Julie Gordon is the founder and director of MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network, a non-profit organization that has successfully been helping special needs families for the past 30 years.

Julie has an adult daughter with cerebral palsy, and she was her inspiration for starting MUMS. When her daughter was young, Julie decided she wanted to help other parents of children with cerebral palsy, and decided to start a support group. Her daughter’s therapist gave her the names of three other mothers who also had children with cerebral palsy. Upon their first meeting, they had so much in common and Julie felt comfort in talking to them; they understood each other and could relate to what their children were going through. Julie decided this little newly formed group could be a powerful resource for other parents, so she began spreading the word.

Soon MUMS grew in strength and number, each parent advocated for one another and a strong bond was formed within the group. With the emergence of computer technology, Julie was able to start a “matching system”, which paired parents with other parents whose child had the same or similar condition. This system worked wonders; parents were now able to connect with someone who knew what they were going through, and they provided each other with support and shared and exchanged valuable resources and information that could benefit their children.

Today MUMS has over 20,000 members, which spans over 56 countries and covers 3500 diagnoses/disorders.

Julie has now joined Danielle’s Foundation as a director to continue fighting for all special needs children-especially those with brain injuries-who are struggling to receive the services and benefits they desperately need.

For more information on MUMS please visit www.netnet.net/mums