Embedded Files
Laura’s known story began just outside the city of Nanchang, China in July 2004. For reasons we will never fully understand, Laura’s birth parents relinquished her as an infant. Like many other infant girls across China, she was found abandoned outside a government building and taken to a local orphanage. To the world, this was a devastating start to life. However, as Laura’s family, we believe fully that God’s hand has been on her life from the very beginning, and we were chosen to take part as her story unfolds. And what a story it is. It wouldn’t be the first time that God chose an orphan to be adopted in another land, in order to take a stand for people just like herself.
In 2005, God took Laura out of her orphanage, allowed her special needs to go undetected, and placed her into our family. And just like that, the trajectory of our family’s life was forever changed. Fast forward, Laura is now a young lady living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). She requires hand-over-hand assistance for all daily living tasks and must have care 24/7. But no matter what the day brings, Laura radiates pure joy. She smiles at everyone she meets, loves spending time with friends, enjoys music and water-play, returns high-fives, and finds family mealtime the absolute best time of the day.
Here unfolds another critical part of Laura’s story. As she nears the end of high school, it has become evident that there are very few post-high school opportunities for Laura to continue using her abilities and maintaining an active role in her community. Laura is part of one of the most vulnerable populations, and yet they are very much invisible in society. In order to motivate change, Laura became the inspiration behind Laura’s Village.
Laura’s Village was founded in 2023 in order to provide adults who have I/DD with purposeful, joy-filled opportunities to use their abilities, develop skills, build family-like relationships, and make a positive impact on the community. At Laura’s Village, we believe every person has a purpose, no matter what level of abilities are present; they simply need an environment that will allow them to be showcased.
Laura’s Village currently offers community support meetings, partners with and promotes adaptive community events, and advocates for local businesses that support those in the community with special needs. Our future plans include an on-site day program and residential facility that will allow our adults to build life-skills as they work to contribute meaningfully back to the community, as well as to involve the local community in coming alongside us.
Join us at Laura’s Village, where we celebrate abilities and cultivate community!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse