JSARC Thrive Together Community Journal

JuSco's Special Abilities Recreation Center
Aug 7
5 min read

The Thrive Together Community Journal

August 2026 Edition

At JuSco's Special Abilities recreation center, our vision is to build a world where individuals with special needs thrive, financially, physically, emotionally, and socially, by enriching their lives through various avenues. Learn more by visiting our site below.

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The Leadership Corner

The Heart Behind JuSco’s

LaToya Scott CEO/Founder

Parenting my son, Julian, has been the greatest privilege of my life and one of my greatest teachers. Through him, I have learned that progress matters more than perfection and that every milestone, no matter how small it may seem to others, is worth celebrating. Our journey has included challenges, therapy appointments, advocacy, and moments of uncertainty, but it has also been filled with incredible growth, joy, and unwavering faith. Julian has taught me to slow down, embrace life's little moments, and see the world through a lens of compassion and possibility.

Most importantly, Julian has shown me that autism does not define a person's worth or potential. He has strengthened my faith, deepened my understanding of inclusion, and inspired me to become an advocate for individuals of all abilities. My hope is that our story encourages other families, fosters greater understanding, and reminds our communities that every person deserves to be seen, valued, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are.

Read LaToya's full letter.

From the Chairman's Desk

David Stanton

My nephew, JuSco, has taught me that autism isn't something to fix, it's a different way of experiencing the world, one with its own strengths worth recognizing. Through that relationship, God has shown me how many families are searching for a community that truly understands them, and how much it means when someone chooses to stay present rather than look away. To families walking this journey, I'd say: you don't have to carry it alone, and you don't have to have it all figured out. At JSARC, we're committed to walking with you, because no need should ever be left behind.

🙏 Faith & Encouragement

As caregivers, we carry more than others can see. We carry appointments, therapies, school meetings, sleepless nights, worries about the future, and the deep desire to give our loved ones every opportunity to thrive. Some days, the weight feels heavy. This month's devotional is a reminder that strength doesn't mean carrying it alone, and includes a prayer written just for caregivers.

Read August devotional & prayer here.

🌟 Caregiver Spotlight: Arlene Chandler 🌟

In Real Time

Arlene Chandler

Founder, Owner, Spectrum Family Talks

Before I became a caregiver, I was becoming. My husband and I had already learned that becoming parents wasn't something we could take for granted. There were fertility appointments before work, early morning drives to doctor's offices, pregnancies that ended too soon, and questions no couple ever imagines asking. Through it all, I held onto one quiet certainty: I wasn't imagining a diagnosis or a medical chart. I was imagining a child. I pictured laughter echoing through our home, bedtime stories, birthday parties, scraped knees, and all the ordinary moments that become extraordinary simply because they're shared with someone you love.

Years later, after finally becoming a mother, I heard the words that my son had Down syndrome. What I remember most wasn't the diagnosis itself—it was what came next. Almost every conversation centered on what he might never do. Not one person offered me a reason to hope for what he could become. As an African American mother, I searched for families who looked like mine raising a child with Down syndrome because I was looking for representation, possibility, and a glimpse of our future. My education in Organizational Behavior had taught me how systems function and how people communicate. Becoming my son's caregiver taught me how those same systems shape the everyday lives of families, and that families don't just need information—we need conversation.

That realization became the foundation of Spectrum Family Talks. Today, I believe our greatest growth happens when we have spaces where it's safe to ask questions, celebrate progress, admit when we're struggling, and learn together. My son continues to remind me that growth isn't measured by someone else's timeline—it's measured by possibility. If there's one thing this journey has taught me, it's that becoming never really ends. Every new season asks something different of us, every milestone brings new questions, and every challenge invites us to learn again. I'm still becoming. Still learning. Still believing that our greatest growth happens in community, one conversation at a time.

Read Arlene's full letter.

💡Autism Tip of the Month: Understanding Meltdowns

A meltdown isn't bad behavior — it's a sign of an overwhelmed nervous system, not a choice. Five ways to help:

Stay calm — your calm helps regulate their nervous system
Reduce sensory input — dim lights, lower noise, find a quiet space
Offer safety, not demands — skip the questions in the moment
Learn their triggers — a simple journal helps you spot patterns
Give recovery time — the moment doesn't end when the tears stop

Read the full guide + sources.

🧠 Mental Health Corner

The Weight of Being the "Strong One"

Martha R. Rice, LSSGB & Certified Mental Health Life Coach

People often admire caregivers for their strength, praising their patience, devotion, and unwavering commitment to advocating for their child. What many never see is the weight carried behind the smile. Being the “strong one” often means everyone assumes you are okay while you quietly shoulder emotional exhaustion, decision fatigue, financial pressures, sleepless nights, relationship strain, and the endless mental checklist of therapies, appointments, school meetings, medications, and future planning. Over time, many caregivers begin believing they should handle everything alone, convincing themselves that asking for help is a sign of weakness. But true strength is not carrying every burden by yourself; it is recognizing that you are human and that your heart needs care too.

Strength does not require silence or self-neglect. When caregivers continually ignore their own needs, their bodies often speak through fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and emotional overwhelm. Your child deserves a healthy caregiver, and you deserve to be more than the person who manages everyone else’s needs. Give yourself permission to receive support without guilt, to say no when necessary, to rest without apologizing, and to admit when you’re tired. You are not just a caregiver, you are a person whose dreams, emotions, and well-being matter. As you continue loving your child with extraordinary dedication, remember to extend that same compassion to yourself. When caregivers are supported, families become stronger, and you no longer have to carry the weight alone.

Read Martha's full letter.

📖 Resource of the Month

"The Beauty Within Autism: A Caregiver's 30-Day Journal of Faith and Hope" by LaToya Scott — 30 days of Scripture, reflection, and prayer for caregivers.

Find it on Amazon here.

🌿 Self-Care Tip of the Month

Caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint. This month, challenge yourself to take 10 intentional minutes a day just for you — pray, journal, walk, or just breathe. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

🤝 Community Resources

Mental Health Coaching — Martha Rice, completenhim.com, (210) 544-3631
Autism & Neurodivergent Family Coaching — LaToya Scott, calendly.com/thecoachingcenter
JSARC — 708.320.8818 | contact@juscosreccenter.org | juscosreccenter.org