot afford this fee, the Department of Disability (DDS) may be able to assist. Please contact us if you do not have DDS services or need assistance signing up. 

    Do You Have an Extra Phone to Donate?

    **New** We are now Pass the Bricks Ambassador

    Do You Have an Extra Phone to Donate?

    Many parents of children with developmental disabilities know how quickly phones can get broken when kids get overstimulated or have sensory challenges. We’re hoping to collect a small stash of backup phones that parents can have on hand to use with WiFi when needed.

    If you have an old phone you’re not using, please consider donating it to help families who really need a reliable backup device. These phones will be given away for free as the need arises.

    Please send me a private message for pick-up or delivery arrangements, or contact me at rania@familieslikeoursinc.com or text 413-854-3971.  Thank you for supporting families in our community!

    GRIT JUNIOR FREEDOM CHAIR

    *NEW*

    Thanks to the incredible generosity of a private donor, Families Like Ours is beyond thrilled to announce the addition of a GRIT Junior Freedom Chair! 

    This all-terrain wheelchair for kids opens up a world of outdoor adventures—from trails and beaches to muddy parks and snowy days. 

    Find out more
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    Our Partners

    Contact Us

    We are located at 140 West Avenue. Suite A Great Barrington, MA 01230

    We would love to hear from you.  

    Please call (413) 854-3971 or email us at rania@familieslikeoursinc.com for more information. 

    Families Like Ours, Inc.

    140 West Avenue, Great Barrington, Massachusetts 01230, United States

    Phone: (413) 854-3971 Email: rania@familieslikeoursinc.com 140 West Avenue. Suite A Barrington, MA 01230 Nonprofit 501(c)3

    Hours

    Open today

    09:00 am – 05:00 pm

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