About Families Like Ours Support Center
Our Mission
Families Like Ours supports, encourages, and strengthens individuals and families raising children with developmental disabilities, helping them achieve their full potential as valued members of the community.
About us
Families Like Ours goes beyond support—it’s about empowerment. We help families feel seen, heard, and equipped to face the unique challenges of raising children with special needs. Through our programs, we provide practical assistance, foster resilience, and encourage 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.
Based in Berkshire County, we are dedicated to supporting families of individuals with developmental disabilities by addressing the daily challenges they face. Our team connects families with vital community resources, reduces feelings of isolation, and builds a sense of unity. By doing so, we strive to create lasting positive change 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.
In Person Meet up in Great Barrington
🕘 Mondays, 10:00 AM-11:00
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, LICSW
Rania Markham, Founder, Board President and Volunteer of Families Like Ours is a Licensed Individual Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). 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
Join Us
The Camp Piggy Bank Project
Together, we can open the doors of summer camp to every child, regardless of ability. Your gift helps fund one-on-one aides and inclusion supports so every child can thrive.
Click the Donate button to learn more and make a difference.
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.
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
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
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.......
Halloween Costume Exchange
Halloween Costume Exchange
2026 Date Pending
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
Halloween Costume 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
Pass the Bricks Ambassador
Education Advocacy and Case Reviews
Education Advocacy and Case Reviews
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
Education Advocacy and Case Reviews
Education Advocacy and Case Reviews
Education Advocacy and Case Reviews
Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Accommodations can feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate. It is okay to feel scared and not have all the answers.
Through Zoom-based case management meetings, we aim to foster independence and empower guardians with the knowledge and confidence to better understand the process and advocate for their student’s individual needs. We can also help connect families with an advocate who is the right fit for their situation.
Keep an eye out for our monthly IEP Questions Hour, where families can ask questions, gain support, and learn more about navigating special education services.
Do You Have an Extra Phone to Donate?
Education Advocacy and Case Reviews
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
Barrow it anytime
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.
Our Funders
