East Franklin Conference Reaches Out to Helping Hands

by Jonathan Weaver

This Saturday, parents and caregivers will be able to learn a few tips to make a disabled or handicapped persons’ life that much better.

From 9AM-3PM at Harvest Community Church, the East Franklin Township-based non-profit Reagan’s Journey – named in honor of eight-year-old Reagan Neal, who was born with several developmental and physical challenges - will help caregivers through the tireless effort they gave to somebody in need.

Family Needs Advisor Fred Neal – Reagan’s father - said a conference was also held in Fall 2013. This year’s conference is entitled, “Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow.”

“We started with parents of kids with special needs like myself in mind, but have expanded to really any caregiver – personal or professional. Someone taking care of an aging parent or even an aging spouse, nurses, teachers…

“The goal is just to get caregivers in here and encourage them, hopefully inspire them, connect them to some resources,” Neal said. “It was really, really awesome the first time – one of my favorite things that I’ve ever been involved in.”

Harvest Community ministry teachers were also invited to take part in the breakout sessions.

Regional Author Amy Brooks is the keynote speaker Saturday.

Brooks, of Avalon, was born without arms or legs, but yet has written two autobiographies with the help of a ghost writer.

“When I become frustrated, it’s not typically over my disability. I just get frustrated over everyday things everybody else goes through. I was born this way, so this is my normal,” Brooks said. “This has always been my life, and God has really been there with me. He’s always given me a driven personality to be independent – that doesn’t mean there aren’t things I’m unable to do by myself, but He’s also placed those people in my life that are willing to do those things for me.”

Brooks has also spoken at local schools and will be on Canada Christian television talk show “100 Huntley Street” this June.

Neal called Brooks’ story “really inspiring.”
“The things that she can do are just amazing,” Neal said. “She’s going to be a homerun.”

Neal will also be a speaker during the conference, with plans to talk about Reagan’s Journey’s mission: how caregivers can make life better for people with special needs.

He said his life has also become better through Reagan, such as understanding what is really important that people take for granted.

“We always think about the difficult things, but there have been a lot of good things that’ve happened that wouldn’t have otherwise,” Neal said.

Dana Murphy, who grew up in Shay but now lives in Kittanning Borough, will be one of several breakout speakers attendees can learn from.

Murphy, who is also a Reagan’s Journey board member, was raised with two older brothers with cerebral palsy.

While middle brother, James, lives in Indiana (Pa.), oldest brother, Curtis, passed away six years ago at the age of 34.

Murphy said growing up caring for her brothers gave her family struggles and hardships, but also made her patient.

Murphy said her family did not have the resources this conference will provide when she was growing up.

“Growing up in a small town, you tend to think when you experience something and there aren’t a lot of people around you going through it that no one else knows how you feel – this event is so important not only to come and here my story, but all the other speakers’ stories to know that there are so many other people that are living through these things and are blessed by it as well,” Murphy said.

Interested participants can register for $15 or find more information on the non-profit organization’s website.