Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Gillaspie.
Hi Mariah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My world flipped upside down in 2017 when my first child started having seizures at 3 months old. Hours later in the emergency room at Childrens Hospital Colorado, we received a devastating diagnosis and the news that our daughter would never walk, talk, or live independently. I went from a tired but incredibly excited first time mom to mourning the life of my child and of the future I had imagined for my family. That first year after receiving our diagnosis is a blur of tears and google searches, desperately seeking out any treatment or therapy that could help my child. Besides the support of my family who was also navigating this shock, I felt completely alone and leaned into the few disability parenting podcasts I could find to feel less isolated in my new mothering journey. Feeling like I was navigating this whole new world by myself felt unbearable.
This is the experience for so many women who receive unexpected medical and behavioral diagnosis’ for their children. Feeling lost and alone. Mourning silently while they take on new rolls as caregivers, their kids advocates, experts in their children’s diseases. For parents of children with a diagnosis, depression rates are higher, divorce rates increase, the ability to work outside of the home is harder if not impossible, financial stress is often a factor, and trauma and PTSD are common. And for so many parents, they navigate all of this alone.
As Covid was finally easing and in-person get togethers resumed, a few moms started getting together meeting monthly to commiserate, support each other, and be around fellow women who truly understand the unique life of rising children with disabilities. Word spread and more and more moms starting attending these monthly get togethers. Pretty soon we were planning a weekend away in the mountains. That first retreat was such a success that we decided to make it official. In April of 2022, Mariah Gillaspie (President), Amber Reynolds (VP & Secretary) and Lindsey Caley (Treasurer) incorporated Colorado Mama Tribe as a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to provide support, resources, and community to women raising children with special needs in Colorado, finally filling an unmet need in the area.
What started as a small and casual group of moms has grown into a nonprofit organization supporting over 400 women across Colorado, each one of us bound by the shared experiences and challenges we face. At the heart and soul of Colorado Mama Tribe are our monthly in-person events. In-person meetings provide a space for authentic connection, where we can openly share our struggles and triumphs, knowing we are understood and supported. There’s something incredibly powerful about looking into another mother’s eyes, hearing her voice, and sharing a genuine hug. These face-to-face interactions allow us to build deeper, more meaningful friendships. It’s in these moments that we truly fill our buckets, replenishing our spirits and warding off the loneliness and isolation that so many of us have felt raising our complex kiddos. These gatherings are lifelines, reminding us that we are not alone and that we are part of a community that cares deeply for each other.
Beyond our monthly meet-ups, we host a yearly weekend respite retreats filled with inspiration, renewal and connection. We provide care packages to moms who are with their kiddos through hospitalizations, bereavement support, monthly playground meet-ups for the whole family, quarterly get togethers in the northern and southern cities/suburbs to extend our reach beyond Denver, and even a Dad’s Group that meets quarterly!
One of our most impactful programs is the “Mindful Mama’s” initiative. This program offers a safe, confidential space where mothers can express their emotions, process their experiences, and receive professional guidance. The group therapy sessions, led by licensed therapists, focus on mindfulness practices, coping strategies, and emotional support. We have found these sessions to be a great outlet for members helping them navigate the complexities of disability parenting with greater resilience and peace.
Looking to the future, our vision is bright with new ideas and exciting plans for how to grow our support of the Colorado disability community. Our entire organization is run by volunteers, all of whom are mothers of children with special needs. This unique aspect of our tribe ensures that every decision, every initiative, and every interaction is deeply rooted in understanding and empathy. We are living the same experiences as our members, and this shared journey allows us to address the real needs of our community with genuine insight and compassion. We want every mother raising a child with special needs in Colorado to know that she is not alone. We are here, a tribe of strong, resilient women, ready to offer a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Families raising children with disabilities hit so many challenges on their journey from learning about their kiddo’s diagnosis and becoming an expert on their disease, to navigating resources and medications and insurance and appointments and hospitalizations, to finding community and friendships that are meaningful in the midst of such challenging times. Colorado Mama Tribe aims to help with every obstacle these families hit by being a source of support and by sharing resources, experiences and friendship.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our community is extremely unique and fills an immense unmet need. There are many various support groups for families raising children with special needs, but very few that focus on building community, supporting parents through friendship and connection, and putting the focus on the mental health of the caregiver. Colorado Mama Tribe’s board of directors and everyone in a leadership or committee position within the organization dedicate their volunteer time to help other moms despite the stressors they live with in their own caregiving situations. We pride ourselves in making any new member feel welcome and supported. We take care of each other, we show up for each other, and we have each others backs. The selflessness of this community is something we are extremely proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coloradomamatribe.com
- Instagram: @coloradomamatribe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coloradomamatribe
