Every day is a challenge for these families, but they don't lose joy: life doesn't end

In Lithuania, a project dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing challenges has provided aid to over 130 people and shared more than 100 personal stories in the past year. The initiative has distributed over 300,000 euros, with monthly aid increasing to 30,000 euros since May.

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However, our little children truly need much more attention, funds, various therapies, and other help. We really don't want to neglect our older daughter, because she also really needs her father's and mother's attention.

One participating family, the Kulvinskases, are raising three children, two of whom have Down syndrome. While acknowledging the universal challenges of parenthood, mother Daiva Abramavičiūtė-Kulvinskienė explained that her younger children require significantly more attention, funds, and specialized therapies. She also stressed the importance of not neglecting their neurotypical daughter, who also needs parental attention.

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It's not a simple camp – it's a place where everyone is accepted as they are. There, people with disabilities feel understood, accepted, and loved. When we were there for the first time, it was a real discovery for us that there is a place where you are needed, understood, and accepted.

The family learned about the project through social media and sought assistance to attend a camp organized by the "Viltis" association for people with disabilities. This camp, described as a place of acceptance and understanding, was a transformative experience for the entire family. Even their elder daughter felt included and equal, finding peers who shared similar family experiences and realizing that having a sibling with a disability is not uncommon.

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Children with disabled siblings are often called 'glass children' because in life, it happens that they receive less attention. But at the camp, my sister also felt like an equal, accepted. She could be herself, she wasn't afraid to communicate, and the volunteers communicated with her as an equal.

While the family receives some state support, they note it is often insufficient for the specialized therapies, such as dolphin, horse, or dog therapy, which are highly effective but not covered by the state. To bridge this gap, they established the Skomantas and Vijūnė charity and support fund. They are deeply thankful for the generosity of relatives, friends, and strangers who contribute to their children's well-being. The family actively shares their journey on social media, showcasing their children's development and daily life, and expresses immense gratitude for the kindness shown by people in Lithuania.

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It [state support] is important to us, but it's not always enough because our children need many more therapies. For example, the state does not cover dolphin, horse, or dog therapies, which are particularly effective.