Ujima Services

04/08/2026

Quick update 💛

If you’re here looking for Ujima Doula Support & Postpartum Care, I’ve created a dedicated space just for that.

This allows me to keep everything focused, supportive, and centered around pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

👉 If that’s what you’re here for, click here to join:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CWAt24zKg/

You’ll find:
• Doula support and guidance
• Postpartum care conversations
• Lactation support
• Real, judgment-free community

As always, thank you for being here and growing with Ujima Services 🌿

Which space are you most connected to right now?

04/07/2026

Today I toured the high school and met with the current SPED teacher.

Let me be real with y’all… this was one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve had as a parent of a child with special needs.

The moment I said the word inclusion, you would’ve thought I asked to sit at a segregated lunch counter.

These kids aren’t even given inclusive electives.
They’re eating lunch in classrooms.
And don’t even get me started on “least restrictive environment”… because where is it?

This took me all the way back to elementary school.

Back when I had general education teachers tell me they “didn’t go to school to be SPED teachers,” so they shouldn’t have to have my child in their class.

And what did that look like in practice?

My son sitting in the corner on a computer… by himself… while the rest of the class learned together.

I know that’s what was happening because on the last day of school, that same teacher called me.

She thanked me.

She told me that for the first time, she let him fully participate in a class spelling game… and he didn’t miss a beat.

She apologized.

Because she realized she had underestimated him.

That moment stayed with me… because it proved what I already knew:
the problem was never my child’s ability — it was the system’s expectations.

So when we got to middle school, I came in ready.

And I’ll give credit where it’s due — middle school met me there.

They were willing to listen.
They were willing to collaborate.
And once they understood that I wasn’t there to fight — I was there to advocate — we built something that actually worked.

My son had an inclusive day.
Support.
Access.
Respect.

It has been a beautiful experience.

So now we prepare for high school…

And I was told:
“He can either be in here all day, or out there all day.”

And respectfully… that’s not going to work.

Not for my son.
Not for everything we’ve built.
And not for what we know is possible.

Because it’s not just me and him.

It’s his village.
His teachers.
His counselors.
All of us.

We have worked too hard to get him to a place where he is learning, growing, and included.

We are not going backwards.

He is not going back to 100% self-contained.
He is not going back to being isolated.
And he is definitely not going back to sitting in a corner — because now, he has a voice… and he will use it.

So no… we’re not choosing between “in here” or “out there.”

We’re choosing what’s appropriate.

We’re choosing what’s equitable.

We’re choosing what’s right.

And we’re going to make sure he gets it.

If you’re a parent walking into spaces like this… trust your gut.

Because you’re not asking for too much.
You’re asking for what your child already deserves.

Who else has had to fight for inclusion at the high school level? 👀

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

With Spoonie Meal Plan Club – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

04/01/2026

With Sooner SUCCESS – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

04/01/2026

With OUHSC Sooner Success Region 2 – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

03/22/2026

I think about this a lot…

What would things look like if families like ours didn’t have to push so hard just to be supported?

If inclusion wasn’t something we had to fight for… but something already built into the system.

If community felt natural… not something we had to search for.

I don’t have all the answers.

But I do know this — when families come together, share, and speak honestly about what’s not working… that’s where change starts.

So I’ll ask this…

What does real support look like to you?

03/21/2026

💙 "Let me know how I can help" sounds kind, but often adds more stress for caregivers.

That’s why our partners at OKCares created the Caregiver Respite Card, a simple and thoughtful way to turn good intentions into real support.

🪪 How it works:
When someone offers help, caregivers can hand them the card, which includes specific ways to assist, such as “Sit with Mom for two hours” or “Pick up groceries.”

✅ Why it helps:
It removes the burden of planning from the caregiver and empowers friends and family to provide meaningful, concrete help.

Caregiving takes a community. This small card makes a big difference. 💙

👉 Learn more: okcares.org/learn-more

03/21/2026

We talk a lot about support for our kids…

But what about their siblings?

The ones who love them, help care for them, and grow up in the middle of everything this life brings.

Spaces like Sibshops matter because they give siblings a place to just be kids… to be seen, heard, and understood by people who get it.

That kind of support changes families.

That’s the kind of community I believe in building and being part of.

03/15/2026

NAMI Smarts for Advocacy is a skill-building training that helps people affected by mental health conditions turn their passion and lived experience into effective grassroots advocacy.

This workshop provides hands-on learning to help participants build and strengthen the skills needed to advocate for mental health issues. Whether you are new to advocacy or have years of experience, you will leave with clear messages, practical step-by-step tools, and the confidence to take action and make a difference.

The training begins with its core skill: Telling Your Story. In this module, participants learn how to craft and share a compelling version of their personal story that can serve as a powerful foundation for issue advocacy.

Once you have your story, it’s time to use it.

Your personal experience is one of the most powerful tools in mental health advocacy. During this in-person training, we’ll walk through how to shape your story, so it resonates with policymakers and helps them understand why mental health policy matters.

When: Tuesday, March 24
Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
Where: NAMI Oklahoma. 3009 NW 63rd Street, Suite A2, OKC, OK 73116

Space is limited to 15 participants, so be sure to register early if you’d like to attend. To register, visit https://bit.ly/Smarts326