THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

BERKELEY, California, 94703 United States

Mission Statement

Through the Looking Glass (TLG) is a nationally recognized organization that has pioneered research, training, and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability or medical issue. TLG is a disability community based nonprofit organization, which emerged from the independent living movement, and was founded in 1982 in Berkeley, California. Our mission is "To create, demonstrate and encourage non-pathological and empowering resources and model early intervention services for families with disability issues in parent or child which integrate expertise derived from personal disability experience and disability culture." At Through the Looking Glass, we emphasize a life cycle approach which integrates perspectives gained from personal and family disability experience. The staff have diverse cultural backgrounds, fluency in many languages and nearly 80% of the 60 staff members are disabled, parents of disabled children, or members of families with disabilities.

About This Cause

Through the Looking Glass (TLG) is a nationally recognized organization that has pioneered research, training, and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability or medical issue. TLG is a disability community based nonprofit organization, which emerged from the independent living movement, and was founded in 1982 in Berkeley, California. Our mission is "To create, demonstrate and encourage non-pathological and empowering resources and model early intervention services for families with disability issues in parent or child which integrate expertise derived from personal disability experience and disability culture." At Through the Looking Glass, we emphasize a life cycle approach which integrates perspectives gained from personal and family disability experience. The staff have diverse cultural backgrounds, fluency in many languages and nearly 80% of the 60 staff members are disabled, parents of disabled children, or members of families with disabilities. Through the Looking Glass has developed programs that strengthen and support families, fostering self-growth and self-sufficiency. These resources are complemented by innovative intervention services, as well as numerous groundbreaking research and training projects, targeting diverse audiences of parents, advocates and professionals. Listed below are summaries of current programs, projects and accomplishments.  Local services. Since 1982, TLG has provided direct services to thousands of Bay Area families in which an infant, child, parent or grandparent has a disability. Annually, TLG serves nearly 2,000 clients in local families, providing weekly home-based mental health services and early developmental intervention. TLG has consistently provided services to culturally diverse families—in 2014 91% families of color, from numerous cultures.  National services. In 1994, TLG was funded by the U.S. Department of Education to establish as the first National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families regarding the more than 4 million U.S. parents with disabilities. The Center has been continuously re-funded, most recently from 2012-2016. The Center has responded to over 15,000 requests for consultations, conducts a number of national research projects, has trained over 200,000 parents and professionals, consulted with over 250 regional and national systems, published more than 100 articles and books, developed training modules and curricula, and been featured in more than 200 media publications.  International services. TLG staff have trained parents and professionals in over 50 countries. TLG has hosted two international conferences on parents with disabilities and their families.  Services for parents with intellectual disabilities. Nationally, 40-60% of parents with intellectual disabilities lose custody of their children. In 1990, TLG established a specialized program at TLG for parents with intellectual disabilities. TLG currently serves 40-50 families annually, and only 2-7% of the parents with intellectual disabilities receiving TLG’s local intervention services have lost custody of their children.  Adaptive babycare equipment. TLG is nationally recognized for designing and fabricating baby care equipment for parents and other caregivers with disabilities, as well as studying the impact of this equipment. TLG’s research has shown that such equipment can have a positive impact on parent/infant interaction, in addition to reducing difficulty, pain and fatigue.  Early Head Start Program. In December 2009, TLG’s vision of having a Child Development Center to offer model services regarding parents and children with disabilities was realized. TLG was awarded a major federal grant to create an Early Head Start Center specifically serving families in which a child or parent has a disability.  Legislation. Communities throughout the U.S. have asked TLG to help them create new policies and legislation to insure the rights of parents with disabilities as well as appropriate resources to support them. Using TLG’s expertise and training, five ground-breaking legislative bills have been passed within the past ten years (one in California, one in Kansas and three in Idaho) focusing on improving the lives of parents with disabilities and their children.  Media. TLG has received extensive local, national and international media coverage including Eye on America, Prime Time Live, BBC, NPR, Washington Post, Parenting Magazine, S.F. Chronicle, Telemundo, MBC (South Korean television network).  In 2012, TLG and its National Center on Parents with Disabilities and their Families substantially contributed to the National Council on Disability's groundbreaking policy study “Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children. ” The report was submitted to President Obama and Congress. Each year, TLG awards scholarships to high school seniors and current college students who have a parent with a disability. Each year, 600-700 applicants from all 50 states have submitted scholarship applications.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
3075 Adeline St. Ste 120
BERKELEY, California 94703
United States
Phone 800-644-2666
Unique Identifier 942823116